Why Manly have high hopes for NRL’s second-tallest player
A Jason Saab clone waiting in the wings – pun intended – for more opportunities highlights the depth of talent Manly coach Anthony Seibold has stockpiled this season.
Towering teen Navren Willett has wasted no time in showing Seibold what he’s capable of, delivering
an eye-catching debut on the right flank in Saturday’s 34-24 pre-season win against South Sydney in Gosford.
The 19-year-old, who has joined Manly after coming through the Wests Tigers system, scored two first-half tries and came close to making it a hat-trick early in the second half.
At 201 centimetres (six foot seven inches), he is 2cm taller than speedster Saab.
The only player taller in the NRL is Brisbane forward Ben Te Kura (205cm). Other giants in the competition include Dominic Young and Nelson Asofa-Solomona (both 200cm) and David Klemmer, Tom Hazelton, Shaun Lane and Kai Pearce-Paul (all 198cm).
And according to Seibold, Willett is not just a big body – he’s got a big future, too.
“He will be, yeah,” Seibold said, when asked if he saw Willett as a prospective NRL player.
“He’s a 19-year-old kid from Taree. He’s got great potential … we identified him playing SG Ball [under-19s] last year, and we bought him because we feel like he can be a first-grader, and it was a really good debut for him in a Manly jersey.”
He will be, yeah,” Seibold said, when asked if he saw Willett as a prospective NRL player
Seibold said Willett’s physical attributes, which also reportedly attracted the attention of Sydney Swans talent scouts, were obvious from the first time he laid eyes on him.
“He’s got a lot of height, he’s really fit, he’s fast, athletic, and he’s got great hands,” Seibold said.
“There’s plenty of weapons that he brings, and now it’s about educating him about being a first-grade player - the way they prepare and all that sort of stuff. That’s our next job.”
He might be an unknown quantity at this point in his career, but Willett exemplifies the depth of talent Manly have lurking behind their NRL regulars.
Now preparing for his third season in charge at Brookvale, Seibold has made a concerted effort, via strategic recruitment, to ensure his squad is better equipped to cope with injuries and suspensions and potentially challenge for a title.
In last weekend’s trial against Souths, Seibold’s second-string line-up featured Lehi Hopoate, Jake Arthur, Raymond Tuaimalo-Vaega and Aaron Schoupp, all young tyros who have been tried and tested in the NRL. Another name on the team sheet was former Wests Tigers hooker Jake Simpkin, who represented the Prime Minister’s XIII a few years ago.
None of the aforementioned are likely to be part of Manly’s first-choice squad, at this point. But all have shown previously they are more than capable of coming in and doing a job, if required.
Then consider the old warhorses the Sea Eagles have picked up for a song: Siosiua Taukeiaho and Matthew Lodge.
Taukeiaho, 33, is a veteran of 169 NRL games, including two premiership victories with the Sydney Roosters, plus an ill-fated stint with Catalans in Super League that ended in him being sacked.
“I was really pleased with Siua Taukeiaho,” Seibold said after Saturday’s trial, adding that the Tongan international was a chance of playing in round one. “He hasn’t played for over 12 months, so it was great to have him back on the park and wearing the jersey for the first time.”
Canterbury were keen to sign Taukeiaho last season, only to terminate the deal when he was unable to pass a medical. There are no such qualms at Manly.
“He’s worked really hard in the pre-season,” Seibold said. “He lives in the area. His wife is from the area, so he had ties to the area … he’s had a really good pre-season so far.
“He’s won two premierships and played in a Super League grand final, so he brings great experience to us. So we’re really pleased with how he’s progressing, and we’ll see how he goes over the next couple of weeks.”
Lodge, who was once among the highest-paid front-rowers in the NRL, has signed a bargain-basement deal that will entitle him to play in the NRL after round 11.
“We signed ‘Lodgey’ to a NSW Cup contract, so he’ll be part-time, and he’ll be eligible for selection after round 11, which will give him time,” Seibold said.
“He’s got a fight or two that he’s going to do, play some NSW Cup for us ... it keeps him with the group. He’ll work a couple of days a week. He’ll train once a week with us.
“He’s an NRL player, isn’t he? You need depth in that position, and I feel like we’ve got some depth there.”
Seibold said that, man for man, this was “definitely” the strongest Manly squad he has coached, adding that he was facing some tough selection calls heading into round one.
“We’ve certainly built it,” he said. “We wanted to have competition for spots, and I feel like we’ve certainly been able to do that … I feel like we’ve added more depth.
“Luke Brooks has been here for over 12 months now, and a few positional changes we made last year – like Reuben Garrick – they’ve had 12 months in their new position.
“So we’re building. We don’t take too much from the trial games, but we’re trying to continually to improve.
The guys have a great work ethic and a great aptitude, and while we’ve got that as a group, we can continue to improve
By Robert Dillon
