Manly Sea Eagles 2016 NRL season preview

I see DCE playing both sides of the ruck with the speedy Dylan Walker playing a roving commission 2nd fullback type role similar to Michael Morgan at the Cowboys. The depth Manly have behind the main starting halves is featured in the likes of John, Moltzen and Wright plus Koroisau and Parcell. That appears to me to be as solid experience wise & ability wise as any kind of halves depth an NRL coach could wish for. Obviously there is no replacing the quality of DCE if he goes down, but in reality, Manly in 2016 will see more depth in their halves than they've ever had in the NRL era. I also see Manly's forwards at full strength being perfectly balanced for this reduced interchange era. Many within that pack can go the distance, A returning from injury Jamie Buhrer and the tough as teak Lewie Brown will have important roles to play in 2016. The final addition of the knockout Taupau gives this run on side a special feel. On the back of this Manly should feature possibly the fastest hooker rotation in the NRL with the styles of both Koroisau and Parcell completely complimentary. The speed of Parcell in particular could well mean support play on the back of a dominant forward pack. All this for mine shines the focus back on Daly Cherry Evans. Behind this pack I think he is in for an unshackled year where he will challenge Thurston for the Dally M medal. Trent Barrett is the only unknown, but within NRL circles there has been nothing but excitement and praise for his ability. Especially from Phil Gould. With the squad at his disposal Trent Barrett has absolutely no excuses. Considering their consistent historical high performance, their recruiting, the number of team stars, the experience and team balance... if DCE remains fit throughout, then it's hard to go past Manly as one of the big time dominating top 3 teams of 2016.

Being a devoted Manly fan, I understand that this is a rebuilding year for the club and expectations for the year ahead need to be realistic. Having said that, a top 8 finish seems achievable with the roster for 2016. Along with a new coaching team, there is class and experience throughout the squad, along with some very exciting young guns. Once it all gels........who knows? The recruitment team have added mongrel, size and brute force to the forwards, something sadly lacking in 2015. Bring on the season!

No doubt Dylan Walker is an unknown quantity. But I keep reading that his 4 games in 2014 are proof that he will "flop" at 6. Now if you break it down into what happened there, the guy was 19 years old and would have trained all pre-season in the centres. Perhaps a bit at 6 for exposure. He certainly had played there a bit in juniors. Keary then went down at the 9s and suddenly Souths looked at either Sutton or Walker to fill the gap with not much time left to the opening game. Walker then went down with an ankle injury and didn't train leading into Rd 1. Now I'm not sure even the great Mr Lockyer would have blown people off the park at that age, stepping late into a role that he wouldn't have primarily trained for. 4 games isn't much time to show your wares. His ex-Souths teammates rate him in the halves, and Barrett and Fulton (ex-Test 6s themselves) both see something in him so I'm pretty content he will perform. It naturally will take time but he's working with a great 7 in DCE this pre-season, so I think he might surprise a few. His role will be quite simple.

Good roster and well balanced. They should make the 8 comfortably if Barrett can coach.

"With Brookvale currently divided – those in Toovey’s camp and those in Scott Penn and Fulton’s camp – Barrett must unite the team and management under one common goal – to deliver another premiership to the Northern Beaches." An enjoyable read Riley. Just to pick you up on the above - Brookvale or a better term "Sea Eagles Ltd" is no longer a divided camp. Penn and Zorba have sacked all of the Delmege/Quantum aligned faction. The football department, management and administration teams are all now hand picked "Team Penn" people. Penn has the majority on the board as well so the MWRFLC have no decision making power anymore. As to the team, players like Ballin & Hiku who were pro Toovey have gone. Sure there will be some Manly members who won't renew due to Toovey's sacking but the home crowds won't suffer too much particularly if the team starts the season strongly.

Ballin was a very solid performer for Manly. Not spectacular but he did his job. He gave good service and his defense was second to none. The only problem with Ballin, except in the odd game, was that he rarely made any impact running from dummy half. This made his service a little predictable and why Hasler in particular had him share the position during a game with a speedier option. But he could play all game, his fitness was so strong. It may be that Manly may have to go back to interchanging their hookers in future. Neither hooker they have secured is as polished as Ballin. To me Api seems competent without being a major player. Parcell looks very good against the minors, but the step up means he is still untested against the stronger forward line ups. If Parcell turns out to be as good as his promoters suggest, at least the variations in attack will be improved and Manly will have more attacking options. My concern would still be defense.

The Bunnies tried Dylan Walker at 5/8 for a few games last season and he was a flop, When he went back to the centres he was far more damaging. Manly could give Jamie Lyon a go but he is more of natural centre also. I see this position as their Achilles heel. Manly may also miss Balin more then people realise. He's not flashy but is always a consistent performer.

Problem is, I don't know Barrett well enough to know how he'll go. Do you remember Toovey as as player? He's a very smart man (see his accounting background and business background), but as a player he was more about indomitable, never-say-die attitude and heart. He was the angry ant who spent half an hour arguing with the ref every game. I love the bloke, but I think that irascibility typified his coaching. By other accounts, his coaching messages were, "run hard, tackle hard, score tries", rather than elegant game plans or inventiveness or canny coaching. He led by example as a player. You can see that Foran, a thinking player, got frustrated that his game wasn't being improved under Toovey.

Originally, I would have agreed, but Api just had a shoulder reconstruction. I doubt they'd risk him for the first 3-4 weeks. I'd start either Parcell or Jayden Hodges. Speaking of which: I get that Parcell is a great signing, but whatever happened to Jayden Hodges? Wasn't he Holden Cup Player of the year a year or two ago? He seemed like a kid who would handle bigge rminutes, but seems to have disappeared down the Matt Ballin hole...

Because Fulton can pull the strings with Barrett. He coulndn't with Toovey. Manly were never going to hire a coach that Fulton couldn't manipulate (and blame)

Hi Ferret as Bearfax touched upon it seems from afar that it is Barrett's communication skills that set him apart. He has a clear plan and everybody seems to be getting on board. Being approachable is very important too. It is also good to see him put together an impressive coaching team below him. Anthony Seibold stated it was very difficult to leave Bellamy and the Storm after 4 years, but he was very impressed with Barrett's clear vision for the team and his plan for his particular role as defensive co-ordinator. An important role as Manly struggled in this area in 2015. And then there's John Cartwright who he has brought in as forwards coach and will lead the attack, with an emphasis on the big men being able to promote the ball. No doubt a lot rests on the shoulders of the head coach. But it has become pretty clear that successful sides are the ones with a good coaching team leading them. Coupled with some older heads in the playing group which Manly have in spades.

Not a Manly fan let alone tragic but I really don't know what to make of him. He was clearly a talented player and played hard but he was a bit of a boofhead as well. I guess if I was a Manly fan I'd be hoping the players play hard but don't adopt some of his boofheaded traits.

Tom wright has to get over his acl injury but I'd throw him when fit. Gun talent.

Ferrett you've touched on the BIG question. What's Barrett got. Those of us looking in see a very inexperienced coach who speaks well in interview, has some interesting ideas but has never coached a first, second or junior side. His country side experience is really negligible. But then there's the other side. Gould seem to think highly of him and was ropeable when he left. He seems to have the support of Arthurson and Fulton, not just the Penns. And what is interesting are the number of players wanting to come across and play in his sides and the number that didnt want to leave. He's reportedly much more approachable than Hasler and Toovey. Seems the players and admin know something we dont...or are they just hoping and putting all the eggs in one basket. Whatever the case, it is Barrett who will have the biggest impact on Manly's performance in 2016

Fair assessment yet again Riley with the one exception, Tapau pumping out big minutes. He's lucky to play 40 minutes though he has gradually increased his playing time over the years. Solid forward pack but for mine they are lacking a prop in the mould of Matulino, Scott or Bromwich. Myles is not that type though young Trbojevic could develop into that style of front rower. It appears they are hedging their bets on a mobile pack to wear sides down over the 80 minutes. They have plenty of strike power out wide, but Matai, Snake & Lyon aren't getting any younger. They do look better on paper than 2015 but time will tell how they all gel. Look forward to your other season previews.

Manly have had success with so called "rejects"in the past 10 years but this is a completely different coaching staff and set up around the club.

Another factor which will determine Manly's season is - "What sort of personality is Trent Barrett?". In Toovey and Hasler Manly had two coaches who embodied a "never-say-die" approach to the game, both when they were players and this carried over into coaching. As in most teams the coach's personality filters through in barely perceptible ways and I was wondering what people think of Barrett's character and the way he played the game. Will he be an attacking coach with less emphasis on defence? Can you Manly tragics give me your opinions?

gee thia parcell has got some wraps. there is no way he will play ahead of Api

'rejects' wasn't my original terming,it was ej's..I said they wouldn't make the starting 17

Foran is a fine player but he was no where near his best in '15. I think Walker will offer more than that performance. There is also no way I would be using Trbojevic at 5/8. Keep him away from the big forwards at his age. Let his speed and flair show on the wing and then at full back when Stewart retires. Maybe 5/8 later in his career like Lockyer did.