LARGE SIGNING FOR SEA EAGLES
Manly have secured one of the brightest young prospects in either code by snatching Onitoni Large from Wests Tigers amid heavy interest from Australian rugby.
Large has signed a three-year contract to join the Sea Eagles from next season – a player many experts in the game have described as the best young talent across either code.
Manly have secured one of the brightest young guns in rugby in Onitoni Large.
The Tigers wanted to keep him but have their own talented halves including Jarome Luai plus youngsters Lachie Galvin and Latu Fainu.
Large played in Western Suburbs under-17s Harold Matthews team this year and The Scots College student also captained the Junior Wallabies side. Rugby Australia wanted to him to make the permanent switch to the 15-man game but instead he has agreed to ink a long-term deal with the Sea Eagles.
“We identified him as a potential superstar,” Manly boss Tony Mestrov said. “He has genuine speed and is an exciting player.
“We don’t want to put pressure on him but he will add to what we want to do as a spine for the future.”
His younger brother Ashton remains signed to the Tigers for next season.
The Sea Eagles have also secured Canterbury’s Zaidas Muagututia, a hooker, plus Joey Walsh.
Walsh is an Australian rugby under-18 half and captain who has joined the side on a three-year contract.
Walsh and Large have been earmarked as Manly’s long-term halves pairing as they plan for the eventual retirement of skipper Daly Cherry-Evans.
Throw in Muagututia plus the emergence of 19-year-old Lehi Hopoate into the top grade this year – with Hopoate expected to eventually be the club’s long-term fullback – the Sea Eagles are setting themselves up for sustained success.
Onitoni Large attracted a lot of attention from rugby union.
“The future looks bright with the spine that we’ve signed,” Mestrov said. “Lehi is already playing first grade and the other three will go into our system and hopefully go through the top grade.
“The future looks bright with the spine that we’ve signed.”
The Tigers are sweating on securing Heamasi Makasini to a long-term deal however it is expected that Makasini will test the market come November 1.
The Newington College student also has interest in rugby union.
Manly have secured one of the brightest young prospects in either code by snatching Onitoni Large from Wests Tigers amid heavy interest from Australian rugby.
Large has signed a three-year contract to join the Sea Eagles from next season – a player many experts in the game have described as the best young talent across either code.
Manly have secured one of the brightest young guns in rugby in Onitoni Large.
The Tigers wanted to keep him but have their own talented halves including Jarome Luai plus youngsters Lachie Galvin and Latu Fainu.
Large played in Western Suburbs under-17s Harold Matthews team this year and The Scots College student also captained the Junior Wallabies side. Rugby Australia wanted to him to make the permanent switch to the 15-man game but instead he has agreed to ink a long-term deal with the Sea Eagles.
“We identified him as a potential superstar,” Manly boss Tony Mestrov said. “He has genuine speed and is an exciting player.
“We don’t want to put pressure on him but he will add to what we want to do as a spine for the future.”
His younger brother Ashton remains signed to the Tigers for next season.
The Sea Eagles have also secured Canterbury’s Zaidas Muagututia, a hooker, plus Joey Walsh.
Walsh is an Australian rugby under-18 half and captain who has joined the side on a three-year contract.
Walsh and Large have been earmarked as Manly’s long-term halves pairing as they plan for the eventual retirement of skipper Daly Cherry-Evans.
Throw in Muagututia plus the emergence of 19-year-old Lehi Hopoate into the top grade this year – with Hopoate expected to eventually be the club’s long-term fullback – the Sea Eagles are setting themselves up for sustained success.
Onitoni Large attracted a lot of attention from rugby union.
“The future looks bright with the spine that we’ve signed,” Mestrov said. “Lehi is already playing first grade and the other three will go into our system and hopefully go through the top grade.
“The future looks bright with the spine that we’ve signed.”
The Tigers are sweating on securing Heamasi Makasini to a long-term deal however it is expected that Makasini will test the market come November 1.
The Newington College student also has interest in rugby union.
