The Manly Sea Eagles hope the mix of youth and experience will produce the perfect winning formula as they look to capitalise on a wide-open premiership window in 2025.
Daly Cherry-Evans may be the oldest player in the NRL but he remains one of the game's elite playmakers and last season showed he still has what it takes to unlock a talented crop of outside backs.
There were plenty of positive signs in Anthony Seibold's second year in charge and they will enter 2025 a genuine premiership contender after a semi-final exit in 2024.
Much of the Sea Eagles' hopes rest on the health of Tom Trbojevic, who featured in 20 games last season but suffered an untimely shoulder injury in round 26 that halted the side's momentum.
While Manly officials are confident Cherry-Evans will continue to age like a fine win, five-eighth Luke Brooks is set to take on a greater role in the halves, having quickly found his feet in his first season at the club.
As Cherry-Evans approaches retirement, Manly officials will turn to Brooks to grow into the primary playmaker.
Perhaps Seibold's biggest challenge will be working out the best positions for his star-studded backline after the emergence of Lehi Hopoate last year.
Jason Saab and Tommy Talau impressed on the wing in 2024, while Tolu Koula and Reuben Garrick lined up in the centres. With six players and only five starting spots, it will be a tricky situation to manage.
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James Graham dissects the Sea Eagles 2025 NRL Draw
Trbojevic could be in line for a shift to the centres to accommodate Hopoate, playing a similar floating role to the one he's played for NSW.
Manly haven't made any major roster changes, adding a number of handy players to provide valuable depth but no star signings.
Michael Chee Kam and Siua Taukei'aho will play a crucial role throughout the year, while Jazz Tevaga also provides a degree of versatility.
The Sea Eagles will be without their first-choice hooker for the opening weeks of the season with Lachlan Croker expected to return in round four after undergoing off-season knee surgery.
Predicted Round 1 Team
- Tom Trbojevic
- Jason Saab
- Lehi Hopoate
- Reuben Garrick
- Tommy Talau
- Luke Brooks
- Daly Cherry-Evans
- Taniela Paseka
- Gordon Chan Kum Tong
- Josh Aloiai
- Haumole Olakau'atu
- Ben Trbojevic
- Jake Trbojevic
- Tolu Koula
- Ethan Bullemor
- Nathan Brown
- Toafofoa Sipley
