2023 Preview: Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles

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Manly have made their bed, now they have to lay in it

The Manly Sea Eagles will be under immediate pressure to perform in order to save face following a calamitous finish to last season.

Going from top eight contenders to widespread ridicule after ending last year with seven straight losses and dismissing two-time premiership winning coach Des Hasler, the Sea Eagles will need to come out all guns blazing or risk the ire of supporters livid at management's treatment of a club legend.

Appointing Anthony Seibold to the top job with far from ringing endorsement, the much-maligned coach will be hoping to rebuild his reputation with a largely similar roster bolstered by the return of superstar Tom Trbojevic from injury.

Adding Samoan representative Kelma Tuilagi and fringe first-grader Ben Condon to their forward pack, Cooper Johns, who came through the club's Jersey Flegg ranks, will look to make the vacant number six jersey his own following the departure of Kieran Foran.

The Sea Eagles will open the season with a Saturday afternoon fixture against the Bulldogs at 4 Pines Park. 

Why they'll win it

There are few players in the league that can single-handedly change a side's fortunes with their presence.

Tom Trbojevic is one such player.

Enjoying stratospheric highs and injury-riddled lows in recent years, the 26-year-old fullback has the potential to deliver the Sea Eagles a premiership if his form from 2019 and 21 is to be believed.

Missing the majority of last season with knee and shoulder injuries, Trbojevic has shown at the peak of his powers to not only stand among the greatest players of his generation, but someone capable of elevating fellow teammates to new heights as well.

If Trbojevic endures another season on the sidelines results may be few and far between on the northern beaches. However, a fit-and-firing Turbo is a frightening proposition for the other 16 teams vying for the premiership.

Why they won't

Having overseen one of the most inglorious failures in rugby league history during his tenure at the Brisbane Broncos, Anthony Seibold will be looking to revive his fledgling coaching career at a club where leadership instability is par for the course and the playing roster is far from united.

Achieving immediate success at South Sydney before opting to walk away from the top job at Brisbane due to months of prolonged pressure on and off the field, the one-time Dally M Coach of the Year will need early wins to quell the residual animosity left over from Des Hasler's acrimonious departure.

Holding tenuous links to Manly as an assistant under Trent Barrett in 2016, Seibold can expect media scrutiny of not being a ‘Manly person' if results are less than desired, while the division brought on by the rainbow jersey debacle will need to be remedied if the side hopes to avoid missing the finals in consecutive seasons.

Key Player

Making an immediate impression at five-eighth before spending the ensuing two seasons in the forwards, Manly young gun Josh Schuster will be determined to make the number six jersey his own in 2023.
Coming off a poor year plagued by indifferent form and injury, the 23-year-old opted to remain in Australia in preparation for the new season at the expense of representing the history-making Samoan side during the World Cup.
Touted as the front runner to take over from Kieran Foran in the halves, Schuster will fancy his chances of beating out new recruit Cooper Johns with his imposing blend of size, skill and strength.

Rookie to watch

Having handed the likes of Tevita Tatola, Adam Doueihi, Patrick Carrigan, Thomas Flegler, Xavier Coates and Herbie Farnworth their first appearances in the top grade, incoming coach Anthony Seibold will be looking to continue an underrated track record with young talent.

Gaining a premature introduction to first grade as a result of the infamous rainbow jersey debacle, Manly legacy Zac Fulton will be hoping to add to his one appearance by locking down a bench position. Penning a contract extension until the end of next season after progressing through the club ranks, the 21-year-old second-rower should come into contention for game time when injuries inevitably strike.

Making three appearances late in the season off the bench and at fullback, youngster Kaeo Weekes could become a regular fixture in the side following the departure of Dylan Walker. With Seibold frequently including an outside back on the bench during his previous stints at South Sydney and Brisbane, Weekes shapes as an option at 14 in the short-term.

Player Movements

Gains: Ben Condon (Cowboys), Kelma Tuilagi (Tigers), Cooper Johns (Storm), Nathaniel Roache (unattached)

Losses: Andrew Davey (Bulldogs), Dylan Walker (Warriors), Kieran Foran (Titans), Martin Taupau (Broncos)

2023 Sea Eagles squad

Best 17

1. Tom Trbojevic
2. Jason Saab
3. Brad Parker
4. Reuben Garrick
5. Christian Tuipulotu
6. Josh Schuster
7. Daly Cherry-Evans
8. Josh Aloiai
9. Lachlan Croker
10. Sean Keppie
11. Haumole Olakauatu
12. Kelma Tuilagi
13. Jake Trbojevic

14. Ben Trbojevic
15. Karl Lawton
16. Toafofoa Sipley
17. Taniela Paseka

2023 Sea Eagles fixtures

Beginning life under new management with a Saturday afternoon clash opposite Canterbury-Bankstown on home soil, the Sea Eagles will venture outside of Sydney just seven times all season, including home matches in Mudgee and foregoing crowd support during Magic Round.

Drawn a less than ideal bye following their opening match, further respite will take place during the Origin period following Game I (Round 14) and leading into Game III (Round 19).

Set to face top eight incumbents Penrith, Parramatta, Cronulla, Melbourne and Sydney twice during the home-and-away campaign, the side will round out the year at 4 Pines Park against Wests Tigers.

Some statistics courtesy of Rugby League Project.