Manly have 5 added to squad

Manly's elimination from the finals series has not cost the club at the selection table with five Sea Eagles players added to the Australian Tri-Nations train-on squad.

Experienced back-rower Steve Menzies heads the list while fullback Brett Stewart, centre Steven Bell, halfback Matt Orford and prop Brent Kite have also been called up and could make their Test debuts later this year.

The news puts a positive spin on Manly's dismal finals performance when they lost consecutively to Newcastle and St George Illawarra to be eliminated from the finals. Newcastle have also had two players added to the train-on squad, forward Steve Simpson and five-eighth Kurt Gidley.