All the hard blood, sweat and tears of the past 10 months came crashing down in the first 30 seconds of Saturday night's elimination final for the luckless Sea Eagles. Centre Tolu Koula - the last-gasp hero of the win over the Bulldogs the previous week - was KO'd making the first tackle of the game and his night was over. Then on the second tackle, Jake Trbojevic was left seeing stars and while he returned after passing his HIA, he was a shadow of his usual shelf. The Roosters, smelling blood in the water in the battle of the beaches, applied the pressure and after 30 minutes, the game was as good as over. The unprecedented opening left Manly fans wondering what could have been after an otherwise highly impressive season. Anthony Seibold lifted the club from 12th to seventh on the ladder and on their day, the Sea Eagles had the strike power to match any attack in the league. Tommy Talau, one of the buys of the year, scored 18 tries, closely followed by brilliant fullback Tom Trbojevic (17), Jason Saab (12) and centre Reuben Garrick (10). The Manly back five oozed power and pace and thrilled the Brookvale faithful anytime rival defences were off their game. Much was made of Tom Trbojevic's injuries late in the year but in a make or break season for the luckless fullback, he still managed 20 games, inspiring the team with his mere presence on many occasions. The Sea Eagles had a potent mix of youth and experience and provided both State of Origin captains - the ageless Daly Cherry-Evans and Jake Turbo in a first for the game. DCE turns 36 next February but is the NRL's Peter Pan - he played 24 games and shows no sign of slowing down.
2023 finish: 12th | 2024 finish: 7th
Best signing: Local rugby union junior Joey Walsh has signed a three-year contract with the club and could be the long-term successor to DCE's halfback throne.
2025 Gains: Joey Walsh (2027)
2025 Losses: Bailey Hodgson (Leigh Leopards), Jamie Humphreys (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Karl Lawton (North Queensland Cowboys), Brad Parker (retired), Josh Schuster (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Aaron Woods (retired).
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