{"id":472325,"date":"2026-02-11T07:08:16","date_gmt":"2026-02-11T07:08:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/472325\/"},"modified":"2026-02-11T07:08:16","modified_gmt":"2026-02-11T07:08:16","slug":"nrl-best-19s-for-2026-manly-sea-eagles-nrl-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/472325\/","title":{"rendered":"NRL best 19s for 2026: Manly Sea Eagles – NRL News"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Manly Sea Eagles<\/a> will head into 2026 as one of the teams with plenty to prove, but plenty to lose if it goes pear-shaped.<\/p>\n

The men from the Northern Beaches could well paint one of the more intriguing pictures in 2026.<\/p>\n

Anthony Seibold<\/a> is, without doubt, a coach under pressure, while it’s also the commencement of a new era as Daly Cherry-Evans<\/a> plays at another club for the first time in his 352-game career, of which every single has one has been with the Manly number seven on his back.<\/p>\n

There are other major selection conundrums for Manly too.<\/p>\n

Tom Trbojevic’s long-term position is up in the air, while Jake Trbojevic’s future amid concussion problems will also play out this year. <\/p>\n

Youngsters are ready to break out, and so too are some of the other signings at the club, which will help in the depth department across the 17.<\/p>\n

Here is how we see Manly lining up in 2026.<\/p>\n

Recruitment report<\/p>\n

Ins: Zach Dockar-Clay<\/a> (Sydney Roosters<\/a>, 2026), Jamal Fogarty<\/a> (Canberra Raiders<\/a>, 2028), Kobe Hetherington<\/a> (Brisbane Broncos<\/a>, 2029), Blake Wilson<\/a> (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs<\/a>, 2027)<\/p>\n

Outs: Josh Aloiai<\/a> (retired), Jake Arthur<\/a> (Hull FC<\/a>), Gordon Chan Kum Tong<\/a> (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs<\/a>), Michael Chee-Kam<\/a> (retired), Daly Cherry-Evans<\/a> (Sydney Roosters<\/a>), Lachlan Croker<\/a> (retired), Aitasi James<\/a> (released), Matthew Lodge<\/a> (North Queensland Cowboys<\/a>), Dean Matterson<\/a> (Super XIII), Chris Patolo<\/a> (Huddersfield Giants<\/a>), Toafofoa Sipley<\/a> (Warrington Wolves<\/a>), Tommy Talau<\/a> (Sydney Roosters<\/a>), Jazz Tevaga<\/a> (Wakefield Trinity<\/a>), Raymond Tuaimalo Vaega<\/a> (North Sydney Bears)<\/p>\n

Off-contract at end of 2026: Nathan Brown<\/a>, Zach Dockar-Clay<\/a>, Aaron Schoupp<\/a>, Siosiua Taukeiaho<\/a>, Jake Trbojevic<\/a><\/p>\n

Full squad<\/p>\n

Luke Brooks<\/a>, Nathan Brown<\/a>, Ethan Bullemor<\/a>, Zach Dockar-Clay<\/a>, Clayton Faulalo<\/a>, Jamal Fogarty<\/a>, Reuben Garrick<\/a>, Hugo Hart<\/a>, Kobe Hetherington<\/a>, Lehi Hopoate<\/a>, Tolutau Koula<\/a>, Simione Laiafi<\/a>, Onitoni Large<\/a>, Zaidas Muagututia<\/a>, Caleb Navale<\/a>, Haumole Olakau’atu<\/a>, Taniela Paseka<\/a>, Jason Saab<\/a>, Aaron Schoupp<\/a>, Jake Simpkin<\/a>, Siosiua Taukeiaho<\/a>, Ben Trbojevic<\/a>, Jake Trbojevic<\/a>, Tom Trbojevic<\/a>, Corey Waddell<\/a>, Joey Walsh<\/a>, Navren Willett<\/a>, Blake Wilson<\/a><\/p>\n

Supplementary contracts: Paul Bryan<\/a>, Josh Feledy<\/a>, D’Jazirhae Pua’avase<\/a>, Jackson Shereb<\/a>, Brandon Wakeham<\/a><\/p>\n

Who plays where?<\/p>\n

Fullback
The fullback question for the Sea Eagles heading into 2026 is an intriguing one.<\/p>\n

Tom Trbojevic<\/a> has been the long-term option, but his fitness, as always, is the concern for the new campaign.<\/p>\n

The idea of him playing in the centres has been floated, and indeed trialed, more than once, by coach Anthon Seibold.<\/p>\n

The temptation to continue it in 2026 will only grow with the emergence of Lehi Hopoate<\/a>.<\/p>\n

For now, we will say Trbojevic stays at the back, but don’t be surprised if it flips at some point.<\/p>\n

Reuben Garrick<\/a> is the other key option at fullback.<\/p>\n

Wingers
With Hopoate overlooked at fullback, he will slot straight onto the wing for Manly.<\/p>\n

That doesn’t come as a huge surprise, with the rising star putting together impressive performances regularly in 2025.<\/p>\n

He should be joined by towering winger Jason Saab<\/a>, who knows how to run and find the tryline, but needs to work on his defence and ball handling.<\/p>\n

He’ll need to do it quickly too given the Sea Eagles have signed Blake Wilson<\/a> from the Bulldogs, and Clayton Faulalo<\/a> also sits in the squad.<\/p>\n

Centres
In the three-quarters, Tolutau Koula<\/a> and Reuben Garrick<\/a> should be the easiest pick in the side.<\/p>\n

Garrick could be called upon at either fullback or on the wing, but is unlikely to shuffle a great deal in his final season on the Northern Beaches before moving to the Bondi-based Sydney Roosters<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Koula, on the other hand, has been one of the NRL’s best centres in recent times and there is no reason to see his power packed game going anywhere this year.<\/p>\n

Clayton Faulalo<\/a>, Aaron Schoupp<\/a>, Ben Trbojevic<\/a> and development player Josh Feledy<\/a> all shape as options to slot into the centres.<\/p>\n

Halves
The departure of Daly Cherry-Evans<\/a> means the Sea Eagles will have a new-look halves combination.<\/p>\n

Cherry-Evans has been the number seven for well over a decade, but will be replaced by Jamal Fogarty<\/a> in 2026.<\/p>\n

The former Raider has plenty of work to do in filling Cherry-Evans’ boots, but is coming off an excellent season for the Raiders where he guided the Green Machine to the minor premiership.<\/p>\n

Luke Brooks<\/a> will again play at five-eighth, looking to build on the new lease on life he has found away from the Tigers.<\/p>\n

Young gun Joey Walsh<\/a> is now in the Top 30 and appears the most likely back-up option. Onitoni Large<\/a> is also working his way through Manly’s system.<\/p>\n

Middle forwards
Manly will be sweating on Taniela Paseka<\/a> being at full fitness to lead the club through the middle third in 2026.<\/p>\n

He should be joined up front by Jake Trbojevic<\/a>, who is no longer a lock forward option.<\/p>\n

His move into the prop role should see recruit Kobe Hetherington<\/a> walk straight into the lock position.<\/p>\n

Siosiua Taukeiaho<\/a> had a strong 2025 and is also an option, while Ethan Bullemor<\/a> is also in the mix.<\/p>\n

Simione Laiafi<\/a> headlines the young talent at the club in the middle third, while Caleb Navale<\/a> should push for more minutes this year.<\/p>\n

Hooker
Lachlan Croker’s retirement creates an intriguing question for Manly at number nine in 2026.<\/p>\n

Jake Simpkin<\/a> is the most likely player to feature, but he certainly isn’t the only option.<\/p>\n

The former Queensland junior State of Origin<\/a> player will need to realise his potential in 2026 to hold off Zaidas Muagututia<\/a>, who by all reports has had an exceptional pre-season and is banging down the door for a spot.<\/p>\n

Zach Dockar-Clay<\/a> has also moved from the Roosters to the Sea Eagles and can’t be discounted.<\/p>\n

Edge forwards
Manly have one of the best second-rowers in the competition in Haumole Olakau’atu<\/a>, and there is no real doubt over the other spot either with Ben Trbojevic<\/a> now rapidly building into his career.<\/p>\n

Ethan Bullemor<\/a>, who can also play in the middle, is one of the leading candidates to come into the side if need be, while the experienced Corey Waddell<\/a> is another option.<\/p>\n

Aaron Schoupp<\/a> has re-invented himself into a second-rower, while Hugo Hart<\/a> progresses to the Top 30 and could feature at some point.<\/p>\n

Interchange
We tend to think Manly will go with a specialist dummy half and three forwards to start their bench.<\/p>\n

Zach Dockar-Clay<\/a> gets the nod at 14, with Ethan Bullemor<\/a>, Sioisua Taukeiaho and Corey Waddell<\/a> all likely to feature.<\/p>\n

Beyond that, Blake Wilson<\/a> and Joey Walsh<\/a> are our picks for the extra two spots on the bench, but don’t be stunned if Manly look at an extra forward option in Navale, or even Aaron Schoupp<\/a> for some versatility.<\/p>\n

The best 17<\/p>\n

1. Tom Trbojevic<\/a>
2. Lehi Hopoate<\/a>
3. Reuben Garrick<\/a>
4. Tolutau Koula<\/a>
5. Jason Saab<\/a>
6. Luke Brooks<\/a>
7. Jamal Fogarty<\/a>
8. Taniela Paseka<\/a>
9. Jake Simpkin<\/a>
10. Jake Trbojevic<\/a>
11. Haumole Olakau’atu<\/a>
12. Ben Trbojevic<\/a>
13. Kobe Hetherington<\/a><\/p>\n

Interchange
14. Zach Dockar-Clay<\/a>
15. Ethan Bullemor<\/a>
16. Siosiua Taukeiaho<\/a>
17. Corey Waddell<\/a>
18. Blake Wilson<\/a>
19. Joey Walsh<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Manly Sea Eagles will head into 2026 as one of the teams with plenty to prove, but…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":306247,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[568],"tags":[64,63,761,762,158,85],"class_list":["post-472325","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nrl","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-national-rugby-league","tag-nationalrugbyleague","tag-nrl","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/472325","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=472325"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/472325\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/306247"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=472325"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=472325"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=472325"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}