The Manly Sea Eagles sent a massive shockwave in round nine last season when they outclassed the St George Illawarra Dragons 24-6 at Brookvale Oval. Unfortunately, such great heights were never reached again for the rest of the year.
Injuries and inconsistency took their toll on Des Hasler’s men as they bowed out meekly in week one of the 2010 finals series.
While the Sea Eagles casualty ward played a significant role in Manly’s inability to crack a top four spot, they will no doubt be ruing their opening two losses to start last season, giving up huge leads to succumb to the Wests Tigers and Parramatta Eels respectively.
In the first round, Manly held a 16-point lead at halftime against the Tigers, only to lose the match 26-22. The Sea Eagles followed that capitulation with a 24-20 defeat against the Eels, despite leading by 20 points well into the second half.
Had they won those two matches, the Sea Eagles could have finished in sixth position and played the Wests Tigers in week one of the finals, instead of a sudden death match-up against the table topping Dragons.
Having made two grand final appearances over the past four seasons, the Manly Sea Eagles now approach a challenging period come 2011, and will pray that injuries and suspensions take a backward seat in a bid to make the finals.
The Sea Eagles have made very little impact in the transfer market, buying only three footballers who have played just three NRL games between them.
Add the departures of several established first graders such as Chris Bailey, Josh Perry, Trent Hodkinson and Ben Farrar, depth could count against them throughout the course of this season.
A fit and firing Manly however still possess a top 17 capable of making the top four. The Sea Eagles backline of Brett Stewart, David Williams, Tony Williams, Steve Matai and Jamie Lyon is to be respected.
Lyon finished last season as the Dally M centre of the year, while the return of Stewart and Williams from injury this season will re-install the potency that led the Sea Eagles to the 2008 premiership.
One will be interested to see whether or not Stewart can rediscover the form which made him the NRL’s most lethal fullback three seasons ago.
Statistically, Stewart remains the most dangerous custodian in the competition, having scored 98 tries in just 118 matches for the Sea Eagles.
Stewart’s last two seasons, however, have been cruelled by injury and sexual assault charges which have since been cleared from his name.
With those off field dramas now behind him, Stewart is more than capable of picking up from where he left off in 2008, and if he does hit form, the Sea Eagles will be certainties to make the top eight.
No doubt Stewart and the rest of Manly’s backline will have ample opportunities to score points, given the platform the Sea Eagles forwards are capable of producing.
Origin and Test stars such as Anthony Watmough, Brent Kite, Joe Galuvao, Glenn Stewart, Matt Ballin and Jason King make-up a formidable Sea Eagles pack, and will be difficult to contain for any opposition defence.
Manly’s main headache heading into season 2011 concerns the Sea Eagles halves combination, with last season’s promising pair of Kieran Foran and Trent Hodkinson now broken.
While Foran is one of the most promising young halves in the NRL (He has already played Test football for New Zealand), just who will partner him remains a mystery.
Indeed, Foran’s older brother, Liam, looks the best bet to capture the vacated halves spot left by Hodkinson, having already played some NRL matches for the Melbourne Storm.
Based on the time Hasler gave Hodkinson to feel his way into the No.7 jersey last season, one feels Liam Foran will get ample opportunity to prove his worth alongside his more experienced brother.
Another scenario could involve Hasler moving the experienced Jamie Lyon to five-eighth with Kieran Foran shifting to halfback. Such a move however is unlikely, given the great form Lyon showed last season at centre.
If Stewart and company can remain injury free this season, the Sea Eagles should make the finals. Whether or not they make the top four will largely depend on the success of a halves combination that is untried at NRL level.
Why they’ll win:
Why they won’t:
TAB Sportsbet odds
Additions: Daniel Harrison, Liam Foran, Tim Robinson
Departures: Chris Bailey (Harlequins – Super League), Josh Perry (St Helens – Super League), Trent Hodkinson (Canterbury-Bankstown), Ben Farrar (Catalans Dragons – Super League).
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