On-field stability has been hallmark of Manly’s recent success but the Sea Eagles are heading into the 2015 NRL season surrounded by an air of uncertainty.
It’s been 11 years since the Sea Eagles last missed out on the finals but they’ll begin this campaign without departed veterans Anthony Watmough, Glenn Stewart and Jason King – three mainstays of a forward pack that delivered two premierships.
Star halves pairing Kieran Foran and Daly Cherry-Evans are yet to pin their colours to the mast beyond this season, as has talismanic hooker Matt Ballin who is also off-contract at the end of the season.
Coach Geoff Toovey insists his squad are a happy camp despite stinging criticism from Watmough who claimed he showed a lack of leadership last season.
Toovey says the arrival of veteran headline-maker Willie Mason has added some mirth around the Sea Eagles’ training ground but more importantly he provides much-needed experience to a youthful forward pack.
“It has been a rebuilding process for several years now as we’ve have lost over a thousand games’ worth of first grade experience,” Toovey said.
“We’re rebuilding that. Blokes like (recruits) Feleti Mateo, Luke Burgess and Willie Mason bring a bit more game time to our pack and they will feature somewhere there through the year.”
Ballin has been one of the most consistent hookers in the NRL since making his debut at the start of 2007, unlucky to make just one appearance for Queensland due to having Australian captain Cameron Smith ahead of him.
The 31-year-old’s future hasn’t been a subject of intense speculation like those of Cherry-Evans and Foran but Toovey said he valued him as highly as any player in his team.
“Matty Ballin is probably the most consistent forward we’ve had for many years,” he said.
“He’s been a stalwart and he can lead this pack around the park a bit from dummy-half a bit like Cameron Smith does for Melbourne.”
Although they finished in second spot on the ladder last year, Toovey’s side bottomed out badly in the back-end of the year, losing five of their last seven games and crashed out in the semi-finals to Canterbury.
Lack of size in the forwards was an issue and Toovey said the arrival of Mason would add a physical edge to accompany the talented Brenton Lawrence and Josh Starling.
“Young Josh Starling had a sensational year last year and Jesse Sene-Lefao showed some real good signs,” Toovey said.
“But rugby league is a strange game. You need those kind of players like Willie who have that little bit of a streak in them to be successful.
“If we’re all the same it would be a pretty boring game. Willie is a character but he is also a quality player.”
Despite the speculation surrounding the future of Cherry-Evans and Foran, Toovey remained confident they would commit to the club despite overtures from the Gold Coast, Parramatta and Canterbury.
“They’re both professional people and smart guys,” he said.
“They’d be foolish not to look around.
“But for the Manly club the fans, the sooner the better, but I won’t be putting any deadline on them.
“But regardless of what happens, we’re a very successful club here at Manly and have been for many years and will continue to be.”
MANLY SEA EAGLES
Premierships: 8 – 1972, 73, 76, 78, 87, 96, 2008, 11
Finishes over the past three seasons: 2014 – semi-finalists, 2013 – grand finalists, 2012 – preliminary finalists
Coach: Geoff Toovey
Captain: Jamie Lyon
Gains: Blake Leary (Cowboys) Sosaia Vave (Sharks), Feleti Mateo (Warriors), Brayden Williame (Knights), Willie Mason (Knights), Luke Burgess (Rabbitohs)
Losses: Anthony Watmough (Eels), Richie Fa’aoso (Eels), Glenn Stewart (Rabbitohs), Jason King (retired), Daniel Harrison (London Broncos)
Strength: Daly Cherry-Evans and Kieran Foran are the best halves combination in the NRL and combined with Brett Stewart, Jamie Lyon, Jorge Taufua, Steve Matai and Peta Hiku it’s a potent backline.
Weakness: The loss of Glenn Stewart and Watmough is big. Signing the talented but inconsistent Mateo and the ageing Mason are questionable upgrades to a forward pack that struggled last year.
Money man: Kieran Foran. Cherry-Evans may get the headlines, but Foran is the heartbeat of this team. Tough as nails and a inspirational leader who will almost certainly captain the club if he stays.
One to watch: Clint Gutherson. Made only three starts last year but scored a try in all of them. The long-term successor to Brett Stewart.
Best team: Brett Stewart, Peta Hiku, Jamie Lyon, Steve Matai, Jorge Taufua, Kieran Foran, Daly Cherry-Evans, Luke Burgess, Matt Ballin, Brenton Lawrence, Tom Symonds, Jamie Buhrer, Feleti Mateo. Interchange: Willie Mason, Josh Starling, Justin Horo, Jesse Sene-Lefao.
Predicted finish: 6th
Betting: $11
NSWelshman
Guest
Really? Dad's army lolol. We've been thru this before when this subject was brought up & FYI 'Dad's Army' average age is 26.4!!!!!!!!!!!! What team do you support mate? If you don't have facts or proof to back your claims then STFU! Guarantee they'll finish in front of whatever team you support!
Red Rooster
Guest
The way both Foran and DCE (more so) are treating their team mates and fans is appalling! How does toovey prepare his team? What do the players and fans think watching this soap opera? Surely DCE is gone, the sooner the better for Manly!
paul
Guest
Dads army wont make the eight
NSWelshman
Guest
Fact > the Manly pack this year will match every other team this year without a doubt! You can only wish to have the caliber of players Manly has coming thru!
The eye
Guest
Dont care what happened last year,the Manly pack is a shocker..those blokes you mention Haz wouldnt make 1st grade in any other side..Choc would still make every sides run on ...the 2 best forwards in the club are now the busy B's Ballin and Buehrer...fear factor of 2 considering both coming off shocking injuries..theyll probably be in the traffic jam for 8th on heart..
NSWelshman
Guest
Blake Leary looks to me to be in the same mould as Watmough............seems tough & has shown quality whilst playing for Northern Pride. Could be a surprise packet this year?
NSWelshman
Guest
Barry as you can probably tell I'm a Manly supporter lolol........I am just tired of the same old story every year. So many have tried to tear down the wall & still it's upright........hopefully for quite awhile to come!
Haz
Guest
Leary does look promising.He's one of several works in progress that Manly have around. There's a lot of young forwards who showed promise in the NYC: Sene-Lefao, Hasson, Chee Kam, Jake Trbojevic, and Tyson Andrews. It'd be great to see them follow a leader like Mason and develop into quality first-graders.
Elma Dudd
Guest
Fair point or points .
The Barry
Roar Guru
I tend to agree - although not as passionately! It's same old for manly. Everyone was saying this 12 months ago and they led the comp for longer than anyone. G Stewart barely played last year so while he's a big loss from a quality player perspective, they haven't gone backwards from last year. King was pretty battered. Watmough is a loss but he's on a downward slide. It will be interesting to see how many games he plays for the eels over the next three years
planko
Roar Guru
I think Blake Leary is the one I am most interested in he looks the goods.
NSWelshman
Guest
How many more times are we gonna be told that Manly have lost Watmough, King & Glen Stewart..............it's a broken record! I'm not sure what you were watching last year, however Manly did finish the season in equal first position & only lost the minor premiership due to injury & suspension!! They seemed to do OK with the forwards they had & played most of the season without King & Stewart with Watmough playing injured &/or suspended. King has been a spectator for the past 3 seasons & Stewart has also had a fair few injuries & suspensions yet everyone keeps saying how they have lost a lot of experience! They lost the semi final to a full strength so called 'powerful Bulldogs with a monster pack' in golden point whilst Manly played with a weakened side ( no Stewart, no Watmough, no Fa'aoso, no Buhrer, no Ballin, no Taufua & King lasted 15 minutes !!!!!!! Every year is the same..........Manly blah blah this & blah blah that, infighting, Manly is on a slide & EVERY year they prove the so called experts wrong. They will prove everyone wrong again this year!