Last season was tough for the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles especially with the multiple injuries that occurred through the season. The Sea Eagles will be without club legends including Jamie Lyon, Brett Stewart and Steve Matai who have retired.
Daly Cherry Evans will take over captaincy from the retiring great Jamie Lyon and the team will hope to make finals since 2014.
DCE at 2017 season launch. Photo Credit- Manly Sea EaglesLast Season Placing: Finished in 13th place with a total of 20 points.
Summary:
The Sea Eagles were interrupted with injuries throughout the season including halfback Daly Cherry Evans (DCE). Manly also were challenged by the halves combination being changed around nearly on a weekly basis due to injuries.
New and upcoming players were given an opportunity including Tom Trbojevic, Api Koroisau, Matt Parcell, Brayden Wiliame and Matthew Wright. They got a taste of how challenging it can be to add points to the scoreboard and apply defensive pressure when required.
Key Players:
Jake & Tom Trbojevic: The brothers have made a significant impact to the Sea Eagles and dominated throughout the 2016 season. Unfortunately their efforts weren’t enough to get the team across the line for the finals but this year they have a great chance.
Jake Trbojevic made his stand within the NRL last year and had a terrific season as a front rower. He had a huge impact making 857 tackles throughout the season and will continue to do so for Manly this year.
Tom Trbojevic has huge shoes to fill now club favourite Brett Stewart is retiring due to injury. Tom has had a huge impact for the Sea Eagles especially in 2016 after contributing with a total of 3692 metres, 11 try assists and scoring 10 tries throughout the season.
The Trbojevic brother duo is crucial for Manly’s success in 2017.
Blake Green: Blake Green is a huge inclusion to the Sea Eagles for the 2017 season. Green has signed onto the Sea Eagles after being signed with the Melbourne Storm and impressing in the 50 games he played in purple and scored 10 tries. With Manly desperately needing a five-eighth to allow Dylan Walker to return to the centres, Green’s experience will link to DCE’s very well.
Green played in the 2016 grand final for the Melbourne Storm, but his side fell short by two points.
DCE: DCE had a difficult season last year in particular clicking with a halfback partner. Towards the middle of the season he was in a moonboot after suffering a high ankle sprain, which meant Manly, lost one of their experienced players.
DCE will carry the team as captain and play a crucial role as the playmaker. The community cup games were essential as practice for the new recruits. DCE will be looking to improve his form from the past couple of seasons to have a significant influence on the side.
Story of 2017:
The Manly Sea Eagles will be determined to make the top eight this season and with the new inclusions of Frank Winterstein, Blake Green, Jackson Hastings, Shaun Lane and Curtis Sironen the team will be positive they can achieve finals.
Blake Green from the Melbourne Storm will join DCE in the halves, which I think will have a huge impact on the side. I think it’s essential for each team to have a good halves combination.
The boys will be looking to make finals this season as their last appearance in the finals was back in 2014 .
Predictions:
Top Try Scorer: Tom Trbojevic
Top points scorer: Blake Green
Player of the Year: Daly Cherry Evans
