2025 recruitment & retention

[Disco]

Seem like an Top 30

Meanwhile, former Manly forward Michael Chee Kam returns home to the Sea Eagles in 2025.

Chee Kam made his NRL debut for the Sea Eagles in 2014, playing five games over two seasons for the club. He later joined Wests Tigers in 2016 and South Sydney in 2022. He played 16 NRL games for the Rabbitohs last season.

“Michael brings great experience to our supplementary list. He has played in excess of 130 games now in the NRL,’’ Seibold added.

“He has been at Manly previously and he lives in the area. He can play multiple positions, so we feel like having Michael in our squad adds to our depth.”

Literally says "Michael brings great experience to our supplementary list"

 

[Ben]

Surely after these signings as well as Bateman rumoured, we still have some coin for a decent signing.
These are all money ball minimum wage contracts along with Tigpies paying for most of Batemans contract if he comes.
My guess is that we have one more key piece on the way.

 

[Disco]

We all dream that is May but we dont even look in the running

 

[mickqld]

Chee Kam. F.M.D. Have we just given up on the idea of winning an NRL premiership and just going for the NSW cup title. Unimpressed.

 

[master blaster]

We all dream that is May but we dont even look in the running

Your right Disco, we are not even mentioned in the teams that are chasing him, sad, very sad mate

 

[ManlyTragic]

Seem like an Top 30

Meanwhile, former Manly forward Michael Chee Kam returns home to the Sea Eagles in 2025.

Chee Kam made his NRL debut for the Sea Eagles in 2014, playing five games over two seasons for the club. He later joined Wests Tigers in 2016 and South Sydney in 2022. He played 16 NRL games for the Rabbitohs last season.

“Michael brings great experience to our supplementary list. He has played in excess of 130 games now in the NRL,’’ Seibold added.

“He has been at Manly previously and he lives in the area. He can play multiple positions, so we feel like having Michael in our squad adds to our depth.”

That quotation doesn’t dazzle me with optimism!

Just sayin’

 

[KNUCKLES]

Your right Disco, we are not even mentioned in the teams that are chasing him, sad, very sad mate

We weren't in the running for Taupau either at the time according to the media. From memory it was all done and dusted at the raiders

 

[Disco]

It's the hope that kills you

 

[silvertail]

The prophecy comes true. If I recall, Fulton told Chee Kam he was welcome to return and predicted he would excel later in his playing career. Cheap backfill, I think he will do well.

 

[Ryan]

It's the hope that kills you

What are your thought's on our recruits? 33 (Taukeiaho) + 33 (MCK) + 30 (Tevaga) as a collective (ages next season btw). Losing Humphreys, Schuster, Lawton, Lodge etc.

In your opinion, are these movements enough to break us into the top 4, and compete with Penrith, Melbourne etc?

Where's your hopes at?

 

[ManlyTragic]

The prophecy comes true. If I recall, Fulton told Chee Kam he was welcome to return and predicted he would excel later in his playing career. Cheap backfill, I think he will do well.

Didn’t we say the same about Gutho!

 

[Disco]

What are your thought's on our recruits? 33 (Taukeiaho) + 33 (MCK) + 30 (Tevaga) as a collective (ages next season btw). Losing Humphreys, Schuster, Lawton, Lodge etc.

In your opinion, are these movements enough to break us into the top 4, and compete with Penrith, Melbourne etc?

Where's your hopes at?

I'm neither too impressed with the three you mentioned arriving nor too dissapointed in the four leaving.

Though Schuster has it in him if he can get himself straight.....good luck to him.

I think we are not without a shot of top four but that will moreso come from development within the squad rather than a sugar hit of a new signing, that said I would like a decent forward signing.

Too early to be making finishing predictions as things stand, lets see how the next few months play out for all clubs.

Like the forward planning in the halves with Walsh and Large.

 

[jbb/james]

What are your thought's on our recruits? 33 (Taukeiaho) + 33 (MCK) + 30 (Tevaga) as a collective (ages next season btw). Losing Humphreys, Schuster, Lawton, Lodge etc.

In your opinion, are these movements enough to break us into the top 4, and compete with Penrith, Melbourne etc?

Where's your hopes at?

from a pure footy aspect you raise a decent point. I do however think the jazzman and Mck add differing attributes that will come in handy. Not going to really push the dial much in overall standings though and it would suprise no one if we missed the 8 in 25.

Another consideration is the coach has the team pegged as fragile mentally and needs to add experience to settle the FRANTIC MOMENTS that have haunted manlys game for a decade

 

[nightster]

Wow Corey Waddell's photo MIA.

Im a little stunned by that.

Is Chee Kam better than Waddles ? Is Jazz Tevaga better?

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

Another consideration is the coach has the team pegged as fragile mentally and needs to add experience to settle the FRANTIC MOMENTS that have haunted manlys game for a decade

Hang in there James, the frantic moments will all be over soon, maybe one more year 😆

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

Is Chee Kam better than Waddles ? Is Jazz Tevaga better?

Chee Kam can cover centre better than Waddell
Tevaga can cover dummy half better than Waddell
So some improvement in squad versatility and overall experience at least

 

[Disco]

The way I see it.

Jazz, Taukeuahio and Chee Kam replace Woods, Lodge and Condon in the squad....those 3 played 10 games between them last year (5 off the bench, a total of 321 minutes) so I'm not too stressed....in fact I think we'll get better value from the 3 coming in.

I do expect 1 more in to replace Lawton (most likely Bateman).

A fantasy would be May on top but I think I may as well be hoping for Powerball next Thurs.

 

[double hoops]

First objective. Must be in top 3 in defence. Don't care if we don't do a thing in attack this off season. Defence Defence Defence.

 

[jbb/james]

First objective. Must be in top 3 in defence. Don't care if we don't do a thing in attack this off season. Defence Defence Defence.

Hang in there James, the frantic moments will all be over soon, maybe one more year 😆

i appreciate your support through this hard time for me

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

The way I see it.

Jazz, Taukeuahio and Chee Kam replace Woods, Lodge and Condon in the squad....those 3 played 10 games between them last year (5 off the bench, a total of 321 minutes) so I'm not too stressed....in fact I think we'll get better value from the 3 coming in.

I do expect 1 more in to replace Lawton (most likely Bateman).

A fantasy would be May on top but I think I may as well be hoping for Powerball next Thurs.

I think you are 100% spot on with this.

In my opinion the money saved from Schuster would have gone to upgrades for a few ( and I think we had to pay him out for this year ).

So yes what you have written I’d say is right , and Lawton was probably on $300-$350 SO if indeed the Tigers are paying half for the next 2-3 years then Bateman would be a very experienced pick up for us and fitting into our cap situation.

AND the fact it’s gone so quiet is a sign that either he’s staying ( unlikely with Benji ) or the deal is being done and it’ll be announced when he’s back in Australia probably late this month or early the next.