I see Top 4 and expect it

[Eagle eye]

I hope you are on the money @maxta would be great to get a home finals game.

I think we are short of a dominant middle, but hold hopes that Tent can have a breakout season and become the most dominant front rower in the game and Sipley goes to another level both defensively and fitness wise, think those two on paper look like the main meter eaters.

Would have liked another edge forward, though hold hopes on Ben T being better prepared for the position with a good offseason and the potential in Zane Dunford with a full offseason under him after missing out with injury last offseason.

Hopefully no long term injuries that jeopardise the squad in building on last season, I expect a similar type of attacking approach to games this season as it looks the strength of the squad.

View attachment 29138

Sipley is 30, his days to increase his fittness to another level is 10 years ago.

 

[Rocky]

And the right players and a reasonable dose of luck.

Yep - this seems to get lost in the criticism of the coach.

 

[Rafferty]

My heart always wants to see us top 4, (play and win GF’s) as a realist, my head says theres a chance, albeit a slim one.

We need a lot thing to fall our way and a few things to fall apart for some of the other sides. 17 sides begin the season aiming to play finals footy, 9 don’t make it, 13 can’t and won’t make the 4, that’s a 23% probability statistically speaking to finish top 4.

Took 38 points to secure a top 4 finish last year, I expect it will be very similar this year, if so, it will take 16 wins from 24 games, a 67% win ratio and may take 17 to guarantee, shifting the odds to a 71% win ratio, (2024 we won 13 games for a 54% winning ratio, excluding our draw)

Below is the season ahead, taken from the Sea Eagles offical website. Find 16 possibly 17 wins there and a finish top 4 finish is the deal, it’s a tough challenge, however we have a reasonably favourable draw with 12 home games at Brookie, however we also have a tough run home into the finals

Pretty sure it’s no secret you need a top 4 finish to be any shot of playing in September (history says so) I also feel pretty confident saying we would need a top 4 finish and a win week one of the finals to earn a week off if we were any chance of progressing.

I think top 4 is a huge task, here’s hoping we have a huge year.

The challenge is spelt out below, it’s only 16 wins right, shouldn’t be that hard! You know it is and if you don’t you should know it will be, anyway be interested to see if anyone will place their 16 W’s in the right place.

The Sea Eagles open their season at 4 Pines Park against the North Queensland Cowboys on Saturday, March 8, at 7.35pm.

Manly will have a massive advantage in 2025 with all 12 home games being played at 4 Pines Park.

Click here to download our printable .pdf of our 2025 draw

Here are some of the key points of the 2025 Sea Eagles draw:

Home Games​

Four of Manly's first five games will be played at 4 Pines Park in a terrific start to the season with three consecutive games at home against the Canberra Raiders, Parramatta Eels, and the Melbourne Storm.

The Brisbane Broncos also finally return to Brookvale for the first time since 2014.

Manly play the following teams at 4 Pines Park in 2025: Nth Qld Cowboys, Canberra Raiders, Parramatta Eels, Melbourne Storm, St George-Illawarra Dragons, Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, Brisbane Broncos, Wests Tigers, South Sydney Rabbitohs, Sydney Roosters, Dolphins, Warriors.

Following the unprecedented demand for tickets in 2024 that saw the Sea Eagles sell out eight of their 10 home matches, supporters are encouraged to become a Manly Member now to secure the best seats available. Check out the Membership packages here.

One time only​

Manly play the following teams just once in 2025: Penrith Panthers. Brisbane Broncos, Newcastle Knights, Gold Coast Titans, South Sydney, Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, Sydney Roosters, Dolphins.

Take two​

The Sea Eagles only play three of last year's finalists twice in 2025. Here are the teams we play twice: Nth Qld Cowboys, Warriors, Canberra Raiders, Melbourne Storm, St George-Illawarra Dragons, Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, Parramatta Eels, Wests Tigers.

Bye rounds​

The Sea Eagles have been allocated byes in rounds 9, 16 and 19.

Home games at 4 Pines Park​

Thursday 7.50pm: vs St George-Illawarra Dragons (Rd 7)

Friday 6pm: vs Wests Tigers (Rd 17), Warriors (Rd 27)

Saturday 3pm: vs Dolphins (Rd 25)

Saturday 7.35pm: vs North Queensland Cowboys (Rd 1), Brisbane Broncos (Rd 13), Sydney Roosters (Rd 22)

Sunday 4.05pm; vs Parramatta Eels (Rd 4), Melbourne Storm (Rd 5), Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks (Rd 10), South Sydney Rabbitohs (Rd 18)

Sunday 6.15pm: vs Canberra (Rd 3)

Huge advantage...the Sea Eagles will play all 12 home games at 4 Pines Park in 2025©NRL Photos

The Run In​

In the run into the finals, the Sea Eagles play the following teams in the last five rounds: Canberra (away), Wests Tigers (away), Dolphins (home), Dragons (away), Warriors (home).

The mileage​

The Sea Eagles will travel 17,956 km in 2025. The average team travel next season is 25,109km.

Turnaround time​

The Sea Eagles have been allocated the following all-important turnaround times between each round.

- 8 x 6 day turnarounds

- 2 x 5 day turnarounds

- 13 x 7 or more day turnarounds

Demanding times​

The Sea Eagles face two very big challenges in 2025 with Manly playing three games in 11 days between rounds 5-7, and three games in 12 days from rounds 10-12.

After playing Melbourne on a Sunday at home in round five, Manly fly to Perth to tackle the Sharks the following Saturday. Manly then back up just five days later to play the Dragons at 4 Pines Park on Easter Thursday.

Following an away game to premiers Penrith at CommBank Stadium in round eight and the team's first bye in round nine, Manly then face their second demanding turnaround schedule between rounds 10-12.

Round 10 sees a Sunday showdown with the Sharks at 4 Pines Park before Manly travel to Townsville to play the Cowboys the following Saturday in round 11.

The Sea Eagles then back up the following Friday in round 12 to tackle the Eels at CommBank Stadium.

Not so 'perfect in Qld'​

Queensland, beautiful one day, not many Manly games the next!

Unfortunately for Manly members and supporters up north, the Sea Eagles will not appear in Brisbane next season after missing out on Magic Round (bye), and the Broncos and Dolphins.

The Sea Eagles only travel to Queensland to take on the Gold Coast Titans and the North Queensland Cowboys.

'West Coast' Sea Eagles​

The Sea Eagles tackle the Sharks in an away game at Optus Stadium on Saturday, April 12, at 1pm (AWST) as part of an NRL Double Header with Souths and the North Qld Cowboys.

Manly have a great record in Perth, winning four of their six premiership matches played there.

Origin period​

The Sea Eagles will be without their Origin players in Rd 12 (vs Parramatta), Rd 15 (vs Titans) and Rd 19 (vs Souths).

The State of Origin series kicks off on Wednesday, May 28, at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, before heading to Optus Stadium, Perth, on Wednesday, June 18, for Game two. Game three will be played at Accor Stadium on Wednesday, July 9.

NRL Themed Rounds​

The Sea Eagles play the following teams in NRL themed rounds.

Rd 5 Multicultural Round: vs Melbourne Storm, 4 Pines Park

Rd 8 ANZAC Round: vs Penrith Panthers , CommBank Stadium

Rd 9 Magic Round: Bye

Rd 17 Beanie Round: vs Wests Tigers, 4 Pines Park

Rd 24 Indigenous Round: vs Wests Tigers, Allianz Stadium

​

• 

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

Top 4, yeah a real chance.

But everything has to go our way , and it won’t.

Really depends on the other teams and how they go.

The top 2 last year may not be the top 2 this year , Penrith has lost two very very good players , how they recover is an unknown , so I expect them to slip.

We need to improve a fair bit but not majorly.

Yeah I’m on the fence I suppose.

Fingers crossed

 

[The Wheel]

My view there is only one top 4 spot available;
Storm definitely there
Riff absolutely should be there despite losing a few again
Sharks should be there with AFB coming into there squad

Who gets the other spot will depend on injury I reckon. Whether it’s us, dogs, cows, bronco, chickens who knows

 

[Go manly]

I think Penrith and roosters will slide out of the four and be replaced by Manly Brisbane
Broncos
Sharks
Melb
Manly
…………………..,,..,.
I think 5- 8 will be
Riff
Cowboys
Dogs
East’s / souffs / dragons ?
……………..
9–12th
NZ
Tits
…………..
Bottom 5in any order
Raiders
Dolphins
Tigers
Newcastle
Parra
………………………….
Manly to play sharks in GF
Go manly says
Go Manly

 

[Tragic Eagle]

The comp is wide open this year and we have a real opportunity if we can produce solid defence and consistency.

 

[BOZO]

But everything has to go our way , and it won’t.

Straight from the Manly Website ....
Manly will have a Massive advantage in 2025 with all 12 home games being played at 4 Pines Park.

As far as EVERYTHING has to go our way ....
We do not live in a perfect world where EVERYTHING will go our way
So we should Always strive for Excellence and Excel in Challenging times
We are also accountable and live and die by the choices we make in times of Adversary

The moral of the story
I hope you have a Good day feathered friend
and it is only going to be as good as YOU can make it

 

[BOZO]

Fair enough. But I think if we've been good enough to make the top 4, the coach has done a pretty good job and it can't be all on the coach if they don't win the GF. Anywayz, looking forward to us starting the year well and then going from there.

We were good enough of a team to make the top 8 and the coach met expectations
Exceeding expectations was for the coach to inspire his team to top 4
The fact is we did not make the top 4 and we disappointedly capitulated and were eliminated in the finals.
The coach also failed to lift his team to the finals the year before

So far the coach has not exceeded expectations to say he has done a pretty good job
But we all have a different standard perspectives feathered friend and the Silvertails forum is the place to express our point of views

I also hope we not only start well but for once in a long time we consistently play well and win well through out the season and soar into the finals with formidable momentum
Instead of capitulating like shot ducks as we did last season

 

[BOZO]

Who gets the other spot will depend on injury I reckon. Whether it’s us, dogs, cows, bronco, chickens who knows

Injury will be one of the factors that will play a part
But so too will be the superior mind game plan
The resilience Inspired and how adversary is handled
All about getting your boys Plumped up for The Fight of their Lives

Pumped up and ready to Go Manly !
1987 Inspirational Premiership Winner Ron Gibbs

 

[manly al]

Can never underestimate Turbo 's ability to boost or influence a game in Manly " favor but somehow is ideally able to pick up his last line of defence at the back '
May not be as important when Manly can outplay a side in general but in the tighter and higher competitive ones , really can not afford too much laxness or ineffectiveness nullifying or shutting down an attack at the back .
Young Hoppa at the back has been quite reliable when under pressure in defence when he has played as the one and really need a similar situation with Turbo there .
If there is going to be a benchmark indication say against the Dogs in the i st final , not sure how much more improvement is needed but certainly need a bit and more so if the late season Sharks or finals Roosters game is taken into account .
Just based on Ryan 's 2024 game stats , definite improvement in most areas and somehow have to go a bit better then that collectively or a few more things going their way to reach that top four billing

 

[maxta]

Can never underestimate Turbo 's ability to boost or influence a game in Manly " favor but somehow is ideally able to pick up his last line of defence at the back '
May not be as important when Manly can outplay a side in general but in the tighter and higher competitive ones , really can not afford too much laxness or ineffectiveness nullifying or shutting down an attack at the back .
Young Hoppa at the back has been quite reliable when under pressure in defence when he has played as the one and really need a similar situation with Turbo there .
If there is going to be a benchmark indication say against the Dogs in the i st final , not sure how much more improvement is needed but certainly need a bit and more so if the late season Sharks or finals Roosters game is taken into account .
Just based on Ryan 's 2024 game stats , definite improvement in most areas and somehow have to go a bit better then that collectively or a few more things going their way to reach that top four billing

This is exactly why my favourite all time FB was Snake Stewart. he scored many sizzling tries, but saved many also and a heap of those trysavers were gamesavers and if you seen him as general at the back, was far more vocal than most fullbacks which helped the front line also....Turbo is a sensational FB and has time to improve this area, but very valid area of concern and 1 that can give Manly more strength for the seasons ahead.

 

[BOZO]

This is exactly why my favourite all time FB was Snake Stewart. he scored many sizzling tries, but saved many also and a heap of those trysavers were gamesavers and if you seen him as general at the back, was far more vocal than most fullbacks which helped the front line also....Turbo is a sensational FB and has time to improve this area, but very valid area of concern and 1 that can give Manly more strength for the seasons ahead.

The Sensational Snake on his day was the Fonz
The two time premiership winning Legend was a favorite crowd pleaser

It is hard to split them but My favorite was the 4 premiership Winning Wombat
If The Snake was the Fonz . The Wombat was The King as he had more premiership Winning Hits

 

[BOZO]

As for Turbo
Time for you to join the Elite Legendary Manly Premiership Winning fullback club

 

[Seagles68]

It

We were good enough of a team to make the top 8 and the coach met expectations
Exceeding expectations was for the coach to inspire his team to top 4
The fact is we did not make the top 4 and we disappointedly capitulated and were eliminated in the finals.
The coach also failed to lift his team to the finals the year before

So far the coach has not exceeded expectations to say he has done a pretty good job
But we all have a different standard perspectives feathered friend and the Silvertails forum is the place to express our point of views

I also hope we not only start well but for once in a long time we consistently play well and win well through out the season and soar into the finals with formidable momentum
Instead of capitulating like shot ducks as we did last season
View attachment 29152

It appears Bozo, you've misunderstood my post about finishing top 4. It was a hypothetical about this year as a follow on from your previous post. And I'm not sure what the differing standards are. My expectations are - be game fit, play hard and with some flair, never hear someone say "we just didn't turn up", back each other and don't give up. I can't ask too much more than that.
But anywayz, I still don't think it can be all on the coach if you make it to the top 4 but can't win the GF. Experience and the quality of the players across the park and luck, have a big say. Did we think we were going to lose 2 players in 2 tackles against the Roosters?? Do you really think Seibold was lacking coz he couldn't inspire a win after that against a quality Roosters team? Sure there are moments when the players and the coaches words come together and produce the desired result but I think the whole "inspired" coach thing is a bit overdone. Are Bennett and Bellamy only inspired coaches when they win GFs but revert to just average when they lose?
And yep, consistency is key to a good season and winning those early home games very important. Can't wait to have my bum on the seat watching with a full house.

 

[Woodsie]

It

It appears Bozo, you've misunderstood my post about finishing top 4. It was a hypothetical about this year as a follow on from your previous post. And I'm not sure what the differing standards are. My expectations are - be game fit, play hard and with some flair, never hear someone say "we just didn't turn up", back each other and don't give up. I can't ask too much more than that.
But anywayz, I still don't think it can be all on the coach if you make it to the top 4 but can't win the GF. Experience and the quality of the players across the park and luck, have a big say. Did we think we were going to lose 2 players in 2 tackles against the Roosters?? Do you really think Seibold was lacking coz he could inspire a win after that against a quality Roosters team? Sure there are moments when the players and the coaches words come together and produce the desired result but I think the whole "inspired" coach thing is a bit overdone. Are Bennett and Bellamy only inspired coaches when they win GFs but revert to just average when they lose?
And yep, consistency is key to a good season and winning those early home games very important. Can't wait to have my bum on the seat watching with a full house.

Yep ... top 4 would have to be the goal ... and I have no doubt this is the finish the coach, players and club are working towards ...

But as you point out .. success or otherwise will depend on many factors ... and the combined efforts of 30 players over 26 games ... not one scapegoat or position ...

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

Yep ... top 4 would have to be the goal ... and I have no doubt this is the finish the coach, players and club are working towards ...

But as you point out .. success or otherwise will depend on many factors ... and the combined efforts of 30 players over 26 games ... not one scapegoat or position ...

It’s what those top sides do & do well , everyone has a job , do it , and let the superstars create their magic.

Unlike what we’ve been doing , sit back , & expect the superstars to create the magic ( meanwhile they’re actually trying to do too much as the others haven’t been pulling their weight ).

That’s why the top two are so successful, year in , year out.

 

[BOZO]

It

It appears Bozo, you've misunderstood my post about finishing top 4. It was a hypothetical about this year as a follow on from your previous post. And I'm not sure what the differing standards are. My expectations are - be game fit, play hard and with some flair, never hear someone say "we just didn't turn up", back each other and don't give up. I can't ask too much more than that.
But anywayz, I still don't think it can be all on the coach if you make it to the top 4 but can't win the GF. Experience and the quality of the players across the park and luck, have a big say. Did we think we were going to lose 2 players in 2 tackles against the Roosters?? Do you really think Seibold was lacking coz he couldn't inspire a win after that against a quality Roosters team? Sure there are moments when the players and the coaches words come together and produce the desired result but I think the whole "inspired" coach thing is a bit overdone. Are Bennett and Bellamy only inspired coaches when they win GFs but revert to just average when they lose?
And yep, consistency is key to a good season and winning those early home games very important. Can't wait to have my bum on the seat watching with a full house.

Thank you for explaining that your top 4 finish was hypothetical
Misunderstandings happen when we are reading posts as we do not read peoples minds as well.

I do not think we can compare Seibold with Bennett and Bellamy as Hypothetic's do don't apply to their proven elite class Winning track record

We will agree to disagree and Like your self I am looking forward to a Bigger and Better Manly year .

 

[BOZO]

But as you point out .. success or otherwise will depend on many factors ... and the combined efforts of 30 players over 26 games ... not one scapegoat or position ...

Thank you for your perspective point of view
This is how others may see it

The coach is accountable for the player roster he choses and the make up of his NRL team and their playing style
Some call it scapegoat others call it accountability

We are all accountable for the choices we make that lead to the success or failure we end up with

 

[Woodsie]

Thank you for your perspective point of view
This is how others may see it

The coach is accountable for the player roster he choses and the make up of his NRL team and their playing style
Some call it scapegoat others call it accountability

We are all accountable for the choices we make that lead to the success or failure we end up with

GO away ....