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Remove items from your saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n AAA<\/p>\n Brandon Wakeham will celebrate his 50th NRL appearance on Friday night. Even before he was arrested in the Brookvale Oval car park<\/a> two years ago, it is a milestone that appeared beyond reach.<\/p>\n It is a testament to how much Wakeham has turned his life around on and off the field that he has gone from a reserve grader embroiled in a major scandal to an integral member of Manly\u2019s spine.<\/p>\n \u201cIt feels mad. I didn\u2019t think I\u2019d get to 50 [games],\u201d Wakeham said on the eve of the Sea Eagles\u2019 away clash with Cronulla on Friday.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was such a big thing to happen. Even if someone was playing in the NRL it would be too hard to come back from.<\/p>\n \u201cThe position I was in \u2013 I wasn\u2019t playing first grade, I was playing reserve grade at Blacktown \u2013 I thought maybe that might be it.\u201d<\/p>\n The \u201cbig thing\u201d Wakeham refers to was the moment he was arrested, and his home was raided, in May 2024. The former Bulldogs and Tigers half was charged with a string of serious offences \u2013 including drug supply and participating in a criminal group \u2013 while playing for Manly\u2019s feeder team.<\/p>\n Wakeham maintained his innocence throughout the ordeal and all the charges were dropped<\/a>, but even then, it seemed his NRL days were over. Wakeham began this season on a train-and-trial deal, trying to add to a first-grade career that stalled at 40 games when he finished up at the Tigers in 2023.<\/p>\n However, two life-changing events made an unlikely comeback possible.<\/p>\n \u201cSpiritually, giving my life to God is the biggest thing that\u2019s changed,\u201d he said. \u201cI feel like a different person to who I was at the start of my career. Where I am now, going through the things that have happened, I\u2019m a better person for it now.\u201d<\/p>\n The other big transformation was a shift from the halves to hooker. While the Fiji international will come from the bench against the Sharks, he has been the starting No.9 for much of Manly\u2019s winning run under coach Kieran Foran.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m where I want to be as a footy player mentally, and away from the field,\u201d he said. \u201cGoing to training and playing, it\u2019s a lot easier now than the pressure I put on myself in the early days. Now that I have sorted things away from footy, it has a flow-on effect.\u201d<\/p>\n Such has been the transformation, Wakeham has been upgraded to a development contract, and his management is now in talks with Manly about a new deal for next season.<\/p>\n Yet even though he\u2019s established himself in Foran\u2019s team, the 27-year-old continues to work as a builder on almost all his days off. Working on the tools full-time during his sabbatical gave him a new appreciation for the game.<\/p>\n Related Article \u201cIt was hard waking up early in the morning, not coming home until late,\u201d he said. \u201cIt was hard yakka on the body obviously, but it was a bit refreshing not having the pressure of training and game day, trying to perform and be judged by the coaches every day and having the pressure that comes with losses on the weekend.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s something I probably didn\u2019t handle coming through, so it was refreshing to be away from footy at that time.<\/p>\n \u201cAt the same time I missed it, and it makes me more hungry to stay in it. Even now, every day off I\u2019m on the tools, I\u2019m still working \u2026 It\u2019s helped me come back in, the work ethic to be on the job site and still train. I feel like I\u2019m better for it … It\u2019s something I want to do after footy, too.\u201d<\/p>\n Wakeham said he was enjoying playing under Foran.<\/p>\n \u201cI look at the way he played, he was so tough,\u201d he said. \u201cThat\u2019s how I want to play for him \u2013 I don\u2019t care what I have to do.\u201d<\/p>\n News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport sent every Monday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n Save<\/p>\n You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n![\"Brandon](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/5174098a43d795daf3b0a2fefa0358f1a66757d1.jpeg\")
Brandon Wakeham celebrates a try against North Queensland in round seven.NRL Photos<\/p>\n![\"Police](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/67f07b771132c01dcd8cabe817c79d53a44ac719.jpeg\")
Police arrest Brandon Wakeham in 2024.NSW Police<\/p>\n![\"Brandon](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/a90afdb2c9baff014879ec519f759c4e8a300ade.jpeg\")
Brandon Wakeham has turned his life around after finding God.NRL Photos<\/p>\n![\"Bulldogs](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1780006340_738_0ea071d170527207aa5aa4b6ab12f68b34d59e19.jpeg\")
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