Manly Sea Eagles: 2019 preview, draw, squad changes, news, every player, odds and ticketing

Troy Whittaker

Manly Sea Eagles: 2019 preview, draw, squad changes, news, every player, odds and ticketing image

It's back to the future for the Manly Sea Eagles in 2019 with two-time premiership-winning coach Des Hasler returning to the club.

The 57-year-old takes over from Trent Barrett, who currently remains on 'gardening leave' – essentially being paid to stay away – after a bitter dispute with the Manly board.

Hasler hasn't coached at NRL level since his sacking from the Canterbury Bulldogs at the end of 2017 and he has a big task to resurrect the Sea Eagles' premiership chances.

Manly finished 15th in 2018 and came within a whisker of the first wooden spoon in the club's 70-season history.

There was also a salary cap scandal and player infighting that placed the club under immense media scrutiny throughout the year.

On paper, the Sea Eagles' 2019 squad can mix it with the heavyweights, boasting eight internationals including halfback Daly Cherry-Evans, lock Jake Trbojevic, fullback Tom Trbojevic and prop Marty Taupau.

Manly's forward pack is among the biggest in the NRL, with Taupau, Addin Fonua-Blake, Taniela Paseka, Lloyd Perrett and Toafofoa Sipley all weighing in above 110kg.

The search for Cherry-Evans' long-term halves partner remains, with Kane Elgey set to get the first crack. The talented Cade Cust, who has been promoted from reserve grade, is waiting in the wings.

Star outside back Dylan Walker was stood down in March until his court case over an alleged domestic violence incident concludes.

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MANLY SEA EAGLES' PRE-SEASON NEWS

Manly's off-season began with the news that prodigal son Des Hasler would replace Trent Barrett as head coach of the Sea Eagles.

Barrett – who quit in August – is being made to see out a 12-month resignation clause in his contract in an ugly standoff with the club.

The coaching fiasco aside, the club's pre-season was relatively unhindered by drama until December, when Dylan Walker was charged with common assault and assault occasioning actual bodily harm stemming from an incident involving his partner.

Walker, who is accused of domestic violence, was stood down under the NRL's new 'no-fault' policy in March. He will be unable to play until his case is resolved.

His next court date is on May 10.

Star fullback Tom Trbojevic picked up a hamstring issue in a trial against the Sharks. He is set for up to six weeks on the sideline.

The referenced media source is missing and needs to be re-embedded.

PRE-SEASON TRIALS

February 23 – Sea Eagles 22 lost to Sharks 28

March 2 – Sea Eagles 38 def. Roosters 20

Curtis Sironen

MANLY SEA EAGLES' 30-MAN SQUAD

Akuila Uate (Huddersfield Giants), Brian Kelly (Gold Coast Titans) and Shaun Lane (Parramatta Eels) are the only regular first graders from 2018 to depart the Sea Eagles.

Promising half Kane Elgey joins the club after failing to nail a starting role at the Titans, while Brendan Elliot (Titans) and Reuben Garrick (Dragons) add depth to the outside backs.

Manly gave their supporters three Christmas gifts in December with the re-signings of international prop Addin Fonua-Blake (2022), man mountain Taniela Paseka (2021) and young hooker Manase Fainu (2021).

Speculation swirled around the future of Kiwi Test prop Marty Taupau but the wrecking ball will stay on the northern beaches.

Jade Anderson, Sean Keppie, Luke Metcalf, Haumole Olakau'atu are the club's development players for 2019. 

These players are not counted in the top squad but can play without exemption in the NRL after June 30.

 PlayerDate of BirthHeight, weightPositionNRL matchesRep honours
1Addin Fonua-Blake6/11/1995189cm, 118kgProp60New Zealand, Tonga
2Albert HopoateNot listed (age 18)Not listedFullback0Nil
3Apisai Koroisau7/11/1992172cm, 88kgHooker85Fiji
4Brad Parker19/2/1997193cm, 100kgCentre25Nil
5Brendan Elliot1/1/1994186cm, 94kgWing40Nil
6Cade Cust14/9/1998180cm, 87kgHalfback0Nil
7Corey Waddell2/10/1996190cm, 104kgSecond-row0Nil
8Curtis Sironen31/7/1993195cm, 105kgSecond-row85City Origin
9Daly Cherry-Evans (captain)20/2/1989183cm, 85kgHalfback195Australia, Queensland, PMXIII
10Dylan Walker27/9/1994181cm, 98kgCentre/Five-eighth119Australia, NSW, NRL All Stars, City Origin
11Frank Winterstein17/12/1986194cm, 105kgSecond-row41Samoa
12Jack Gosiewski29/5/1994190cm, 95kgSecond-row14Nil
13Jake Trbojevic18/2/1994185cm, 107kgLock94Australia, NSW, PMXIII
14Joel Thompson24/8/1988190cm, 103kgSecond-row198Indigenous All Stars, Country Origin
15Jorge Taufua23/10/1991184cm, 105kgWing124Tonga, Samoa, City Origin
16Kane Elgey14/1/1994180cm, 88kgHalfback46Nil
17Kelepi Tanginoa1/3/1994180cm, 104kgSecond-row29Nil
18Lachlan Croker12/12/1996180cm, 92kgFive-eighth9Nil
19Lloyd Perrett17/12/1994194cm, 115kgProp52Nil
20Manase Fainu17/10/1998185cm, 95kgHooker9Nil
21Martin Taupau3/2/1990190cm, 112kgProp/Lock132New Zealand, Samoa, NRL All Stars
22Moses Suli9/6/1998189cm, 109kgCentre31Tonga
23Reuben Garrick30/6/1997188cm, 98kgCentre0Nil
24Semisi KioaNot listed (age 19)Not listedCentre0Nil
25Taniela Paseka8/10/1997197cm, 120kgProp13Nil
26Tevita Funa3/1/1998186cm, 93kgWing0Nil
27Toafofoa Sipley5/1/1995190cm, 120kgProp6Nil
28Tom Trbojevic2/10/1996194cm, 102kgFullback77Australia, NSW, PMXIII
29Trent Hodkinson31/8/1988178cm, 92kgHalfback173NSW, City Origin
30TBC

COACH: Des Hasler

 

Additions (players who weren't in 2018 top 30): Brendan Elliott (Gold Coast Titans), Kane Elgey (Gold Coast Titans), Corey Waddell (Penrith Panthers), Reuben Garrick (St George Illawarra Dragons), Albert Hopoate, Cade Cust, Semisi Kioa

Losses: Akuila Uate (Huddersfield), Shaun Lane (Eels), Brian Kelly (Gold Coast Titans), Jonathan Wright (retired), Tom Wright (rugby union), Matt Wright (unsigned), Lewis Brown (unsigned)

Re-signed: Jack Gosiewski (2019), Kelepi Tanginoa (2019), Taniela Paseka (2021), Addin Fonua-Blake (2022), Manase Fainu (2021)

Off-contract beyond 2019: Jade Anderson, Lachlan Croker, Cade Cust, Brendan Elliot, Tevita Funa, Reuben Garrick, Jack Gosiewski, Trent Hodkinson, Albert Hopoate, Semisi Kioa, Apisai Koroisau, Luke Metcalf, Brad Parker, Lloyd Perrett, Toafofoa Sipley, Curtis Sironen, Moses Suli, Kelepi Tanginoa, Jorge Taufua, Joel Thompson, Corey Waddell, Dylan Walker, Frank Winterstein

#addin fonua blake

MANLY SEA EAGLES' BETTING ODDS

Paying $34 (via TAB as of 22/12/18), Manly are 13th in the betting to win the 2019 premiership. It would be their first title since 2011.

Priced at $21, fullback Tom Trbojevic is rated the team's best hope of claiming the Dally M Medal. He's followed by Daly Cherry-Evans ($34).

The Sea Eagles are $3.50 to make the top eight, $8.50 to finish in the top four and $7 to suffer the most losses.

#tom trbojevic

MANLY SEA EAGLES' 2019 DRAW 

Games played on

Thursday: 2

Friday: 4

Saturday: 13

Sunday: 5

 

Teams they play twice

Wests Tigers, New Zealand Warriors, South Sydney Rabbitohs, Newcastle Knights, St George Illawarra Dragons, Canberra Raiders, Gold Coast Titans, Parramatta Eels, Melbourne Storm

 

RoundDateOpponentVenue
1Saturday 16 March 5:30pmWests Tigers

Leichhardt Oval

2Saturday 23 March 7:35pmSydney RoostersLottoland
3Saturday 30 March 3:00pmNew Zealand WarriorsChristchurch Stadium
4Saturday 6 April 3:00pmSouth Sydney RabbitohsLottoland
5Saturday 13 April 5:30pmNewcastle KnightsMcDonald Jones Stadium
6Saturday 20 April 7:35pmSt George Illawarra DragonsWIN Stadium
7Sunday 28 April 2:00pmCanberra RaidersLottoland
8Saturday 4 May 5:30pmCanterbury BulldogsLottoland
9Friday 10 May 7:55pmBrisbane BroncosSuncorp Stadium
10Sunday 19 May 4:05pmCronulla SharksShark Park
11Friday 24 May 6:00pmGold Coast TitansLottoland
12Thursday 30 May 7:50pmPenrith PanthersPanthers Stadium
13Saturday 8 June 7:35pmNorth Queensland Cowboys1300SMILES Stadium
14Saturday 16 June 2:00pmSt George Illawarra DragonsLottoland
15Saturday 29 June 3:00pmGold Coast TitansCbus Super Stadium
16BYE
17Saturday 13 July 3:00pmSouth Sydney RabbitohsANZ Stadium
18Sunday 21 July 4:05pmParramatta EelsLottoland
19Saturday 27 July 7:35pmMelbourne StormAAMI Park
20Saturday 3 August 3:00pmNewcastle Knights Lottoland
21Friday 9 August 6:00pmNew Zealand WarriorsMt Smart Stadium
22Thursday 15 August 7:50pmWests TigersLottoland
23Sunday 25 August 4:05pmCanberra RaidersGIO Stadium
24Saturday 31 August 5:30pmMelbourne StormLottoland
25Friday 6 September 6:00pmParramatta Eels Bankwest Stadium

 

It's a big year for...

Daly Cherry-Evans.

The Sea Eagles need more out of their captain and most influential player in 2019.

Cherry-Evans was in the thick of Manly's dramas last season – his altercation with Jackson Hastings ended the pivot's time at the club and brought the club unwanted scrutiny.

On the field, DCE was solid but hardly the dominant force you'd expect someone on more than $1 million per annum to be.

If Manly are to make the finals next year, Cherry-Evans' playmaking direction and leadership will be a huge reason why.

Cherry-Evans won a premiership under Des Hasler in his debut season in 2011. Fans will hope Hasler can bring out the best in the halfback in 2019.

#Daly Cherry-Evans

 

MEMBERSHIP AND TICKETING

As of 20/2/19, the Sea Eagles had 9,800 members.

Manly finished with 12,430 members last season.

Membership packages can be viewed here.

General tickets for the season are available here.

#Jake Trbojevic

Troy Whittaker