Manly five-eighth Luke Brooks is racing the clock to be fit for Sunday’s crunch clash against the Bulldogs after pulling up sore at training on Thursday.
The in-form playmaker was forced to leave the session early after experiencing hip flexor tightness. While the Sea Eagles say the move was precautionary, Brooks’ status remains uncertain just days out from a top-seven showdown at Allianz Stadium.
“The 5/8 stopped training immediately,” 9News’s Zac Bailey reported on X. “The club says it was just precautionary & are confident he’ll be right to face the Bulldogs on Sunday.”
INJURY SCARE - Luke Brooks failed to finish training today after feeling tightness in his hip flexor.
— Zac Bailey (@ZacBailey14) July 24, 2025
The 5/8 stopped training immediately.
The club says it was just precautionary & are confident he’ll be right to face the Bulldogs on Sunday.@NRLonNine @9NewsSyd #9News
Joey Walsh on standby for possible debut
With Brooks in doubt, rookie Joey Walsh has been placed on standby. The young halfback slotted into first-team reps at training and remains an option to partner Daly Cherry-Evans should Brooks be ruled out. Walsh is yet to make his NRL debut.
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The timing is far from ideal for Manly, who are hunting a fourth straight win and enter Round 21 brimming with confidence after toppling the Melbourne Storm.
The seventh-placed Sea Eagles have beaten the Bulldogs in 11 of their past 12 meetings, but Sunday’s clash pits them against a side chasing a historic 1000th victory.