Pre-Game Panthers V Manly [Round 8, 2025]

[Nordburg]

I’d suggest there wouldn’t be many players left in the 30 for Seibold to pick from,hence why the likes of Talau,Bullemor and Brown were named

 

[Uber Eagle 72]

I don’t think Toff will get a lengthy suspension.

Mixed Trbojevic news for struggling Sea Eagles

Manly is poised to name chief attacking weapon Tom Trbojevic for the crucial clash against Penrith.

www.smh.com.au

Manly facing prop crisis​

Penrith’s next opponents have problems of their own, namely a mounting injury toll that has added gravitas to Manly coach Anthony Seibold’s claims that a gruelling fixture list has pushed his players to their physical limits.

The Sea Eagles, who were flying high in second spot on the points table after winning three of their first four games, have nosedived to 12th after consecutive losses against Melbourne (48-24), Cronulla (24-18) and St George Illawarra (20-18).

The mini-slump has coincided with Manly having to play five games in 25 days - the last three of which came in an 11-day block that included travelling to and from Perth.

That prompted Seibold to speak out after Thursday’s loss to the Dragons at Brookvale.

The coach now faces the challenge of selecting a patched-up team for Saturday’s clash at Commbank Stadium with the revitalised four-time champions.
In particular, the Sea Eagles are pondering what would appear to be an engine-room crisis.

Towering Taniela Paseka is unlikely to play again this season after rupturing his Achilles playing against Canberra last month.

Toafofoa Sipley was referred straight to the judiciary for a hip-drop tackle against the Dragons and is facing a likely long-term suspension.

Jake Trbojevic suffered a grade-one concussion on Thursday and will miss the clash with Penrith.

In addition, Nathan Brown (shoulder) and Ethan Bullemore (knee) were both injured against the Dragons and are racing the clock to prove their fitness.

“They’ll need to be monitored and won’t train, if available, until the back end of the week,” Seibold said of Brown and Bullemore.

“They both couldn’t finish Thursday’s game so are in doubt.”

Meanwhile, veteran Matt Lodge, who is on a train-and-trial contract that allows him to play in the NRL in round 10, suffered a toe injury recently that has hindered his preparations.

Winger Tommy Talau is also in doubt this week with a lower-leg problem.

Desperately needing some reinforcements to bolster his pack, Seibold is hoping Josh Ailoai, who has missed two of the past three games with a shoulder injury, will be available this week, while Corey Waddell will return from suspension.

He is also optimistic that talismanic Tom Trbojevic is “a good chance” to return from a knee injury that has sidelined him for three games.

Manly have lost all three of those games, adding to their cursed record minus “Tommy Turbo”. Of the 50 games he has missed since 2021, they have won only 16.

Seibold admitted the Sea Eagles are “a bit beaten up at the minute” and told this masthead that the playing schedule had hindered Manly’s selection options.

“The short turnaround after Perth prevented Josh Aloiai from playing,” he said.

“Over this period we have had Tom Trbojevic, Tommy Talau, Jason Saab and Josh Aloiai miss games due to the playing schedule / short turnaround that on normal turnarounds would have been available.”

dont think Toff will receive a lengthy suspension especially considering he was likely concussed during the act of making the tackle.

 

[Rocky]

I don’t think Toff will get a lengthy suspension.

dont think Toff will receive a lengthy suspension especially considering he was likely concussed during the act of making the tackle.

To be honest that was an ugly hip drop and fegeai was seriously hurt. Not sure how one can defend sipley here.

 

[Sheikheagle]

To be honest that was an ugly hip drop and fegeai was seriously hurt. Not sure how one can defend sipley here.

I agree re the concussion had some bearing on the tackle. However, its my understanding that he has pleaded guilty and given his priors for this type of tackle i would expect that he will get 4 weeks as a minimum.

 

[Sea Eagle 4 Life]

To be honest that was an ugly hip drop and fegeai was seriously hurt. Not sure how one can defend sipley here.

If we had this guy to defend him, he would be cleared:

 

[davohan123]

Could easily be 5,6 or 7 as I doubt we’ll be competitive until we play the Eels in round 12.

After yesterday eels will run rings around us if Moses is playing but our game against parra could be origin affected.

 

[davohan123]

Panthers by whatever they want sadly
But Simpkin starting turbo back jazz man starting at 13 we look better already
We still won’t win and probably get beat 38-10 something like that but surely we put in a better effort this week.

 

[Saabnaldo]

I wonder when the Seibold sack rumors are gonna come up again. 4 losses in a row doesn’t look good for any coach

 

[davohan123]

I'm happy Simpkins to starting hooker and Jazz to 13.

Add to that turbo back also

 

[mickqld]

Weather looking like a wet track. Just set up beautifully for Manly to disintegrate and Turbo to do a pull, strain or tear of something. Why risk anyone. We are thousands to even get close to Penrith. But stupidity seems to reign supreme at Manly these days.

 

[Budgie]

This is one of those 'It Is What It Is' games.

But it will also tell us if there's an ounce of grit and belief in the squad that takes the field.

Interesting viewing

 

[Hertera]

dont think Toff will receive a lengthy suspension especially considering he was likely concussed during the act of making the tackle.

4 weeks minimum I'm betting

 

[Fred]

Manly by 26

 

[HoldenV8]

Seibold FINALLY see's sense and names Jake Simpkin at hooker.

With no Paseka and no Jake Trbojevic ... no way should Jazz still be playing hooker.

 

[mickqld]

Seibold FINALLY see's sense and names Jake Simpkin at hooker.

With no Paseka and no Jake Trbojevic ... no way should Jazz still be playing hooker.

Even with everyone fit Jazz should not be playing hooker. A bench middle at best. Jake should also be a 40 minute middle but at $900K we have to play him at lock. Such poor roster management.

 

[Phobia]

I think Navale will play. Someone in our arthritis patient list will certainly drop out. Honestly, I could genuinely see five of the players named dropping out by game day, especially based on Seibold's comments.

I actually like Talau on the bench. Given the known "durability" of our players we might actually see him play second row, like quite a few here have suggested.

 

[aidan]

I think Navale will play. Someone in our arthritis patient list will certainly drop out. Honestly, I could genuinely see five of the players named dropping out by game day, especially based on Seibold's comments.

I actually like Talau on the bench. Given the known "durability" of our players we might actually see him play second row, like quite a few here have suggested.

Yes agreed. I think there’s a good chance Navale, Gordie and Faulalo all play this weekend. I noticed that out of our 22 man squad, Chee Kam and Arthur were named in NSW cup but the other three I just listed weren’t. Which means they’re probably all likely to play first grade, with Bullemor, Brown and either Talau to Turbo to drop out.

 

[Stewbojevic]

If Brown dropped out for Navale I’d like the look of this list.

 

[HoldenV8]

Even with everyone fit Jazz should not be playing hooker. A bench middle at best. Jake should also be a 40 minute middle but at $900K we have to play him at lock. Such poor roster management.

Agreed.

• Jake Simpkin should be the starting No.9.
• Jake Trbojevic should be in the front row rotation regardless of Paseka's injury.
• Jazz Tevaga should be a middle forward either starting or off the bench and nowhere near dummy half.

But I fear that it will be a one game thing. We have the bye after Penrith, after which will likely see Jake back at lock and Froggy back playing mess it up from dummy half. Jazz will go back to the bench as a forward who can also cover dummy half, which will also likely see Simpkin unfairly and IMO wrongly put back to NSW Cup.

For the record I have nothing against Jazz as a player, I think he was a good buy for us as a bench forward. And he's been trying his best out there as a dummy half, but the fact is he has been played out of position for God only knows what reason and its not worked.

And that's before we get into your roster management about who gets paid what. Unfortunately Jake Trbojevic is being paid about $300k more than his level of play is worth. When he's fit and in form, Tom is worth his every bit of his contract. Problem is he's only fit about half the time. And thankfully we get rid of the $1.3m noose that is DCE's contract at the end of this year. Lets face facts, DCE may have missed hardly any games through injury, but we haven't even gotten close to another Premiership (let alone a Grand Final) since he signed that deal. Its been far more of a hinderance than its been a bonus.

 

[Darknstormy]

As long as the side can regroup and rally sufficiently and Aloiai and Bully are ideally match fit , might be within range of being quite competitive against the Panthers and some chance .
Again with the prospect T K O and Aloiai starting props and Bully , Jake and Brown to complement the rotation .
But looks like Jass is on stand by as a prop option so maybe not looking that good with all of the other options being available .
Sure that Navale will really make an effort but would think at least also two of Bully , Aloiai or Brown being available as well to consolidate the pack better .
Surely the backs can offer something worthwhile with or without Turbo and again be a bit more fluent in attack or the attacking plays a bit better co ordinated all round .
Tend to think or must be a bit obvious now that D C E is being affected with some injury niggle , no excuse for some wayward play the other night but the whole attacking structure was totally off in the i st half .
Not sure if they can definitely turn thigs around sufficiently this week to give themselves a chance and very disappointing form wise recently of course but that type of a year again for most sides with consistency and fluctuating form and no time like the present for Manly to bounce back again

Even if they do win we will lose the following 2 then win 2 then lose 4 and turbo