{"id":199618,"date":"2025-12-24T11:12:07","date_gmt":"2025-12-24T11:12:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/199618\/"},"modified":"2025-12-24T11:12:07","modified_gmt":"2025-12-24T11:12:07","slug":"teen-bolter-in-frame-for-manly-sea-eagles-no-9-role-nrl-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/199618\/","title":{"rendered":"Teen bolter in frame for Manly Sea Eagles No.9 role – NRL News"},"content":{"rendered":"


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A surprising bolter has reportedly emerged for the starting dummy-half role at the Manly Sea Eagles<\/a> following the departures of Gordon Chan Kum Tong<\/a> and Jazz Tevaga<\/a> and the medical retirement of Lachlan Croker<\/a>.<\/p>\n

As reported by\u00a0Wide World of Sports<\/a>, young 19-year-old hooker Zaidas Muagututia<\/a> has emerged as a potential bolter for the No.9 jersey at the Sea Eagles for the start of the 2026 NRL<\/a> season.<\/p>\n

Yet to play in first-grade, Jake Simpkin<\/a> remains the frontrunner for the starting role at the moment after a strong campaign in 2025 while recruit Zach Dockar-Clay<\/a> is another option after signing from the Sydney Roosters<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Promoted to the club’s Top 30 roster after spending last season on the development list, Muagututia has long been touted as the side’s long-term dummy-half and has been a standout in the NSW Cup<\/a> since arriving from the Canterbury Bulldogs<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In 19 reserve-grade appearances, he scored four tries, forced one drop-out, provided three try assists, and four line-break assists as well as making 325 total tackles and averaging 29 running metres per match.<\/p>\n

“Zaidas is a very talented kid and really impressed us in his first season with the club this year,” a Sea Eagles insider told Wide World of Sports.<\/a><\/p>\n

“He is smart out of dummyhalf, reads the play well and has speed. He has a way to go, but he is definitely a player with potential.”<\/p>\n


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