Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Mid-Season Report Card

After experiencing a decade of success on the Northern Beaches, the Sea Eagles have endured a horror 2015 so far. Marred by injuries, off-field dramas and a string of losses; Manly have plummeted to the bottom of the ladder with signs of improvement appearing unlikely.

Starting off the year with a 42-12 thumping at the hands of arch-rivals Parramatta, the contract negotiations of Daly Cherry-Evans and Kieran Foran took centre stage, as both players announced their departures for the Titans and Eels respectively.

Managing only three wins from their first 12 matches, the Sea Eagles face a huge challenge if they are to continue their finals record dating back to 2005, needing to win 9 of 12 games to be any chance.

While Manly supporters were able to breathe a sigh of relief following Daly Cherry-Evans' decision to re-sign with the club on a lifetime deal, coach Geoff Toovey faces an uncertain future with speculation mounting Trent Barrett will be installed as head coach for 2016, if not sooner.

Positives:
In a poor season, the one bright spot for the Sea Eagles has been the development of a number of young prospects. Forwards Ligi Sao and Jake Trbojevic have been able to develop in the absence of Josh Starling and Brenton Lawrence, while 18-year old Tom Trbojevic made a fantastic start to his NRL career, crossing for a double on debut against the Raiders.

Negatives:
On paper the Sea Eagles boast one of the most imposing rosters in the NRL, however due to injuries, Manly haven't been able to field their best 17 players at any stage in 2015. Having established himself as one of the most underrated props in the NRL, Brenton Lawrence has been restricted to one game all year, while Jamie Buhrer's ACL injury saw him limited to just seven appearances. Star players Jamie Lyon, Steve Matai, Feleti Mateo, Kieran Foran and Daly Cherry-Evans have also spent time on the sidelines, making it difficult for Manly to establish any kind of cohesion.

Best Player:
In a season where Manly have been forced to play without a number of established players, Brett Stewart has been a shining light for the embattled club. Crossing for 8 tries, a quarter of all tries scored by the Sea Eagles, the fullback has consistently performed, breaking the record set by Steve Menzies to become the leading try-scorer in Sea Eagles history.

Predicted Finish:
While the Sea Eagles are capable of making a late run for the top eight, the instability left by the clubs off-field issues has taken its toll. With matches against South Sydney (twice), North Queensland, Brisbane along with away trips to Canberra and New Zealand, the Sea Eagles will face a challenge to avoid the wooden spoon, let alone make the finals.
Bottom 4 finish.

By the Numbers

Won: 3
Lost: 9
Bye: 2
Points Scored: 172 (16th)
Points Conceded: 264 (10th)
Placed: 16th
Overall Ranking: 16th - Last

Season so Far

Round 1 Eels 42 v 12 Sea Eagles

Round 2 Sea Eagles 24 v 22 Storm

Round 3 Sea Eagles 12 v 16 Bulldogs

Round 4 Dragons 12 v 4 Sea Eagles

Round 5 Sea Eagles 16 v 29 Raiders

Round 6 Panthers 22 v 12 Sea Eagles

Round 7 Bulldogs 28 v 16 Sea Eagles

Round 8 Storm 10 v 12 Sea Eagles

Round 9 Sea Eagles 30 v 10 Knights

Round 10 Sea Eagles 10 v 11 Panthers

Round 12 Cowboys 18 v 14 Sea Eagles

Round 13 Broncos 44 v 10 Sea Eagles