A promising youngster who the Sea Eagles wanted to sign as a 16-year-old will finally join the club five years later.
Versatile back Brayden Wiliame, who can play centre, wing and fullback, is one of the club's new young recruits for next season after an eventful journey that has taken him to Melbourne, Parramatta and Newcastle.
And his manager Gavin Orr believes the Manly environment can bring out the best in him.
"He is very athletic and reminds me a bit of Willie Tonga when he was at his best," Orr said.
The Sea Eagles have a reputation for turning players who have struggled to make their mark at other clubs into first graders.
"Brayden was actually offered a contract at Manly when he was 16," Orr said.
"At the time he was playing for the Central Coast Storm, who were a feeder team for the Melbourne Storm."
After playing in the Harold Matthews side the Storm saw his potential and beat the Sea Eagles to Wiliame's signature.
The following season he was in the Storm SG Ball side and from there he made the NSW Under-20s.
After missing almost a whole season with a knee injury he joined Parramatta in 2013 where he made his NRL debut under then-coach Ricky Stuart.
However, at the end of that season Wiliame was one of the players who was shown the door as the Eels underwent a widely publicised clean-out.
He headed up to Newcastle where he spent the past season.
"He actually played some very good football up there," Orr said.
"Now he has gone to Manly, where he probably should have started in the first place.
"And he followed Manly as a kid."
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Jon Geddes
Manly Daily
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/ne...ne-that-got-away/story-fngr8iii-1227086688438
