2025 NRL: Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Season Preview

Manly will look to build to at least a preliminary final following a tough loss to the Sydney Roosters in the 2024 semi-finals.

Season Preview

A third year building under Anthony Seibold has seen just two gains and seven losses: with Siosiua Taukeiaho and Jazz Tevaga coming in and Bailey Hodgson (Leigh Leopards), Jamie Humphreys (Rabbitohs), Karl Lawton (Cowboys), Brad Parker (retired), Jaxson Paulo (Cowboys), Josh Schuster (Rabbitohs), and Aaron Woods (retired) leaving.

The Sea Eagles’ management have put an emphasis on effort, reliability, and togetherness in the 2025 pre-season, which is reflected in the addition of Haumole Olakau’atu as vice-captain following a career-best season that culminated in New South Wales honours in the 2024 State Of Origin series. He is now in his peak period and will be key to the team’s success this season.

A top eight finish is a bare minimum for this improved Sea Eagles outfit this year, having finished seventh last year to make the finals without looking like a truly dangerous contender for the title. They roll in to the 2025 season with a great deal of continuity in the squad that now looks to have the ceiling to win a title, with Luke Brooks having team high try assists (23), Daly Cherry-Evans continuing to lead by example with 22 try assists and 27 line break assists himself, a fit Tommy Turbo, and forwards such as Taniela Paseka and Haumole Olakau’atu in their peak.

The issue, however, has been their consistency and the management have clearly aimed to fix that with their motifs through pre-season. The proof will be in the pudding, but if they are able to maintain some consistency in their performances then top four is a realistic goal. The two pre-season trials (won 34-24 vs Rabbitohs & lost 22-38 to a youthful Panthers side) would suggest they are yet to find that, but as ever it is hard to maintain consistency with squad rotation for trialing players and combinations.

Best Signing

Siosiua Taukeiaho has made an impact in his short time at the club, training the house down and winning Trainer of the Week early on in preparation for the season. A stark contrast to the way in which he was sacked mid-season at the Catalans Dragons, where Damel Diakhate, Jayden Nikorima, and Taukeiaho feigned illness to avoid club obligations and instead attend a concert – this shows a clear change in attitude and positive signs that the Tongan international is trending back towards his title winning best. Seemingly replacing the retiring Aaron Woods, a committed Taukeiaho is a big upgrade to an already strong pack and has racked up 78 metres (34pcm) and 101m (38 pcm) in his two trials in the Pre-Season Challenge.

Key Player

There are a number of key players but Tom Trbojevic takes the team to another level when he is at his best. Fortunately for Manly fans, their talisman fullback had his body at its most durable yet in 2024 and featured in 20 games where his production totalled 17 tries and 21 try assists. It’s quite simple – he can turn the team into championship-contending material when he is on and as we saw in 2022 and 2023 it’s an uphill battle without him.

Player to Watch

When given an opportunity, Lehi Hopoate has looked electric on the edges and appeared to cement a position in the Sea Eagles’ 17 this season with a flurry of impressive highlights alongside his versatility, playing both wing and fullback at Leichhardt Oval against the Panthers. He has pace to burn and a deft touch when on the ball, so he will be a perfect utility back for the Sea Eagles if he doesn’t nail down a spot in the outside backs anyway. Having played only 14 games last year, he still ranked sixth in line-breaks for Manly – showing he is great value when given the opportunity and should he be given enough starts we could be looking at another star on the Northern Beaches.