2017 NRL Season Preview - Manly Sea Eagles
Manly Sea Eagles 2017 NRL Season Preview
2016 Review - Much was expected of the Sea Eagles in 2016, however it never eventuated, with the side managing just 8 wins and finishing in 13th position on the competition ladder. The Sea Eagles went on a big recruitment drive netting four big names including Nate Myles, Martin Tapau, Lewis Brown and Dylan Walker, plus the acquisition from Souths of dynamite bench hooker Api Koroisau. The Sea Eagles also heralded rookie coach, Trent Barrett, as perhaps the next “super coach” however they all failed to live up to the hype in a season littered with injuries and inconsistent performances. There were not too many positives for Manly in 2016 outside of the fact that in most games this team kept competing despite having a shocking injury toll. The Club were able to blood a number of young players for the first time in several years with the two Trbojevic brothers looking like stars of the future.
The Sea Eagles were a mess defensively on the edges, conceding 49 tries on the right and 41 on the left, and having the 4th worst overall defence for points conceded in the NRL. The side also struggled with discipline conceding the most penalties in the NRL and compounding that by making the 5th most errors of any club.
2017 Gains - Manly have made some interesting signings this off-season and I can't say I agree with all of them. I think clearly their best signing is Blake Green from the Melbourne Storm to fill the gaping hole they had last season in the five eight position. Daly Cherry Evans really struggled last season without his regular partner in crime, Kieron Foran, and Green is the sort of no-frills player that can provide a calming influence and a good short kicking game. If Green struggles, fellow new signing Jackson Hastings from the Roosters might put some heat on him for the five eight jumper. Curtis Sironen has potential as a back rower, however never really lived up to the hype at the Tigers and, like Martin Tapau, is good when the team in on the front foot, however can go missing for long periods in games when the side is struggling.
Akuila Uate was a rep standard winger a few seasons ago, however his best football looks a long way behind him and he was even dumped to Reserve Grade at struggling Newcastle last season, so I am scratching my head a little at his signing. Other signings for Manly include Cameron Cullen (Titans), Shaun Lane (Warriors), Lloyd Perrett (Bulldogs), Jarrad Kennedy (Raiders), Jonathan Wright (Warriors) and Frank Winterstein (Rugby Union).
2017 Losses - Manly are ushering in a new era this year with the loss of three legends of the club in Jamie Lyon, Steve Matai and Brett Stewart. Whilst all three were absolutely brilliant and tough footballers that formed a hard nosed and winning culture at Manly, only Lyon really played any decent football last season, and even he was starting to slow down. It was the right time for all three players to depart, with Stewart and Matai completely banged up and broken with injuries as they looked a shadow of their former selves in 2016. It’s sad that all three never got a farewell game at their beloved Brookvale, however they will be remembered very fondly by all Manly fans. Manly have controversially let go of one of the Club’s heart and soul players in Jamie Buhrer who headed to Newcastle, as well as promising young hooker Matt Parcell.
The Eagles have lost a stack of depth including Tim Moltzen (retirement), Tom Symonds (Huddersfield), Siosia Vave (Eels), Liam Knight (Roosters), Nathan Green (released), Blake Leary (Blackhawks), Issac John (Mounties), Jayden Hodges (released), Rhys Armstrong (released), Fabian Goodall (rugby union), Halaufa Lavaka (released), Tony Satini (Panthers), Dylan Kelly (released), Hugh Pratt (released), Nicho Hynes (released), Darcy Cox (released), Josh Starling (Knights), Brayden Williame (Catalans), Feleti Mateo (Salford) and Luke Burgess (Catalans).
2017 Player To Watch - Daly Cherry Evans - Cherry Evans was the golden boy of the code just a few seasons ago, however he has fallen a long way since then. Debuting for Queensland and Australia, he seemed set for a long career in Representative football, however his play has dropped off in the past couple of seasons. Last year in 19 games he managed just one line break and, whilst his 16 try assists were not bad, his game has slipped in several areas. All reports are Cherry Evans has put in his best off-season ever this year in an attempt to take his game back to where it once was with his dynamic running, passing and kicking game. He will need to if Manly are to be any chance of getting back to the finals this season, having lost so much experience in their roster.
2017 Draw (average) - Manly have been given 5 of their first 7 games this season at Brookvale Oval which gives them a great chance to get off to a much better start then they did in 2016. However, on the flip side of that, the Eagles will do plenty of travelling this season having to complete all the major road trips to Brisbane, Auckland, Melbourne and Townsville as well as a trip to Perth. They also sacrifice a home game against Brisbane in Round 13, playing that as part of a double header at Suncorp Stadium.
2017 Forecast 13th (8-9 wins)
I just can't see Manly turning it around this season with the roster they have. Whilst the likes of Lyon, Matai and Stewart were past their best, they were the last remains of that tough, winning Manly culture and I think it is going to take time for this young roster to build up again. I really think the likes of Nat Myles, Uate and Lewis Brown are over the hill and not the type of signings I would have been making over the past couple of seasons. I think, like most of the clubs I have predicted to finish down the bottom this season, the Eagles have very little depth in the cupboard if injuries are to strike. I think Dylan Walker and Martin Tapau, as well as Cherry Evans, really need to step up this year and play far more consistent football as the leaders of this team. Last season too often it was the Trbojevic brothers that were carrying this team and, whilst those two players are great prospects and likely to get even better in 2017,
I just think there are too many holes in Manly’s roster. I also have doubts about Trent Barrett as this super coach everyone was talking about him as. He never really got any great results at Penrith as Holden Cup Coach. Despite the fact the Panthers have made three Holden Cup Grand Finals in the last 5 years, Barrett had them miss the finals in 2014. The pressure looked to be getting to Barrett at times last season and, as a second year coach, he will still be learning plenty on the run. Expect this team to be competitive again this year but fall short in a number of close games.