When Des Hasler returned to Brookvale for the 2019 season, there was a sense of renewed optimism in the Manly Sea Eagles club.
After a difficult few years under Trent Barrett that saw the club narrowly avoid their first wooden spoon in 2018, it was time for a change. Due to a salary cap penalty, Manly were unable to play a big part in recruitment for the 2019 season so expectations were quite reserved.
Most fans were simply hoping for an improvement and looked at the season as a chance to rebuild for future years. Des Hasler had other ideas. His squad had a number of representative players, but also had a number of unproven players and rejects from other clubs.
They surprised all to finish sixth and could have finished higher if it weren’t for a number of injuries to key players. They would go on to make the second week of the finals series and were unlucky not to progress further, going down to South Sydney in controversial circumstances.
With the 2020 season on the horizon, Manly are quietly going about their business. There is very little change to the squad and they have been working tirelessly at their Narrabeen base under the watchful eye of Hasler.
(Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
Much of the squad returned to training earlier than required and have been putting in additional work. The stability in the squad and coaching structure has allowed for a seamless transition for the upcoming season.
Things, of course, didn’t quite go to plan, with talented hooker Manase Fainu unlikely to feature in the 2020 season after a serious off-field incident. Manly considered a number of options as his replacement but with no other recognised hooker in the squad, ultimately made the decision to sign Danny Levi from the Newcastle Knights.
This is an astute signing – he is a player with unlimited potential who has already represented New Zealand and will only improve under Hasler. With so many other attacking options in the team, Levi will be able to focus on his running game and will get plenty of opportunities on the back of the dominant Manly forward pack.
There is a question mark over the availability of forwards Addin Fonua-Blake and Jake Trbojevic to start the season after both underwent shoulder surgery in the off-season. Both players are back in training and working hard to be ready to go for the season opener. It is looking likely that Fonua-Blake will be available in Round 1 while Trbojevic will likely be held back until Round 2 or 3, despite his protests to play. His brother Tom has recovered from his season-ending torn pec injury and will be hoping for an injury-free 2020.
Manly are notoriously slow starters and haven’t won a Round 1 game since 2013. It doesn’t get any easier in 2020 as they come up against the Melbourne Storm followed by the Sydney Roosters in the opening rounds. With some injury concerns and limited depth in the club, another slow start to the season is possible.
However, if this does eventuate, it won’t deter Hasler and the squad from quickly getting back on track. The efforts of 2019, overcoming a tough injury toll, will hold them in good stead and they will fight through the adversity.
Many of the unknowns and rejects have now cemented their places in the team and will improve. The unlikely centre combination of Moses Suli and Brad Parker will be intriguing to watch. Suli is looking fitter than ever and should cause havoc with his speed and size, just as he finished the 2019 season. Parker is no-nonsense – he just runs hard, hits holes at pace and is improving his defence all the time.
(Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)
Reuben Garrick on the wing is a talent to watch and will be up there with the NRL’s top try-scorers for the season. Dylan Walker will play a key role at five-eighth and is finally settled in the position. With Daly Cherry-Evans running the team at halfback, Walker can focus on his running game but has already showed glimpses of tremendous skill as a ball-player, and he possesses a clever short-kicking game. After signing on for a further two seasons, he can now focus on his game and will be striving to make a return to representative football.
The greatest strength in the squad is the forward pack, which is up there with the best in the competition. Fonua-Blake and Martin Taupau have the ability to steamroll the opposition while the back row of Jake Trbojevic, Joel Thompson and Curtis Sironen are both skilful and tough. There are also huge wraps on some of the young forwards at the club including Sean Keppie, Jack Gosiewski and Toafofoa Sipley who all offer something unique and will provide an impact off the bench.
With the big men laying the platform, Manly’s talented back line will get plenty of opportunity to score points. Tom Trbojevic and Cherry-Evans will see an abundance of space to attack and will be difficult for the opposition to contain.
Manly fans are clearly optimistic for the 2020 season. Membership numbers are steadily growing and should comfortably exceed last year. The proposed centre of excellence at Brookvale Oval is another positive for the club that will generate great excitement once construction commences.
With a bit of luck with injuries, the Manly Sea Eagles will be a force in 2020. They boast a strong, balanced squad and a dedicated coaching team and should be able to compete with the top teams. The media will focus most of their attention on the likes of the Sydney Roosters, Melbourne Storm and South Sydney Rabbitohs, and that’s just the way Des Hasler likes it.
The Barry
Roar Guru
The Dogs had strong finishes in 2017 and 2018 but struggled at the start of the last two seasons so I’m hesitant to get too exited with how they finished last year I don’t think they’ve been active enough in the player market and strengthened the squad enough to be super confident. Plus Foran’s injury. He led the turnaround at the end of last season Hopefully they build on last year, have more consistency and don’t have as many ups and downs as they have the last few years. Like a lot of teams, if everything goes right for them they could sneak into the bottom half of the eight...but all things being equal I think there’s at least eight stronger teams on paper
nrlfan
Roar Rookie
TB - will you be writing the 'why your team will be better in 2020' article for the bulldogs? Interested to hear what you think of the dogs this year, I know many don't see them as a top 8 team but I definitely do. So many reasons why I think we'll see a very good team this year.
KenW
Guest
I can see why that would give you confidence. It more or less fits with their 90's and 2000's premiership windows - once they rose up the table they tended to make it to the top. An NRL season always throws up some surprises, I think Manly will be a team to watch one way or the other.
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
And I forgot to include Luke Keary who played with the Rabbitohs for 4 years (2013 - 2016) and played for Souths 2012 NYC side and for their NSW Cup side the North Sydney Bears.
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
If I remember correctly Des dared to ask for $700K to coach the Sea Eagles and with club favourite Geoff Toovey waiting in the wings Manly's CEO Scott Penn decided to play hard ball and wait Hasler out. Of course I may be wrong. I was wrong once before. ;-) I think there are a few reasons that Douiehi is a promising talent. Firstly, he seems to be difficult for players to tackle. He seems to glide through openings, draw defenders and either offload to supports or slip the tackle and keep swerving around or through defenders. He is not fast but still defenders don't seem to be able to contain him because he is elusive. Secondly, his utility value is rare. He can cover ANYWHERE in the backline and do so effectively. I can't think of any other player currently in the NRL that can do that except for perhaps Latrell Mitchell. Finally, Douiehi has additional value as a goal kicker and he is decent in that role and improving each year bit he foes not get enough opportunity. At the Tigers Douiehi should get that chance after Esan Marsters's departure. I agree though, Doueihi has not been as dominant early in his career as players like Benji Marshall, Kayln Ponga or Greg Inglis to name a few but they are all special talents who each got a lot more consistent game time and got to concentrate playing in the same position for most of any given year rather than constantly being changed around. Personally, I'm sorry that Souths let Doueihi go and I had him ahead of Corey Allan, Bryson Goodwin, Dane Gagai, Braidon Burns and AJ (in order of least importance). The Tigers have another great signing in Adam Doueihi now along with BJ Leilua. The Dragons and the Bulldogs each missed a big opportunity in not making a play for Douiehi IMO. He is exactly the sort of player that each of those struggling clubs need. Finally, you are right about Souths top priority now being a quality prop or 13 who can bend the defensive line, make yards through the middle third AND offload. Tatola us that sort of player as us Liam Knight but Knight needs to work on his offloads and Tatola has to work on lifting his involvement. Jai Arrow would have filled that role of course but with him joining the club in 2021 I don't see Souths signing a decent prop forward on a 12 month contract. Tom Amone will have to step up instead. He is more than capable.
The duad
Guest
Not sure why Doueihi is so highly rated, he is a good player but i dont think he is that much above average. He is young and may benefit going back to Tigers, i have seen him do some good things but nothing amazing. Souths need a good solid offloading prop who has a low error rate and can make a few metres more than they need backs. Souths have some great young backs yet to debut. Never underestimate Manly not with Hasler running the show. Never understood how Manly let Hasler go to the Berries oops Dogs.
R N
Roar Rookie
One of my favourite things about Manly last year was their young hooker. Pity about his off season! Was really looking forward to how he was going to develop... I don't think Levi is anywhere near a ballpark replacement. Anyway... hope they go well, really enjoyed their brand of footy last year and I love Jurbo! Who doesn't right.
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
Souths might be clearing salary cap space to secure Addo-Carr and pay an additional release fee to Melbourne. I'd be happy for Souths to trade Goodwin, Nicholls and Allan (The Three Stooges) for Addo-Carr if the Storm are intetested. Or they can have Gagai in a straight swap. At present Gagai is on $600K - $700K and Addo-Carr is on $350K so Souths could be freeing up salary cap space with Doueihi to pay the $350K extra.
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
If that was true Nat I would have thought that would have resulted in a $2 mill plus salary cap and back to back premierships. So clearly some "other" club has benefited from some "Toddy love". Follow the strings to Bondi Junction Nat and see who is really pulling the puppet's strings. ;-)
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
Like I said, the Dragons really missed the boat not jumping on Adam Douiehi, DPS. He would have been a very handy pickup and would have made a matching set with your captain, former Rabbitoh Cameron McInnes. ;-)
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
Sorry if I got your hopes up JA. I guess now that the Roosters are without Cooper Cronk and with Tedesco out for most of the season with a pec injury Doueihi was a lifeline you were depending on. It must be terrible to realise that the Roosters season is over before it even began. :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
3, 11, 16, 23, 31 and 29 the Powerball. :thumbup:
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
You gave us "an exclusive" yesterday that Douehi had signed for the Mighty Roosters (back to back premiers) however your mail was inaccurate. Any chance you can help me with Powerball numbers while you're on a roll!
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
Tafuas lack of pace is a big issue. Wingers who can't go the length of the field need to be exceptional in other areas and Jorge is half asleep at times. Great hits at times and some strong runs but it's not enough.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
The 'limited depth' situation wasn't there last year and isn't there this year either. There is plenty of backup. If success in the lower grade translated in to success in 1st grade then the Penny Panthers and Warriors should have been battling out for titles in recent years. Manly has hardly won anything in the lower grades. I recall the Eels having plenty of lower grade titles over the years but it hasn't meant much.
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
WHICH players? Craig Wing was already an established first grader at Souths before Uncle Nick's scheme to cut the Bunnies adrift. Craig Wing and Braith Anasta were both also South Sydney jumiors. Angus Crichton became an established first grader at Souths not the Roosters. He only played 5 games for the Roosters S.G. Ball side while on hiatus from Scots college 1st grade Rugby side. So he was not produced through the Roosters system. Meanwhile in that period the Roosters have taken Craig Wing, Braith Anasta, Nat Butcher, Egan Butcher, Grant Garvey, Craig Garvey, Paul Momorovski and Billy Smith who were all South Sydney juniors and additionally Angus Crichton who Souths developed into a first-grader.
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
Sadly, yes. Hence as I said all 5 are former Rabbitohs players. The Dragons missed a BIG opportunity there mate.
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
Crichton's junior club was the Young Cherrypickers to be exact (but yes he was from Temora). You didn't read my words carefully enough Adam. I said; "South Sydney juniors and former Rabbitohs players". So TWO distinct classifications. Nat Butcher and Billy Smith are South Sydney juniors and Luke Keary, Angus Crichton and Adam Doueihi are all former Rabbitohs players.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Crispy, please don't use ZT.. that's such a .. I can't say it
Nat
Roar Guru
Ha! I see what you did there. A GF would exceed expectations but I can be optimistic.