2025 recruitment & retention

[rmd]

I would be ecstatic if Brad Arthur came back to Manly. Believe it or not, he was the cornerstone of our defence when he worked with Toovs. He’s smart and he is loved by players, however, as head coach, he just couldn’t get Parra over the line, and this year, injuries to Moses, Brown and Gutherson just killed him. Imagine Manly without DCE, Brooks and Turbo!

As I understand it, he left on very good terms with Manly, so he maybe open to it, especially with Jacob at Manly. I can’t see him getting a gig anywhere else too soon, albeit Benji may need an assistant.

Arthur is a very good defence coach, and you may laugh, given the points Parra have leaked, however, he would have delegated that role.

I like the idea of Iro, as both his father and uncle played for Manly, and a shift from the Shire to the Northern Beaches isn’t a big change.

Just my thoughts.

 

[silvereagle]

Probably drop Vaega. Much as I was impressed by his performance, Hopoate is the future, and now he's had a taste, to drop him, though logical for experience, may have other clubs gathering for definite offers as custodian. Even playing him on the wing at first would be worth the chance. Turbo started that way.

Agreed. What do u do with the Turbo on return?

 

[Leighbra]

Bring in Arthur as an Assistant in a role the same as Flanno where we give him the blessings if a full-time gig comes along

 

[Andrew..]

Probably drop Vaega. Much as I was impressed by his performance, Hopoate is the future, and now he's had a taste, to drop him, though logical for experience, may have other clubs gathering for definite offers as custodian. Even playing him on the wing at first would be worth the chance. Turbo started that way.

Young Hopoate had a stellar debut and I share the same concerns that he may be lost to another club, but the clubs already shown its hand by taking him to Las Vegas and having him train with the first grade squad. For his sake I'm hoping his parents show a little more patience and allow him to develop his game in the lower grades before demanding crazy money. He looks like a special talent and I'm sure his pay day will come over the next few years, but we still need to be smart with our salary cap and not get ahead of ourselves, let's not forget we're still paying for the rushed Schuster contract.

 

[Bearfax]

Agreed. What do u do with the Turbo on return?

Personally, I think Turbo's days at full back should be at an end. We have two very talented youngsters in Koula and Hopoate who will have to be together in the team in the not to distant future. Add to that, Garrick can effectively cover full back as well. I would have Turbo at centre and groom him for 5/8 for when DCE retires. Brooks would move to half. I know that is quite controversial but I think Turbo has the ball skills and experience to handle 5/8 well.

 

[eaglebuzz]

Probably drop Vaega. Much as I was impressed by his performance, Hopoate is the future, and now he's had a taste, to drop him, though logical for experience, may have other clubs gathering for definite offers as custodian. Even playing him on the wing at first would be worth the chance. Turbo started that way.

I think Hoppa is a fraction too small to cut it as a winger. It's fullback or bust for mine

 

[rmd]

Being young Hoppa on as a winger initially when Turbo returns, as he gives us cover at the back.

 

[lsz]

Being young Hoppa on as a winger initially when Turbo returns, as he gives us cover at the back.

If you thought Saab used to rag dolled on his kick returns I hate to think about young Hoppa working the ball out on a tough carry

 

[Ryan]

Can I talk specifically to point 3, or to be more specific can we talk Jamie Humphreys.

You seem very excited by him and view him as a long term halfback at the club. To be honest in the games I've seen, I've not been convinced he will be a long term 1st grade half or 5/8 but was excited to see him at hooker this year.....that itself seems to have petered out.

Can I ask, what gives you confidence that Jamie Humphreys a player that..

• Has played 11 reserve grade games this year at hooker (4), bench (4) and 5/8.....none at halback.
• Was only re-signed very late last year on a 1 year deal.
• Remains off contract with no clubs seemingly lining up.
• Has not made an extended NRL squad this year.
• Was not taken to Vegas when players like Lehi were.
• Has only managed a third of his 24 reserve grade games at halfback.

What makes you confidence that he is the answer? Let alone the answer over the QLD halfback.

Everything I've seen from the shuffling around of positions and the lethergy is re-signing would indicate the club dont really view him as a proper first grade prospect.

Interested in your and everyone elses thoughts because for mine, if he can't lock down the Blacktown no7 I dont see logic handing him the Manly 7.

Watching him play in the lower grades mate. A clear standout.

Here's an article written that gives an insight into his ability the year after he lead the entire SG Ball competition in points scored, playing as a half. The years he was being selected as the international half.

Please, PLEASE don't buy into this clubs "moronic" habit of playing halfbacks as hookers. It hasn't, doesn't, and isn't working. Don't you find it funny that around the competitions we won with Ballin at Hooker (a specialist 9), we've had runs with Monaghan, Croker, Cade Cust etc, and literally nothing was achieved.

Okay, we had Api, and Fainu, and I felt that's where we started progress forward again, but alas.

Soaking up experience a key for Jamie Humphreys

Jamie Humphreys doesn’t need to walk far to ask for advice from one of Manly’s greatest halves pairing in Daly Cherry-Evans and Kieran Foran.

www.seaeagles.com.au

 

[Disco]

Watching him play in the lower grades mate. A clear standout.

Here's an article written that gives an insight into his ability the year after he lead the entire SG Ball competition in points scored, playing as a half. The years he was being selected as the international half.

Please, PLEASE don't buy into this clubs "moronic" habit of playing halfbacks as hookers. It hasn't, doesn't, and isn't working. Don't you find it funny that around the competitions we won with Ballin at Hooker (a specialist 9), we've had runs with Monaghan, Croker, Cade Cust etc, and literally nothing was achieved.

Okay, we had Api, and Fainu, and I felt that's where we started progress forward again, but alas.

Soaking up experience a key for Jamie Humphreys

Jamie Humphreys doesn’t need to walk far to ask for advice from one of Manly’s greatest halves pairing in Daly Cherry-Evans and Kieran Foran.

www.seaeagles.com.au

We've seen different games it seems, Ive seen him range between solid to pretty good but never a real clear standout.

Not to say he doesnt have potential but I think the leap from not being able to secure a reserve grade halfback spot to taking over from DCE is absolutely enormous.

As for the halfback conversions, you'll notice a theme in those players (Monas, Croker and Cust) and that is none where stand out first grade halfbacks. Monas at best was pretty decent. The fact we are trying him at hooker to me indicates he is not a top line halves prospect.

Oh and SG Ball to first grade may as well be my front lawn to the moon.

 

[madmax]

Here we go again……now Hoppa & Humphries not good enough for some. This site is getting so fu(king boring & depressing. Nothing positive about the team or players anymore, just constant bagging & negativity! No one good enough to wear the Maroon & White. I guess the experts & experienced ones have spoken. Bye bye for a while…..

 

[ManlyTragic]

Here we go again……now Hoppa & Humphries not good enough for some. This site is getting so fu(king boring & depressing. Nothing positive about the team or players anymore, just constant bagging & negativity! No one good enough to wear the Maroon & White. I guess the experts & experienced ones have spoken. Bye bye for a while…..

Gees your a bit tough… some on here are dreamers and some are realist and some like me are cautious after all the talk of Schu and weekes and others in the past being the next messiah. I am happy that the coach picks some of these kids … but I mindfull that there is a lot of over hype here and these kids need time to develop their skill and that generally that takes time.

Just sayin’

 

[Disco]

Here we go again……now Hoppa & Humphries not good enough for some. This site is getting so fu(king boring & depressing. Nothing positive about the team or players anymore, just constant bagging & negativity! No one good enough to wear the Maroon & White. I guess the experts & experienced ones have spoken. Bye bye for a while…..

Relax, I'm not bagging Humphries per se, moreso saying pinning out hopes on him to be our next star half seems wildly optimistic when he couldnt beat Wakeham to the 7 jersey for Blacktown.

If anything I'm one of the more optimistic around here but not every player in the squad will be a superstar.

As an aside, do you think DCE should be moved on next year and Humphrey's be our starting halfback??

Cause that is the point being discussed.

 

[Ron E. Gibbs]

Please, PLEASE don't buy into this clubs "moronic" habit of playing halfbacks as hookers. It hasn't, doesn't, and isn't working.

It worked with Manase Fainu, who was switched from the halves to hooker by Wayne Lambkin in 2017 when the under-20s team had Cade Cost and Tom Wright at 7 and 6. We won the NYC (Holden Cup) comp that year. Haumole and Keith Titmuss were also in that team, with Titmuss scoring the winning try in the grand final.

And it's worked, at least to some extent, with Croker.

But it doesn't have to be a permanent switch. There's no reason Humphreys can't play in the halves again if that's what he and the club - or another club - decide to do.

I like him and think he's a very good young player. I'm looking forward to watching his career develop, and I hope it's here at Manly. But right now, I have no idea what shape that career will take.

 

[eaglebuzz]

Relax, I'm not bagging Humphries per se, moreso saying pinning out hopes on him to be our next star half seems wildly optimistic when he couldnt beat Wakeham to the 7 jersey for Blacktown.

If anything I'm one of the more optimistic around here but not every player in the squad will be a superstar.

As an aside, do you think DCE should be moved on next year and Humphrey's be our starting halfback??

Cause that is the point being discussed.

He probably could have beat Wakeham to the 7, his ambitions are clearly to win a First Grade jersey and so he is trying to make a play at the 9 jersey which is far more up for grabs than the 7 is right now

 

[Dion Johnson]

There are still 3 remaining positions to fill in the 30 man squad according to the official NRL registered contracts.

TPJ is back playing in Queensland Cup, he could be worth a role of the dice for the remainder of this season.

2024 NRL Signings Tracker: Dragons sign Rugby 7s star, extend Flanagan

The Dragons have signed Australian Olympic sevens star Nathan Lawson and extended Kyle Flanagan, while luring Dan Atkinson from Cronulla for 2026.

www.nrl.com

 

[Disco]

He probably could have beat Wakeham to the 7, his ambitions are clearly to win a First Grade jersey and so he is trying to make a play at the 9 jersey which is far more up for grabs than the 7 is right now

Your thought is Humphries decided he wanted to shift to hooker rather than the coaching staff shifting him?

My thought would be the other way but I have no inside knowledge.

 

[double hoops]

If Humphries at hooker turns out not to be permanent. It certainly will have only helped him develop.

 

[spider]

If Humphries at hooker turns out not to be permanent. It certainly will have only helped him develop.

I think that's 1 of the reasons they put him there was to develop him for hooker or half back

 

[Manly To Win!]

There are still 3 remaining positions to fill in the 30 man squad according to the official NRL registered contracts.

TPJ is back playing in Queensland Cup, he could be worth a role of the dice for the remainder of this season.

2024 NRL Signings Tracker: Dragons sign Rugby 7s star, extend Flanagan

The Dragons have signed Australian Olympic sevens star Nathan Lawson and extended Kyle Flanagan, while luring Dan Atkinson from Cronulla for 2026.

www.nrl.com

TPJ? We've just gotten rid of Schuster. We don't need another player whos ego outweighs his talent.