2026 halves plan

[Disco]

4. Walsh LOL you are all dreaming. In 5 years time he might be handy.

I cant speak to Walsh being ready in 26 as I've not seen enough yet, I've had the adsumption his timeline would be more 2027.

That said, 5 years, pfffft 24 years old....he wouldnt still be at the club if it took him that long to break through.

 

[frank stokes]

Come Back Schu, All Is Forgiven!!

(Too soon?)

I am highly confident the 2026 answer will be Jake Arthur.

If we resign him and we are still carrying freight is that a saving or an additional cost? 🤔

 

[EaglesDontTweet]

So, a lot of talk about Turbo to 6, Brooks to 7.

Turbo at 6: Don't wish it on him but based on history he is an injury risk. He is easier to cover at fullback.
Brooks at 7: I always liked him at Wests, couldn't understand the pile-on, but, he has said being at Manly meant he could "fly under the radar" and his new position "suited his running game". Does Manly put a 12 season veteran who says this back as the chief playmaker and fall guy for every future loss?

Player for player, we currently have the most experienced team in the comp. If they do the above I hope it's a master stoke but are taking a chance by weakening positions that are settled.

'If the enemy strengthen his front, he must weaken his rear; if he strengthen his right, his left is weakened; and if he strengthen his left, his right is weakened. Everywhere to make preparations, is to be everywhere weak.' - Sun Tzu (The Art of War)

 

[Cameron]

If 2025 is it for Daly. There's one thing I do not want to see in 2026
6 Turbo
7 brooks.

The last year and a bit at Manly has proven Brooks is not a 7. He is a great supporting 6 but he isn't the main man. Why put him under that much pressure again.

Get Walsh in NSW cup and fast track him. Or get Latu back or Dodd someone for 2 seasons until Walsh is ready.

We really did **** up letting Humphries go.

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

If 2025 is it for Daly. There's one thing I do not want to see in 2026
6 Turbo
7 brooks.

The last year and a bit at Manly has proven Brooks is not a 7. He is a great supporting 6 but he isn't the main man. Why put him under that much pressure again.

Get Walsh in NSW cup and fast track him. Or get Latu back or Dodd someone for 2 seasons until Walsh is ready.

We really did **** up letting Humphries go.

Humphreys

 

[Eagle 1]

Surely we sign someone? But Joey Walsh isn’t even playing NSW cup yet so can’t really say with him. I think turbo will go 6 and Brooks 7 then obviously hoppa to fullback

Don't like the idea of Turbo at 5/8, to much tackling that would be demanded from Turbo, and would take away a lot of his attacking thrusts and plays that he always does at fullback.

 

[Hertera]

Pryce?????

Will Pryce english player at the knights

 

[The '47ers]

Will Walsh be ready? No

Is Arthur a stop gap? No

Are you behind the Tommy 5/8 play. No, takes away one of his best assets which is hitting the ball at speed

Do we go to market and for who? I've attached the off contract halves but there is also the opportunity to entice someone under contract. Who are we going to get for the $750K that we apparently have to spend? Options will be extremely limited and we would be looking at a discard - Reynolds (maybe), Townsend, Dodd, Sullivan, Sexton (if Chez signs with dogs), a new pommy half?

For me I think we are about 12months too early for Walsh. Agree (If he takes that step at all - many “promising” halves never have). For mine I'd pick up the phone to Reynolds for a 1 year deal with an option. Not the worst idea but if we were concerned about Chez getting injured then Reynolds takes that next-level - he will possibly spend more time on the sideline then Tom…

Dodd not a bad left field option 👌🏻

 

[Hertera]

It will be Brooks and Turbo imo not that I agree with it just the kids are not ready and nobody of quality on the market.

 

[Hertera]

Trent Toelau from penrith best on ground in a trial against us. Lot of upside.

 

[EaglesDontTweet]

As I posted in other thread...

Tony Mestrov: "we've got some exciting young talent in Onitoni Large and Joey Walsh, they are the future, and we've got other plans, for other players, and, move, moving of position, I don't want to go into that today but, it's exciting, we go into our next step, but Daly will never be forgotten"

 

[The Who]

2026: Brooks and TT2
I think we have enough talent to cover the backline.
More importantly, imo, we need a gun second-rower and lock. Our forwards need to be feared and I just don't think we have enough mongrel in our pack. Guacca is the exception, and TKO and Al (occasionally) have it.

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

Dodd not a bad left field option 👌🏻

And now on the outer

 

[47MVEagle]

Will Pryce english player at the knights

Just the other day I was wondering what had happened to him!

I remember his debut match last year, there was a lot of attention on it & his old man & mum came out from England to watch him play.

Haven’t seen much of him since.

 

[madmax]

Out of left field……I’d give Lehi a go at 5/8 with Brooks at 7. He’s got the skills 100%. Work hard on his kicking game & he could be wow! Trbo stays at FB.
Trbo
Saab
Garrick
Koula
Talau
Lehi
Brooks
Maybe I am actually mad!!

 

[sheridanstand78]

If we had a 9 who could kick efficiently, it would be an alternative to Brooks and allow potentially Turbo to be a 5/8 similar to what Mick Cronin used to do.

It would be stop gap until the babies are ready.

 

[Fibro Eagle]

I don’t think Manly will go to the market on a new 7
The 7 next year will come from within I think
Arthur’s or even Wakeham possibly Talau he played there last season some speculation about Turbo moving there
If Walsh gets a run in NSW cup and goes well then he may come through early, Galvin made his debut at 18 last year so Walsh’s age is not the issue there it’s his ability to play first grade is the question
There are options there some not so great but it’s hard to replace DCE

 

[Smokin Joe]

Onitoni Large.
Walsh is more a left side player,where Onitoni plays right.
With DCE leaving we may be able to keep Talau and move Turbo to the right side and Lehi at fullback.
Players worth bringing in are probably Sexton and Pryce,Pryce is a right side player who looked good last year and overlooked this year.
Kicking game might be a question if we move Turbo or Lehi into 6 though.

 

[Saabnaldo]

Turbo might be too stiff to play 6. Lehi at 6 is interesting

 

[Saabnaldo]

I don’t think Manly will go to the market on a new 7
The 7 next year will come from within I think
Arthur’s or even Wakeham possibly Talau he played there last season some speculation about Turbo moving there
If Walsh gets a run in NSW cup and goes well then he may come through early, Galvin made his debut at 18 last year so Walsh’s age is not the issue there it’s his ability to play first grade is the question
There are options there some not so great but it’s hard to replace DCE

Agree. If the club are smart they’ll sort out our forward pack instead