2026 recruitment & retention

[Scorpio]

Maybe...

I think we can overly hype and be overly harsh on some of our players.

Edge backrowers starting or on the bench this week or last for the top 4 as the ladder currently sits.

Joe Chan, Alec Mcdonald, Simi Sasagi, Harry Hayes, Billy Burns, Jess Colquhoun.

Now all opinions and obvs you can cherry pit as you please but I dont think Burbo would be out of place amongst that lineup.

There are some comparatively average players that have won premierships this decade, this gets forgotten pretty quickly... The whole being greater than the sum of the parts and all.

 

[CoreyWaddellSuperFan]

Exactly. It feels like the recruitment team are sabotaging us. You are right about the Roosters, they have completely turned over their squad in 3 years, and here they are with a great squad again.

No excuses. Something stinks royally at this club and we need a broom through the whole place.

That’s probably why I would rather we just stack the club with Manly legends as much as possible: coaching, recruitment (remember Crusher Cleal?).

Walk all the imposters out. They seem to be at Manly to earn money for themselves, not to bring success to the club, and fall into shiny offers from agents for players they could not offload at that price anywhere else.

Such sad times. Change the lot.

NYEagle

Malcolm Knox described us perfectly in his DCE piece:

the ownership vacuum that periodically blew its breezy nothingness through the revolving door of the front office

 

[double hoops]

A new defensive coach would be a good start

 

[Hertera]

A new defensive coach would be a good start

Don't be a hater

 

[Under the Sticks]

A new defensive coach would be a good start

There were some of the softest tries I have seen scored at Brookvale today but that will get paper overed by the left sides wizardry.

The right side not only spluttered in attack but were woeful in defence.

 

[Under the Sticks]

Malcolm Knox described us perfectly in his DCE piece:

the ownership vacuum that periodically blew its breezy nothingness through the revolving door of the front office

Knox is quality and a Sea Eagles fan as well.

 

[Mac Man]

Gee Wadell's passing was on point today - What a Gun! Genius signing back into the fold....

 

[mave]

Gee Wadell's passing was on point today - What a Gun! Genius signing back into the fold....

Well every pass went to hand!!

 

[manlyfan76]

Gee Wadell's passing was on point today - What a Gun! Genius signing back into the fold....

I feel sorry for the in-law.
Playing a higher grade than he should and told to turn back into the defence every single time and get smashed.

 

[ManlyTragic]

I think Des would have had what was required to dig us out of a lot of these holes but unfortunately he had his legs cut out from under him by the geniuses in the front office who thought the pride jersey would be a good idea.

… he’s not doing too well where he is st present.

Just sayin’

 

[eaglebuzz]

… he’s not doing too well where he is st present.

Just sayin’

The Titans are a basket case, I don't think Des can take too much of the blame for that.

 

[ManlyTragic]

The Titans are a basket case, I don't think Des can take too much of the blame for that.

….. well reading the posts on here…. We are a basket case and Seibolds takes the blame on here!

Just sayin’

 

[manlyfan76]

….. well reading the posts on here…. We are a basket case and Seibolds takes the blame on here!

Just sayin’

Common denominator= Des

 

[susan]

Maybe...

I think we can overly hype and be overly harsh on some of our players.

Edge backrowers starting or on the bench this week or last for the top 4 as the ladder currently sits.

Joe Chan, Alec Mcdonald, Simi Sasagi, Harry Hayes, Billy Burns, Jess Colquhoun.

Now all opinions and obvs you can cherry pick as you please but I dont think Burbo would be out of place amongst that lineup.

Yeah you can argue that about individual players. Subjective. The real issue is that none of those top 4 clubs have decided it's. great idea to have 3 second rowers in their ENTIRE ROSTER with no 2 and no 3 being players of the quality of Ben and Waddell.
Even if you rate Ben as a starter it's still a joke roster.

Bottom line is against the top sides in big games these blokes don't cut it and they are the only options in our entire squad. Their error rates for a start are simply diabolical and don't seem to get better with experience.... when you have a slow immobile pack the last thing you need are the errors these guy throw up every week which forces more work for big bodies. It's a huge reason we give up big leads together with the headless chook.

 

[Brookie1973]

A new defensive coach would be a good start

Has to happen in the offseason if they are serious.

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

Yeah you can argue that about individual players. Subjective. The real issue is that none of those top 4 clubs have decided it's. great idea to have 3 second rowers in their ENTIRE ROSTER with no 2 and no 3 being players of the quality of Ben and Waddell.
Even if you rate Ben as a starter it's still a joke roster.

Bottom line is against the top sides in big games these blokes don't cut it and they are the only options in our entire squad. Their error rates for a start are simply diabolical.

I think we know we are well short of dynamic forwards , the problem is given the current cap restraints , the coach , our poor appeal factor it’s hard to see where that is going to turn around.

The only way forward at this point , is targeting good ( we won’t get the great ones ) youngsters who are behind a lot of players before they’ll get their shot.

There must be dozens at Penrith , there are obvious ones in Q Cup ( if you look ) and ditto NSW Cup.

And a area we should be basing a permanent recruiter , New Zealand.

Until we present better & become more appealing we are quite frankly , ****ed !!

 

[Heckenberg]

I think we know we are well short of dynamic forwards , the problem is given the current cap restraints , the coach , our poor appeal factor it’s hard to see where that is going to turn around.

The only way forward at this point , is targeting good ( we won’t get the great ones ) youngsters who are behind a lot of players before they’ll get their shot.

There must be dozens at Penrith , there are obvious ones in Q Cup ( if you look ) and ditto NSW Cup.

And a area we should be basing a permanent recruiter , New Zealand.

Until we present better & become more appealing we are quite frankly , ****ed !!

Hugo hart will likely debut next year same as simi. Realistically we probably need to let Garrick go and sign a quality forward on his coin.

 

[susan]

Hugo hart will likely debut next year same as simi. Realistically we probably need to let Garrick go and sign a quality forward on his coin.

Yep looking forward to seeing Hugo.Dont know much about him but big wraps. Queensland junior union product ??

 

[susan]

Hugo hart will likely debut next year same as simi. Realistically we probably need to let Garrick go and sign a quality forward on his coin.

Yep on a value for money basis Garrick is the best option to let go.Dont need his kicking with Fog coming and he's a winger in reality. Lehi and Koula are a great centre pairing ( or Tom)

. If they let him go I'd be playing Wilson and Saab on the wing hoping Fog can unlock him with precision kicks , not the usual 5 metre short of the line Chaser stuff. If that doesn't work then Talau to right wing.Talau good option as back up centre too.

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

Yep looking forward to seeing Hugo.Dont know much about him but big wraps. Queensland junior union product ??

Nudgee College First XV, may have been captain.

A mate of my son in law has his boy in the First 15 this year and we converse a bit on Facebook , he said Rugby Australia were really pissed when Hugo went to league , reckons he’s a gun.