The Sea Eagles’ retention and recruitment has come under the microscope after Manly’s 2022 campaign was labelled the “biggest disappointment” in the competition.
Trumping both the Tigers and Titans and this year’s biggest let-down, The Daily Telegraph’s Buzz Rothfield identified a host of players Manly let go who have emerged as stars for rival clubs.
Des Hasler’s side are currently languishing in 11th place, giving up a chance to play finals football in the midst of the pride jersey saga with a string of poor performances.
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Since the club’s Round 20 loss to the Roosters without the seven players who stood down on religious grounds, Manly have not won a game — conceding a staggering 168 points.
“I think they have been the biggest disappointment of this rugby league season, even more so because they have greater expectations, than the Wests Tigers and Titans,” Rothfield said on NRL360.
“The reason why, I think they have got to have a good look at their recruitment.”
Rothfield identified a whole host of players who are now regular starters for the Sharks, Panthers and Eels who could have been members of Hasler’s squad.
“I have been through the players they have lost over the last five or six years – Clint Gutherson 2017, Shaun Lane 2019, Apisai Koroisau, another who went in 2020,” Rothfield said.
“It is not just those established players, Nicho Hynes, he was in Holden Cup up at Manly in 2018, so was Jesse Ramien, very good centre.
“I know they have lost Tom Trbojevic, I know they have had the pride jersey drama which fractured the club, but I think they need to look in their own backyard on the quality of footballer they buy and retain.”
NICHO HYNES
Nicho Hynes has emerged as one of the NRL’s best playmakers this season after making a big switch from the Storm.
The 26-year-old made a name for himself with a breakout season with Melbourne in 2021 before inking a three-year deal with Cronulla — but his path could have been very different.
Hynes signed with Manly’s under 20s team in 2015 but failed to make an impact and moved to the Mackay Cutters for the 2017 and 2018 seasons.
This season Hynes has been touted as one of the key contenders to win the Dally M, steering his side into second place with only one regular season game left.
JESSE RAMIEN
Another member of the Sea Eagles under 20s, Ramien played his trade for Manly between 2014 to 2016 before making a mid-season switch to the Sharks.
Only a year later the 25-year-old made his NRL debut in Round 26 of the 2017 season, scoring a try against the Knights.
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Ramien has emerged as one of the competition’s most damagin outside backs and has played three games for the Indigenous All Stars.
CLINT GUTHERSON
Clint Gutherson made his NRL debut with the Sea Eagles in 2013, playing a singular game on the wing.
Over the course of the next two seasons, the 27-year-old would fill in at fullback and centre in the absence of Brett Stewart and Steve Matai before rupturing hi ACL in 2015.
Gutherson came through the ranks as a Sea Eagles junior but has his contract terminated, making him a free agent for the 2016 season.
Since signing with the Eels, Gutherson has played 157 games and become the club’s captain — hoping to steer his side to a drought-breaking premiership.
While Gutherson may not have been able to play his natural fullback position at Manly with the emergence of Tom Trbojevic, ‘King Gutho’ could have been a brilliant centre and is one of the competition’s most reliable players.
SHAUN LANE
Lane kicked off his NRL career with the Bulldogs before moving to the Warriors and eventually the Sea Eagles in 2017.
The 27-year-old played 33 games for Manly before signing with Parramatta ahead of the 2019 season and has enjoyed his best season to date this year.
Lane has recorded 110 running metres per game, 11 try assists, six line breaks and 11 line break assists — with Rothfield questioning why Manly ever let him go.
“Couldn’t they do with Shaun Lane now and the football he is playing, there was no reason to let him go,” Rothfield said.
APISAI KOROISAU
Apisai Koroisau is clearly one of the competition’s best hookers and has been an important factor in the Panthers’ dominance in recent years.
The 29-year-old began his career with a singular premiership-winning season at Souths in 2014 before playing 16 games for the Panthers before joining the Sea Eagles.
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Koroisau played 77 games for Manly under Trent Barrett and Des Hasler but has since represented the NSW Blues after returning to Penrith in 2020.
Rothfield questioned why Koroisau was ever let go, but Fox League’s James Hooper has the answer.
“Because they had Manase Fainu, he was coming through, he was the hot-shot young gun and they thought they could save money on the salary cap,” Hooper said.
Since linking up with Ivan Cleary, the Panthers have won two minor premierships and have featured in the last two grand finals — and are looking to back up their 2021 premiership this season.
