The Manly Sea Eagles were a finals team in 2024, and will aim for the same in 2025, but the upcoming recruitment period could be one of almost generational change for the club.
That is all down to one player.
He has been Manly's halfback for over a decade. Part of the furniture on the Northern Beaches, the now 35-year-old is yet to sign a new deal for 2026, and there is no guarantee he does.
He will be 37 by the time the start of the 2026 season rolls around, so could well hang up the boots at the end of his current contract. He already has 329 games under his belt, and fitness pending, will go past 350 this coming year.
There are other issues for Manly, including how to take the jump from where they currently sit - as a fringe top eight side who heavily rely on the performances of Tom Trbojevic - to one battling for the premiership.
We will run the rule over all 17 clubs on Zero Tackle as the 2026 recruitment period gets underway to determine who their top targets are. Today, the Sea Eagles…
Current 2026 Manly Sea Eagles squad
Josh Aloiai, Luke Brooks, Nathan Brown, Lachlan Croker, Reuben Garrick, Lehi Hopoate, Tolutau Koula, Caleb Navale, Haumole Olakau'atu, Taniela Paseka, Jaxson Paulo, Jason Saab, Jake Simpkin, Ben Trbojevic, Jake Trbojevic, Tom Trbojevic, Joey Walsh
Off-contract at end of 2025
Jake Arthur, Ethan Bullemor, Gordon Chan Kum Tong, Daly Cherry-Evans, Clayton Faulalo, Aitasi James, Dean Matterson, Aaron Schoupp, Toafofoa Sipley, Tommy Talau, Jazz Tevaga
Current best 17 for 2026
1. Tom Trbojevic
2. Lehi Hopoate
3. Reuben Garrick
4. Tolutau Koula
5. Jason Saab
6. Luke Brooks
7. Joey Walsh
8. Taniela Paseka
9. Lachlan Croker
10. Josh Aloiai
11. Haumole Olakau'atu
12. Ben Trbojevic
13. Jake Trbojevic
Interchange
14. Jake Simpkin
15. Jaxson Paulo
16. Nathan Brown
17. Caleb Navale
As mentioned, there is little doubt Cherry-Evans is the biggest question the Sea Eagles have to answer - or may not even have a chance to answer - ahead of the recruitment window coming up.
The rest of their side is relatively settled, with the Trbojevic brothers all locked away, Luke Brooks on a long-term deal, and maybe more importantly, Taniela Paseka and Haumole Olakau'atu going nowhere as forward pack leaders.
Money will be a potential roadblock for the Sea Eagles given their big dollar deals at the top of the salary cap, although it's something the club's board have worked hard in a very public fashion to throw cold water on.
There is little doubt there will be elements of this side Manly will look to improve. Second-row and the outside backs are likely to be the chief concerns as they go for upgrades, but it's the halves which will take most of the limelight as Manly plan for 2026 with 14 open roster spots.
If Manly are going to need to replace Cherry-Evans at the end of the 2025 campaign, what they desperately need is a player with a similar kicking game and control over his team.
The last thing the Sea Eagles need is a player who doesn't have experience and runs on the board, and isn't focused on making their kicking game the best in the competition.
That is what Fogarty does for the Raiders, but they have a club option for him heading into 2026 that seems unlikely to be picked up given Ethan Strange and Ethan Sanders are the new long-term halves combination in the Nation's capital.
Injuries are a slight concern for the ex-Titan, but he is as good as any experienced half available on the market.
The other way Manly could play things if Cherry-Evans doesn't continue into the 2026 NRL season is to look at moving Luke Brooks into the seven, and grabbing a five-eighth who could also double as a halfback.
Whether Trindal and Brooks would work as a combination is something that's up in the air, but both have proven they can play the six and the seven at times, so it would give Manly flexibility.
Moving into a period of possible uncertainty, that may well be for the best.
Trindall's form throughout 2024 was excellent for Cronulla, to the point he became the dominant half during the finals over former Dally M Medal winner Nicho Hynes.
There are plenty of question marks over the back five on the Northern Beaches.
Reuben Garrick is yet to sell his position in the centres and could well find himself back on the wing, while Tolutau Koula is one serious Tom Trbojevic injury away from becoming the permanent fullback.
Garrick is the next back up in the number one too.
Add that to the fact Ben Trbojevic seems to be finding his home at second-row, and it starts to become an obvious play for the club to target a centre.
Whether they have the cash to go after someone like Staggs - who will be a popular figure from November 1 - remains to be seen, but he is certainly the one they should be going after.
Money will be a recurring issue for the Sea Eagles moving forward, even with Cherry-Evans' salary potentially becoming available for use elsewhere.
What it does mean is they may need some shrewd signings elsewhere, and the second-row is an area they lack depth in their current 2026 squad.
Both Teig Wilton and Briton Nikora are off-contract at the Sharks, with no guarantee the Shire club have the capital to secure both long-term.
The Sea Eagles could well be among the clubs making life difficult for their coastal rivals, with Wilton the more likely target.
Pezet is going to be a star.
Whether that's in Melbourne or not remains to be seen.
He is off-contract at the end of 2025, and has no guarantee of progressing into the first-grade side with Melbourne seemingly set on Cameron Munster and Jahrome Hughes as their halves combination for as long as possible.
That means they stand to lose Pezet, who could have a dozen clubs on his tail from November 1.
Able to play five-eighth or halfback, and with a long future ahead of him, he should be on Manly's list of targets, even if he flies in the face of the experienced replacement for Cherry-Evans argument.