Latest news with #Manly
The Age
2 hours ago
- Sport
- The Age
‘The boys have his back': Manly star backs under-siege Seibold
One of the players in the Manly leadership group has broken his silence over the future of coach Anthony Seibold, declaring: 'The boys have his back, and he's got ours.' Haumole Olakau'atu was one of several Sea Eagles players to give up a rare free weekend to support the club's NSW Cup side at Accor Stadium on Saturday evening. Several NRL players, including Jason Saab and Lachie Croker, had been sent back to reserve grade by Seibold given first grade had the bye. The sight of Olakau'atu and the Trbojevic brothers – Tom, Jake and Ben – as well as Luke Brooks, Lehi Hopoate, Luke Brooks and other players in the stands was a clear indication there was no division in the playing ranks. This masthead revealed during the week pressure was mounting on Seibold to keep his job after losses to the Eels, Titans and Knights in the past month. Seibold is contracted until the end of 2027, with Sea Eagles' CEO Tony Mestrov admitting: 'At the moment, Seibs is safe at this point; Seibs understands this as well as I do, it's all about winning games. Seibs is safe at this point.' Olakau'atu, who joined Tom and Jake and Daly Cherry-Evans in the leadership group over the summer, was backing Seibold to turn the club's fortunes around. 'I'm not worried about all that stuff,' Olakau'atu said.
Sydney Morning Herald
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘The boys have his back': Manly star backs under-siege Seibold
One of the players in the Manly leadership group has broken his silence over the future of coach Anthony Seibold, declaring: 'The boys have his back, and he's got ours.' Haumole Olakau'atu was one of several Sea Eagles players to give up a rare free weekend to support the club's NSW Cup side at Accor Stadium on Saturday evening. Several NRL players, including Jason Saab and Lachie Croker, had been sent back to reserve grade by Seibold given first grade had the bye. The sight of Olakau'atu and the Trbojevic brothers – Tom, Jake and Ben – as well as Luke Brooks, Lehi Hopoate, Luke Brooks and other players in the stands was a clear indication there was no division in the playing ranks. This masthead revealed during the week pressure was mounting on Seibold to keep his job after losses to the Eels, Titans and Knights in the past month. Seibold is contracted until the end of 2027, with Sea Eagles' CEO Tony Mestrov admitting: 'At the moment, Seibs is safe at this point; Seibs understands this as well as I do, it's all about winning games. Seibs is safe at this point.' Olakau'atu, who joined Tom and Jake and Daly Cherry-Evans in the leadership group over the summer, was backing Seibold to turn the club's fortunes around. 'I'm not worried about all that stuff,' Olakau'atu said.
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Roosters' stance on Daly Cherry-Evans unchanged
The Sydney Roosters remain keen on pursuing Daly Cherry-Evans despite his axing from the State of Origin set-up and the emergence of their own young halves. It comes as coach Trent Robinson reveals all five of his State of Origin representatives will back up for Saturday's match against North Queensland, who are resting Reuben Cotter and Reece Robson. The Roosters shaped as the front-runners for Cherry-Evans's signature after the premiership-winning halfback confirmed 2025 would be his 15th and final season at Manly. Since then, Cherry-Evans has been dropped as Queensland captain and endured patchy form for an out-of-sorts Manly side fighting to keep pace with the top eight. The Roosters, meanwhile, have unearthed an out-and-out first-grader in rookie halfback Hugo Savala and also have highly rated Sam Walker signed through 2027. Sandon Smith has proven a capable back-up playmaker too, particularly impressive in a big Anzac Day win over St George Illawarra. The Roosters have held preliminary talks with Cherry-Evans but the 36-year-old has indicated his immediate focus is on the 2025 season, not finalising his future. Robinson previously endorsed the club's pursuit of Cherry-Evans and has not changed his position amid the events of recent months. "Nothing has moved, we haven't had any discussions or anything like that. But there hasn't been any difference on what I said last time either," he said. "We said he's going to wait so we've just been getting on with our business until that time." Cherry-Evans has been instrumental in big wins over Penrith and Brisbane in recent months but most recently struggled to ignite the side in a 28-8 thrashing from last-placed Gold Coast. Robinson has been unconcerned over public commentary surrounding Cherry-Evans's form this season. "That hasn't been a discussion for us," he said. The coach sees a world where all four of Cherry-Evans, Savala, Walker and Smith can co-exist at the club next season. Savala's preferred position is in the halves but his 194cm frame makes him a candidate for opportunities in the back row or outside backs. Smith, meanwhile, was a regular on the bench before five-eighth Luke Keary left the club in the most recent off-season. "We're in a good spot, I feel like we're developing really well," Robinson said. "We want to keep pushing forward in being the best team that we can be. There's no wavering on what I said (about wanting to pursue Cherry-Evans) but that time will come." The Cowboys will have Queensland duo Jeremiah Nanai and Tom Dearden on deck as they fight to bounce back from their 58-4 hiding at the hands of the Dolphins last week. But NSW hooker Robson and Maroons forward Cotter will be given extra time to rest following the Maroons' 26-24 game-two win on Wednesday. "(They're) just carrying a couple of niggles that we don't want to make worse, given that we've got a long road ahead," said coach Todd Payten.
The Advertiser
a day ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
From $155m drug sting to bush footy: Ex-NRL revealed as signing after released from jail
One of the most well-known surnames in rugby league is now part of the Peter McDonald Premiership. The Nyngan Tigers have confirmed ex-NRL player Jamil Hopoate has signed on for the rest of the 2025 season. The signing is a hugely controversial one, given Hopoate was only released from jail last October after serving more than two years in jail for a commercial drug supply charge. The Tigers are aware some will criticise the signing, but the club has been impressed by the 30-year-old in a number of conversations. The signing and move to Nyngan also had to be cleared by NSW Police, given Hopoate remains on parole. Nyngan co-captain-coach James Tuitahi has known Hopoate since the pair were both teenagers, and they also spent time together in the lower grades at Parramatta and Manly. "He's been in the media for the wrong reasons, but he's doing well now," Tuitahi said. "Everyone has a past, but it seems like he's really making a positive change. "There had to be meetings beforehand, and like any signing, it's about the bigger picture, and it's not just about footy. It's about the character of the people we're going to sign, which is a big thing for us. "He's trying to turn his life around, he's got two kids, and hopefully he'll learn a bit from these fellas out here." Hopoate is the son of rugby league bad boy John Hopoate, while his brothers William and Albert have also played in the NRL. Jamil played 12 games for the Brisbane Broncos before being released at the end of the 2020 season and his professional career was littered with controversies. Police said Hopoate was a person of "reasonable significance" in a plot to import more than half a tonne of cocaine. He was accused of being part of a trio, who were charged over a massive 514 kilogram haul of cocaine, which was hidden in a consignment of toolboxes sent to Sydney. The drugs had an estimated street value of almost $155 million. He was most recently arrested at gunpoint in 2021 after a police operation that involved swapping the 8kg of cocaine Hopoate was transporting with a fake substance. The NSW district court heard Hopoate was paid $10,000 to be a courier. In 2021, he pleaded guilty to seven offences, including two counts of common assault - domestic violence. He was eventually jailed for three months after breaching the terms of his intensive corrections order. That came after he was previously sent to prison for at least one year for an unprovoked attack outside a Manly pub in 2014. Those charges and other negative headlines resulted in him being sacked at Parramatta and Manly before playing an NRL match at either club. Hopoate hasn't played rugby league since being released from jail, but it's hoped the move to Nyngan can benefit both player and club. The backrower will remain living in Sydney and travel to play for the Tigers each week. Tuitahi and the club are hopeful time in the country and getting back to footy will help the 30-year-old as he continues to work to make amends. For the Tigers, Hopoate provides a much-needed shot of experience and boosts the club's depleted depth. The Tuitahi and Jacob Neill-led side has struggled with injuries in 2025 and currently sits one point outside the top eight after eight rounds. Nyngan has struggled to field the same halves combination in two successive weeks so far this season, while talented young backrower Cale Dunn will likely miss the rest of the campaign due to a knee injury. "He brings a bit more experience, and it will just give confidence to the other boys," Tuitahi said. "We definitely have the team (to play finals), it's just the injuries that have knocked us around. "We're lucky we've had the numbers, but we haven't had the experience, so it's a massive boost to have Jamil on board." Tuitahi said the club would be open to extending Hopoate's deal beyond this season should he impress on and off the field. Hopoate will make his debut for Nyngan on Sunday, June 22, when the Tigers head to Forbes to take on the competition leaders. One of the most well-known surnames in rugby league is now part of the Peter McDonald Premiership. The Nyngan Tigers have confirmed ex-NRL player Jamil Hopoate has signed on for the rest of the 2025 season. The signing is a hugely controversial one, given Hopoate was only released from jail last October after serving more than two years in jail for a commercial drug supply charge. The Tigers are aware some will criticise the signing, but the club has been impressed by the 30-year-old in a number of conversations. The signing and move to Nyngan also had to be cleared by NSW Police, given Hopoate remains on parole. Nyngan co-captain-coach James Tuitahi has known Hopoate since the pair were both teenagers, and they also spent time together in the lower grades at Parramatta and Manly. "He's been in the media for the wrong reasons, but he's doing well now," Tuitahi said. "Everyone has a past, but it seems like he's really making a positive change. "There had to be meetings beforehand, and like any signing, it's about the bigger picture, and it's not just about footy. It's about the character of the people we're going to sign, which is a big thing for us. "He's trying to turn his life around, he's got two kids, and hopefully he'll learn a bit from these fellas out here." Hopoate is the son of rugby league bad boy John Hopoate, while his brothers William and Albert have also played in the NRL. Jamil played 12 games for the Brisbane Broncos before being released at the end of the 2020 season and his professional career was littered with controversies. Police said Hopoate was a person of "reasonable significance" in a plot to import more than half a tonne of cocaine. He was accused of being part of a trio, who were charged over a massive 514 kilogram haul of cocaine, which was hidden in a consignment of toolboxes sent to Sydney. The drugs had an estimated street value of almost $155 million. He was most recently arrested at gunpoint in 2021 after a police operation that involved swapping the 8kg of cocaine Hopoate was transporting with a fake substance. The NSW district court heard Hopoate was paid $10,000 to be a courier. In 2021, he pleaded guilty to seven offences, including two counts of common assault - domestic violence. He was eventually jailed for three months after breaching the terms of his intensive corrections order. That came after he was previously sent to prison for at least one year for an unprovoked attack outside a Manly pub in 2014. Those charges and other negative headlines resulted in him being sacked at Parramatta and Manly before playing an NRL match at either club. Hopoate hasn't played rugby league since being released from jail, but it's hoped the move to Nyngan can benefit both player and club. The backrower will remain living in Sydney and travel to play for the Tigers each week. Tuitahi and the club are hopeful time in the country and getting back to footy will help the 30-year-old as he continues to work to make amends. For the Tigers, Hopoate provides a much-needed shot of experience and boosts the club's depleted depth. The Tuitahi and Jacob Neill-led side has struggled with injuries in 2025 and currently sits one point outside the top eight after eight rounds. Nyngan has struggled to field the same halves combination in two successive weeks so far this season, while talented young backrower Cale Dunn will likely miss the rest of the campaign due to a knee injury. "He brings a bit more experience, and it will just give confidence to the other boys," Tuitahi said. "We definitely have the team (to play finals), it's just the injuries that have knocked us around. "We're lucky we've had the numbers, but we haven't had the experience, so it's a massive boost to have Jamil on board." Tuitahi said the club would be open to extending Hopoate's deal beyond this season should he impress on and off the field. Hopoate will make his debut for Nyngan on Sunday, June 22, when the Tigers head to Forbes to take on the competition leaders. One of the most well-known surnames in rugby league is now part of the Peter McDonald Premiership. The Nyngan Tigers have confirmed ex-NRL player Jamil Hopoate has signed on for the rest of the 2025 season. The signing is a hugely controversial one, given Hopoate was only released from jail last October after serving more than two years in jail for a commercial drug supply charge. The Tigers are aware some will criticise the signing, but the club has been impressed by the 30-year-old in a number of conversations. The signing and move to Nyngan also had to be cleared by NSW Police, given Hopoate remains on parole. Nyngan co-captain-coach James Tuitahi has known Hopoate since the pair were both teenagers, and they also spent time together in the lower grades at Parramatta and Manly. "He's been in the media for the wrong reasons, but he's doing well now," Tuitahi said. "Everyone has a past, but it seems like he's really making a positive change. "There had to be meetings beforehand, and like any signing, it's about the bigger picture, and it's not just about footy. It's about the character of the people we're going to sign, which is a big thing for us. "He's trying to turn his life around, he's got two kids, and hopefully he'll learn a bit from these fellas out here." Hopoate is the son of rugby league bad boy John Hopoate, while his brothers William and Albert have also played in the NRL. Jamil played 12 games for the Brisbane Broncos before being released at the end of the 2020 season and his professional career was littered with controversies. Police said Hopoate was a person of "reasonable significance" in a plot to import more than half a tonne of cocaine. He was accused of being part of a trio, who were charged over a massive 514 kilogram haul of cocaine, which was hidden in a consignment of toolboxes sent to Sydney. The drugs had an estimated street value of almost $155 million. He was most recently arrested at gunpoint in 2021 after a police operation that involved swapping the 8kg of cocaine Hopoate was transporting with a fake substance. The NSW district court heard Hopoate was paid $10,000 to be a courier. In 2021, he pleaded guilty to seven offences, including two counts of common assault - domestic violence. He was eventually jailed for three months after breaching the terms of his intensive corrections order. That came after he was previously sent to prison for at least one year for an unprovoked attack outside a Manly pub in 2014. Those charges and other negative headlines resulted in him being sacked at Parramatta and Manly before playing an NRL match at either club. Hopoate hasn't played rugby league since being released from jail, but it's hoped the move to Nyngan can benefit both player and club. The backrower will remain living in Sydney and travel to play for the Tigers each week. Tuitahi and the club are hopeful time in the country and getting back to footy will help the 30-year-old as he continues to work to make amends. For the Tigers, Hopoate provides a much-needed shot of experience and boosts the club's depleted depth. The Tuitahi and Jacob Neill-led side has struggled with injuries in 2025 and currently sits one point outside the top eight after eight rounds. Nyngan has struggled to field the same halves combination in two successive weeks so far this season, while talented young backrower Cale Dunn will likely miss the rest of the campaign due to a knee injury. "He brings a bit more experience, and it will just give confidence to the other boys," Tuitahi said. "We definitely have the team (to play finals), it's just the injuries that have knocked us around. "We're lucky we've had the numbers, but we haven't had the experience, so it's a massive boost to have Jamil on board." Tuitahi said the club would be open to extending Hopoate's deal beyond this season should he impress on and off the field. Hopoate will make his debut for Nyngan on Sunday, June 22, when the Tigers head to Forbes to take on the competition leaders.
The Advertiser
3 days ago
- Business
- The Advertiser
Manly crisis: Is it time to blow up the NRL's most loyal combination?
The best thing for the Trbojevic brothers - Tom and Jake - and the Manly club would be to go their separate ways when the contracts of the two players expire at the end of next season. Or even earlier, if the right opportunity elsewhere materialised for either player before then. It's the brothers I'm thinking of, ahead of the club. They've given their all to the Sea Eagles and deserve the opportunity to get the most out of what is left of their careers - financially and also in terms of satisfaction and achievement. I doubt whether they can get that entire combination at Manly. Whatever degree of premiership window the Sea Eagles have had in recent years, it's shut now. The decision by halfback Daly Cherry-Evans to leave the club at the end of this season and his patchy form since announcing that decision, Tom's continued injury problems and Jake having arrived at the veteran stage of his career are major factors there. When all three have been at the top of their game it has created a false impression of how good the team was as a whole. Other players looked better through association than what they genuinely were. The holes in the side were still there to see, if you looked closely enough, but now they're obvious for all to see. There is too much work that needs to be done on the playing squad for Manly to become a major force again in a hurry. If they can make the finals this season it will be a good result, but even if they did they wouldn't be capable of going far. Right now, in the week of State of Origin II and when Manly have got a bye in the NRL, the Sea Eagles were still the subjects of unwanted publicity. It was reported coach Anthony Seibold had one-on-one meetings with his players on Monday, in the wake of back-to-back losses to Newcastle and Gold Coast, and that some players weren't happy with how those meetings were conducted. Seibold is contracted until the end of 2027 and Manly chief executive Tony Mestrov was quoted saying: "At the moment, 'Seibs' is safe at this point. Seibs understands as well as I do, it's all about winning games. Seibs is safe at this point." If I were a coach under pressure I think I'd rather hear I had the full support of the board! Tom and Jake are tremendous people and great club-men and I hope the rest of their careers work out well for them. But for that to happen they should consider all of the available options and not limit themselves. They've each made it clear they hate the thought of playing against Manly, which only leaves the English Super League in that case. They should eliminate those thoughts and be open to any opportunities that may be available at other clubs in the NRL as well. Surely the younger Tom would be a target for the new Perth Bears franchise in 2027 if he wanted to be. And that is despite the obvious gamble over whether he'll continue to be plagued by injury. It's been reported Mestrov has begun negotiations with the brothers' management about new deals, with the suggestion it might be a one-year deal for Jake, who is now 31, and longer for 28-year-old Tom. Manly need to rebuild at some stage and must think hard about what the best way into the future might be for the club and whether it includes new deals for Tom and Jake or ending the club's association with them at the end of next season. Just because it might be best for all parties to move on and have a fresh start. Tom and Jake would still be regarded as Manly greats at the end of their careers and be treated as such by the club's fans. That would never change. The scheduling of the Warriors v Penrith game for this weekend's NRL round really is ridiculous and Panthers coach Ivan Cleary has every reason to be unhappy about it. Penrith have in previous years been travelling well enough on the competition table to be able to give their State of Origin players a rest at crucial times, but as Cleary pointed out that was a decision they had the freedom to make either way themselves. But this week the scheduling of the Warriors-Panthers game on Saturday afternoon in Auckland, less than 72 hours after Penrith's stars had played Origin in Perth, made it ridiculous to even consider them backing up. So the decision was effectively taken out of Penrith's hands and as Cleary said that simply isn't fair. MORE NRL NEWS It will be a stunning result if the in-form Warriors somehow don't win at home against a severely-depleted Panthers outfit and that's why the bookmakers have the home side as $1.25 favourites. And it is, of course, just another reason why the NRL must look at changing the Origin schedule sooner rather than later so that in future years it doesn't disrupt the NRL competition so much. Penrith, after winning four straight premierships, have found this season very difficult after the annual loss of star players due to the salary cap biting finally caught up with the club. But they had battled their way up to ninth place, just one point outside of the top eight, ahead of this round. IF Melbourne beat South Sydney on Saturday night and Cronulla lose to Brisbane on Sunday we'll be left with a six-point gap between the top four and the rest of the field after this weekend's round. Not great news for the chasers, even with another 11 rounds to go after this one before the finals. The best thing for the Trbojevic brothers - Tom and Jake - and the Manly club would be to go their separate ways when the contracts of the two players expire at the end of next season. Or even earlier, if the right opportunity elsewhere materialised for either player before then. It's the brothers I'm thinking of, ahead of the club. They've given their all to the Sea Eagles and deserve the opportunity to get the most out of what is left of their careers - financially and also in terms of satisfaction and achievement. I doubt whether they can get that entire combination at Manly. Whatever degree of premiership window the Sea Eagles have had in recent years, it's shut now. The decision by halfback Daly Cherry-Evans to leave the club at the end of this season and his patchy form since announcing that decision, Tom's continued injury problems and Jake having arrived at the veteran stage of his career are major factors there. When all three have been at the top of their game it has created a false impression of how good the team was as a whole. Other players looked better through association than what they genuinely were. The holes in the side were still there to see, if you looked closely enough, but now they're obvious for all to see. There is too much work that needs to be done on the playing squad for Manly to become a major force again in a hurry. If they can make the finals this season it will be a good result, but even if they did they wouldn't be capable of going far. Right now, in the week of State of Origin II and when Manly have got a bye in the NRL, the Sea Eagles were still the subjects of unwanted publicity. It was reported coach Anthony Seibold had one-on-one meetings with his players on Monday, in the wake of back-to-back losses to Newcastle and Gold Coast, and that some players weren't happy with how those meetings were conducted. Seibold is contracted until the end of 2027 and Manly chief executive Tony Mestrov was quoted saying: "At the moment, 'Seibs' is safe at this point. Seibs understands as well as I do, it's all about winning games. Seibs is safe at this point." If I were a coach under pressure I think I'd rather hear I had the full support of the board! Tom and Jake are tremendous people and great club-men and I hope the rest of their careers work out well for them. But for that to happen they should consider all of the available options and not limit themselves. They've each made it clear they hate the thought of playing against Manly, which only leaves the English Super League in that case. They should eliminate those thoughts and be open to any opportunities that may be available at other clubs in the NRL as well. Surely the younger Tom would be a target for the new Perth Bears franchise in 2027 if he wanted to be. And that is despite the obvious gamble over whether he'll continue to be plagued by injury. It's been reported Mestrov has begun negotiations with the brothers' management about new deals, with the suggestion it might be a one-year deal for Jake, who is now 31, and longer for 28-year-old Tom. Manly need to rebuild at some stage and must think hard about what the best way into the future might be for the club and whether it includes new deals for Tom and Jake or ending the club's association with them at the end of next season. Just because it might be best for all parties to move on and have a fresh start. Tom and Jake would still be regarded as Manly greats at the end of their careers and be treated as such by the club's fans. That would never change. The scheduling of the Warriors v Penrith game for this weekend's NRL round really is ridiculous and Panthers coach Ivan Cleary has every reason to be unhappy about it. Penrith have in previous years been travelling well enough on the competition table to be able to give their State of Origin players a rest at crucial times, but as Cleary pointed out that was a decision they had the freedom to make either way themselves. But this week the scheduling of the Warriors-Panthers game on Saturday afternoon in Auckland, less than 72 hours after Penrith's stars had played Origin in Perth, made it ridiculous to even consider them backing up. So the decision was effectively taken out of Penrith's hands and as Cleary said that simply isn't fair. MORE NRL NEWS It will be a stunning result if the in-form Warriors somehow don't win at home against a severely-depleted Panthers outfit and that's why the bookmakers have the home side as $1.25 favourites. And it is, of course, just another reason why the NRL must look at changing the Origin schedule sooner rather than later so that in future years it doesn't disrupt the NRL competition so much. Penrith, after winning four straight premierships, have found this season very difficult after the annual loss of star players due to the salary cap biting finally caught up with the club. But they had battled their way up to ninth place, just one point outside of the top eight, ahead of this round. IF Melbourne beat South Sydney on Saturday night and Cronulla lose to Brisbane on Sunday we'll be left with a six-point gap between the top four and the rest of the field after this weekend's round. Not great news for the chasers, even with another 11 rounds to go after this one before the finals. The best thing for the Trbojevic brothers - Tom and Jake - and the Manly club would be to go their separate ways when the contracts of the two players expire at the end of next season. Or even earlier, if the right opportunity elsewhere materialised for either player before then. It's the brothers I'm thinking of, ahead of the club. They've given their all to the Sea Eagles and deserve the opportunity to get the most out of what is left of their careers - financially and also in terms of satisfaction and achievement. I doubt whether they can get that entire combination at Manly. Whatever degree of premiership window the Sea Eagles have had in recent years, it's shut now. The decision by halfback Daly Cherry-Evans to leave the club at the end of this season and his patchy form since announcing that decision, Tom's continued injury problems and Jake having arrived at the veteran stage of his career are major factors there. When all three have been at the top of their game it has created a false impression of how good the team was as a whole. Other players looked better through association than what they genuinely were. The holes in the side were still there to see, if you looked closely enough, but now they're obvious for all to see. There is too much work that needs to be done on the playing squad for Manly to become a major force again in a hurry. If they can make the finals this season it will be a good result, but even if they did they wouldn't be capable of going far. Right now, in the week of State of Origin II and when Manly have got a bye in the NRL, the Sea Eagles were still the subjects of unwanted publicity. It was reported coach Anthony Seibold had one-on-one meetings with his players on Monday, in the wake of back-to-back losses to Newcastle and Gold Coast, and that some players weren't happy with how those meetings were conducted. Seibold is contracted until the end of 2027 and Manly chief executive Tony Mestrov was quoted saying: "At the moment, 'Seibs' is safe at this point. Seibs understands as well as I do, it's all about winning games. Seibs is safe at this point." If I were a coach under pressure I think I'd rather hear I had the full support of the board! Tom and Jake are tremendous people and great club-men and I hope the rest of their careers work out well for them. But for that to happen they should consider all of the available options and not limit themselves. They've each made it clear they hate the thought of playing against Manly, which only leaves the English Super League in that case. They should eliminate those thoughts and be open to any opportunities that may be available at other clubs in the NRL as well. Surely the younger Tom would be a target for the new Perth Bears franchise in 2027 if he wanted to be. And that is despite the obvious gamble over whether he'll continue to be plagued by injury. It's been reported Mestrov has begun negotiations with the brothers' management about new deals, with the suggestion it might be a one-year deal for Jake, who is now 31, and longer for 28-year-old Tom. Manly need to rebuild at some stage and must think hard about what the best way into the future might be for the club and whether it includes new deals for Tom and Jake or ending the club's association with them at the end of next season. Just because it might be best for all parties to move on and have a fresh start. Tom and Jake would still be regarded as Manly greats at the end of their careers and be treated as such by the club's fans. That would never change. The scheduling of the Warriors v Penrith game for this weekend's NRL round really is ridiculous and Panthers coach Ivan Cleary has every reason to be unhappy about it. Penrith have in previous years been travelling well enough on the competition table to be able to give their State of Origin players a rest at crucial times, but as Cleary pointed out that was a decision they had the freedom to make either way themselves. But this week the scheduling of the Warriors-Panthers game on Saturday afternoon in Auckland, less than 72 hours after Penrith's stars had played Origin in Perth, made it ridiculous to even consider them backing up. So the decision was effectively taken out of Penrith's hands and as Cleary said that simply isn't fair. MORE NRL NEWS It will be a stunning result if the in-form Warriors somehow don't win at home against a severely-depleted Panthers outfit and that's why the bookmakers have the home side as $1.25 favourites. And it is, of course, just another reason why the NRL must look at changing the Origin schedule sooner rather than later so that in future years it doesn't disrupt the NRL competition so much. Penrith, after winning four straight premierships, have found this season very difficult after the annual loss of star players due to the salary cap biting finally caught up with the club. But they had battled their way up to ninth place, just one point outside of the top eight, ahead of this round. IF Melbourne beat South Sydney on Saturday night and Cronulla lose to Brisbane on Sunday we'll be left with a six-point gap between the top four and the rest of the field after this weekend's round. Not great news for the chasers, even with another 11 rounds to go after this one before the finals. The best thing for the Trbojevic brothers - Tom and Jake - and the Manly club would be to go their separate ways when the contracts of the two players expire at the end of next season. Or even earlier, if the right opportunity elsewhere materialised for either player before then. It's the brothers I'm thinking of, ahead of the club. They've given their all to the Sea Eagles and deserve the opportunity to get the most out of what is left of their careers - financially and also in terms of satisfaction and achievement. I doubt whether they can get that entire combination at Manly. Whatever degree of premiership window the Sea Eagles have had in recent years, it's shut now. The decision by halfback Daly Cherry-Evans to leave the club at the end of this season and his patchy form since announcing that decision, Tom's continued injury problems and Jake having arrived at the veteran stage of his career are major factors there. When all three have been at the top of their game it has created a false impression of how good the team was as a whole. Other players looked better through association than what they genuinely were. The holes in the side were still there to see, if you looked closely enough, but now they're obvious for all to see. There is too much work that needs to be done on the playing squad for Manly to become a major force again in a hurry. If they can make the finals this season it will be a good result, but even if they did they wouldn't be capable of going far. Right now, in the week of State of Origin II and when Manly have got a bye in the NRL, the Sea Eagles were still the subjects of unwanted publicity. It was reported coach Anthony Seibold had one-on-one meetings with his players on Monday, in the wake of back-to-back losses to Newcastle and Gold Coast, and that some players weren't happy with how those meetings were conducted. Seibold is contracted until the end of 2027 and Manly chief executive Tony Mestrov was quoted saying: "At the moment, 'Seibs' is safe at this point. Seibs understands as well as I do, it's all about winning games. Seibs is safe at this point." If I were a coach under pressure I think I'd rather hear I had the full support of the board! Tom and Jake are tremendous people and great club-men and I hope the rest of their careers work out well for them. But for that to happen they should consider all of the available options and not limit themselves. They've each made it clear they hate the thought of playing against Manly, which only leaves the English Super League in that case. They should eliminate those thoughts and be open to any opportunities that may be available at other clubs in the NRL as well. Surely the younger Tom would be a target for the new Perth Bears franchise in 2027 if he wanted to be. And that is despite the obvious gamble over whether he'll continue to be plagued by injury. It's been reported Mestrov has begun negotiations with the brothers' management about new deals, with the suggestion it might be a one-year deal for Jake, who is now 31, and longer for 28-year-old Tom. Manly need to rebuild at some stage and must think hard about what the best way into the future might be for the club and whether it includes new deals for Tom and Jake or ending the club's association with them at the end of next season. Just because it might be best for all parties to move on and have a fresh start. Tom and Jake would still be regarded as Manly greats at the end of their careers and be treated as such by the club's fans. That would never change. The scheduling of the Warriors v Penrith game for this weekend's NRL round really is ridiculous and Panthers coach Ivan Cleary has every reason to be unhappy about it. Penrith have in previous years been travelling well enough on the competition table to be able to give their State of Origin players a rest at crucial times, but as Cleary pointed out that was a decision they had the freedom to make either way themselves. But this week the scheduling of the Warriors-Panthers game on Saturday afternoon in Auckland, less than 72 hours after Penrith's stars had played Origin in Perth, made it ridiculous to even consider them backing up. So the decision was effectively taken out of Penrith's hands and as Cleary said that simply isn't fair. MORE NRL NEWS It will be a stunning result if the in-form Warriors somehow don't win at home against a severely-depleted Panthers outfit and that's why the bookmakers have the home side as $1.25 favourites. And it is, of course, just another reason why the NRL must look at changing the Origin schedule sooner rather than later so that in future years it doesn't disrupt the NRL competition so much. Penrith, after winning four straight premierships, have found this season very difficult after the annual loss of star players due to the salary cap biting finally caught up with the club. But they had battled their way up to ninth place, just one point outside of the top eight, ahead of this round. IF Melbourne beat South Sydney on Saturday night and Cronulla lose to Brisbane on Sunday we'll be left with a six-point gap between the top four and the rest of the field after this weekend's round. Not great news for the chasers, even with another 11 rounds to go after this one before the finals.
