The massive call Anthony Seibold has to make in coming weeks is where to play his marquee man Tom Trbojevic.
Turbo has been fullback virtually all his career at the Sea Eagles but there are calls to lighten his workload and preserve his body by moving him to the centres.
Manly have a brilliant young player in Lehi Hopoate who could step into the No.1 jersey full time, which gives Seibold plenty to consider.
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Trbojevic has starred for NSW at Origin level in the centres and his strike power out wide will test even the best defences in the NRL.
It will be very much a new look Manly team after the disappointments of 2025, with Daly Cherry-Evans, Lachlan Croker, Josh Aloiai, Gordon Chan Kum Tong, Michael Chee-Kam, Matt Lodge, Toafofoa Sipley, Tommy Talau and Jazz Tevaga all moving on.
All eyes will be new halfback Jamal Fogarty, who joins from the Raiders and will be tasked with filling the big shoes of club legend Cherry-Evans.
The crafty No.7 led Canberra to the minor premiership last season and has a great kicking game and the vision to set Manly’s pacy backline alight.
The other key buy for the club is premiership-winning forward Kobe Hetherington, who brings big-match experience and a hard edge from the Broncos.
Despite a series of injuries, Hetherington was the only Broncos player to feature in every game last season – a clear sign of his mental and physical toughness.
But with Manly’s pack established, Hetherington may have to start from the bench – a spot he did well in for Brisbane in their premiership year.
Promising halfback Joey Walsh will fight with recruit Zach Dockar-Clay for the bench utility role, while boom youngster Onitoni Large will start the year in the NSW Cup but will get his chance in the NRL at some stage and is a player with a huge future.
Manly Sea Eagles best 17
1. Lehi Hopoate 2. Reuben Garrick 3. Tom Trbojevic 4. Tolutau Koula 5. Jason Saab 6. Luke Brooks 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Siosiua Taukeiaho 9. Jake Simpkin 10. Taniela Paseka 11. Ben Trbojevic 12. Haumole Olakau’atu 13. Jake Trbojevic 14. Zach Dockar-Clay 15. Nathan Brown 16. Kobe Hetherington 17. Ethan Bullemor
