2011 Manly Sea Eagles

Sea Eagles’ Young Guns on Fire!

It’s been a long time between drinks I know. I’ve been soaking up sport all over Australia for months, but I’m now back in town and have just attended my first match at Brookvale for the 2011 National Rugby League, NRL season... and I was gobsmacked by the transition of our team since I saw them last in 2010!

The Drum
By Dave Keogh

Even with our star fullback Brett Stewart and rep. winger ‘The Wolf Man’ out again (as they were for all of last year), the team had a much more resilient look about it… and the young players who first emerged last year are now a force to be reckoned with in their own right!

Kieran Foran

I’m unbelievably impressed with Kieran Foran’s development. How good is he going?!! I’ve managed to watch all our games this year on TV wherever I’ve been and Foran just gets better and better.

Will Hopoate

Then there’s young Hoppa… I was concerned that the raps he was getting were a bit premature. He’d looked very solid in the first few rounds… but watching him in the flesh as he carved up the Warriors at Brookie was a revelation!

Like all good fullbacks, I love the way he sniffs around the play the ball, always ready to inject himself into the backline and always there to back up any break that’s made. The try he set up with ‘that’ pass last Saturday night was as good as it gets… and his positional play in defence is also first class. I know we have one of the best about to come back in to the team at No. 1, but whatever it takes, the Sea Eagles have to stave off bids from clubs like the Bulldogs to keep young Hoppa in maroon and white.

Jamie Buhrer

And as for Jamie Buhrer… I swear, if you forget their difference in stature and physique, this guy is Beaver Menzies reincarnate.

He’s everywhere in defence, busts tackles on a regular basis and like the other fledglings mentioned above, he seems to be getting better with every game. Sign him up too Phil… these guys are the future.

Vic Mauro, Michael Oldfield

Vic Mauro can play it tight and tough but the guy has a great offload too. Michael Oldfield seemed a steady young footballer in 2010… but who’s the guy with the same name that’s carving them up like a seasoned first grader this year? Those two tries he’s scored off Jamie Lyon kicks have been nothing short of sensational, but he’s looked threatening with nearly every touch.

Tim Robinson, Daly Cherry-Evans

I saw a bit of Tim Robinson in the Gosford game against Souths and he too looks the goods. And then there’s Daly Cherry-Evans. What a tough task he was handed this year… come in and replace another young gun who was picked in rep. teams in his first full season of first grade with Manly. And while Trent Hodkinson continues to impress with the Bulldogs, I’m not at all unhappy that young Daly’s wearing the Sea Eagles No. 7 shirt.

His kicking game still finds the opposition fullback and wingers a bit too often, but gee he’s done some good things too. He’s tough, he’s clever, he kicks goals and he has a great combination going already with Foran. These two could form the long-term scrum-base partnership any successful club needs.

Dean Whare, Darcy Lussick

We haven’t sighted Dean Whare this year, but we know he too has a ton of ability and while I haven’t seen enough of Darcy Lussick yet to form my own opinion, all the reports say he’s another who will definitely impress once he gets a regular chance on the top grade. The future looks good for the mighty Manly-Warringah.

2011 Manly Sea Eagles Predictions

As for our chances this year? We may be a season off competing with the sheer solidity and ‘refuse to lose’ attitude of the Storm and the Dragons (time will tell). But given the continued good form of our ‘veterans’ – skippers Lyon & King; the skilful Glenn Stewart; the just returned Steve Matai; a seemingly rejuvenated Brent Kite and Joe Galuvao; and the ever-consistent Matt Ballin – and the knowledge that Brett Stewart and ‘The Wolfman’ will soon return to the ranks, you’d have to say this classic mix of experience and youth will win far more games than we’ll lose this season.

It’s an absolute credit to Coach Des Hasler that he’s bringing out the best in this great crop of young players at the one time… but now it’s over to the Admin. guys. Des has developed them… now it’s over to Graham Lowe and co. to make sure we keep them.

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