Season Preview:MANLY SEA EAGLES
2013 NRL Premiership
By W D Nicolson - March 2, 2013
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Last Year: 4th with a 16-8 (+94) record and 36 points.
Melbourne 40 Manly 12 - that's all you need to know (or probably remember) about last season if you are a Manly player or fan. This is a proud bunch who had their pants pulled down in the second biggest game of 2012 and coach Geoff Toovey would not have let any of his players forget that fateful September night... decent motivating factor entering 2013.
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IMPACT PLAYERSImpact by committee seems to be the only option for Manly after losing Tony Williams to the Dogs. Justin Horo, Michael Chee Kam and their most recent pickup Tom Symonds are all good enough to be part of the first grade squad, though none are in the game-breaking mold of T-Rex. Two former Titans - Kayne Lawton and Brenton Lawrence might also have a role to play over the course of the season, with Lawton a more than serviceable backup for Matt Ballin. The club made a concerted effort to add depth this off-season with another four or five off-season signings some chance of a first grade appearance in 2013.
BEST LINE-UP | If every player is available, this is the top squad listed 1-17.
Brett STEWART
Jorge TAUFUA
Jamie LYON
Steve MATAI
David WILLIAMS
Kieran FORAN
Daly CHERRY-EVANS
Jason KING
Matt BALLIN
Brent KITE
Anthony WATMOUGH
Jamie BUHRER
Glenn STEWART
Bench:
Joe GALUVAO
Richard FA'AOSO
George ROSE
Justin HORO
Coach:
Geoff TOOVEY
Remainder of Top 25 Squad/NSW Cup:
Michael CHAPMAN, Michael CHEE KAM, Dane CHISHOLM, James CUNNINGHAM, Ben FARRAR, Jacob GAGAN, David GOWER, Kayse GREER, James HASSON, Liam HIGGINS, Peta HIKU, Brenton LAWRENCE, Kayne LAWTON, Justin LEMALU, Ligi SAO, Jason SEAGE, Jesse SENE-LEFAO, Nick SKINNER, Magnus STROMQUIST, Tom SYMONDS, Esi TONGA.
Notables from U20s:
Dylan KELLY, Jack TRBOJEVIC.
PREDICTED ROUND 1 TEAM
Glenn Stewart is out for 6 weeks, so Buhrer and Horo might both start (although Galuvao is a decent starting option for Toovey in the backrow). Watmough should play after a rib injury in the trials, while Williams is no certainty after a knee reconstruction - it looks like Gagan or Farrar will get his spot on the right wing. The bench looks wide open however with King in serious doubt.
MAN: B Stewart, Taufua, Lyon, Matai, Farrar, Foran, Cherry-Evans, King/Rose, Ballin, Kite, Watmough, Horo, Buhrer.
Bench: Galuvao, Fa'aoso, Lawrence, Rose/Gower/Skinner.
Make sure you take a look at our dedicated NRL Injured List
YOUNGSTER WATCHJacob Gagan was signed from the Eels and might be a chance in Round 1 on the wing for the injured David Williams (though the Wolfman isn't confirmed as missing yet), and former Canberra backrower Michael Chee Kam might rue missing the pre-season trials with injury given the backrowers out with injury for Round 1. James Cunningham, Ligi Sao and Peta Hiku are three other names to keep track of during the year.
HOME GAME YOU CAN'T MISSRound 25 is a long time to wait but that's when the Melbourne Storm come to Brookie... before that - Manly fans should turn out in force for the Sunday nighter v Newcastle in Round 2 on March 17 (given it is still daylight savings), but it is a shame that Round 4's Thursday nighter v the Tigers is in Gosford in terms of allowing the fans on the northern beaches to actually make the game.
PLAYOFF CHANCESBetter than average...
But how much did the preliminary final drubbing at the hands of the Storm drive Manly's off-season? The Sea Eagles have to start the year minus two thirds of their starting backrow (and maybe the whole lot if Watmough isn't fit) - a group that has been integral to how Manly play for years... But starting halves Daly Cherry-Evans and Kieran Foran are fit to open the season and they are as good if not better than every other 6/7 combo in the NRL - they'll keep Manly in the playoff race by themselves if they have to.
@NRLTweet's PREDICTED REGULAR SEASON FINISH7th | Not the slam dunk contender of recent seasons but they've still got the pieces to be dangerous at the pointy end of the year. On their day/night they can beat anyone and it will be intriguing to see if Toovey changes things up a little more in his second season. Their table prediction isn't a reflection of how we rate their premiership chances - they can still win it.
The NRL Injury List is updated regularly during each week of the season, making it an invaluable Fantasy and Tipping Tool alongside our Weekly NRL Previews once again.
Remember if you want game-specific Late Mail every week, then check out our Round Previews Every Wednesday and they are updated with all the very latest Late Mail on Friday.
If we are missing any players on this list - please comment below, reply on Twitter or email this address.
The Prestigious Award returns for a 4th season in 2013.
Review all of the voting results from 2012 right here
Remember you can track all the votes each week after each match in 2013 via the Twitter hashtag #nrltweetpoty
