The 2023 season now seems like it ended many, many months ago.

With a large number of players returning to pre-season training, attention has quickly and firmly turned to the 2024 campaign.

With a new season comes new hope, new opportunities and most importantly of all, new recruits!

Today I'm going to rank the ins, outs and re-signings of each of the clubs who finished outside of the finals in 2023.

Not every player will be mentioned, just the ones I see making an impact.

6. Manly Sea Eagles

Major ins: Luke Brooks, Jaxson Paulo

Major outs: Latu Fainu, Sean Keppie

Re-signed: Ethan Bullemor, Gordon Chan Kum Tong, Lachlan Croker, Reuben Garrick, Tolutau Koula, Taniela Paseka, Josh Schuster, Toafofoa Sipley, Christian Tuipulotu

Manly needed a halves partner for Daly Cherry-Evans. Josh Schuster, despite all his talents, just didn't translate in 2023.

Luke Brooks needed a change of scenery after an up and down stint with the Tigers that ended with him awkwardly accepting a BBQ.

This feels a match made in heaven and I would not be shocked to see Brooks play his best footy in new colours.

They also managed to re-sign of a host of future stars, including their two breakout big men from 2023 and Sipley and Paseka.

Sean Keppie is an unfortunate loss but is well covered.

In young Latu Fainu they have lost a potential star. Brooks is very much more ready to go now, and with DCE approaching the end of his career, I absolutely understand the move.

I would be shocked if we see anything other than a big improvement from Manly in 2024.

Grade: B-

1 COMMENT

  1. Jeez Dan – Get Terry to proof-read the content before you publish it !
    Wraps for Raps (did the guy arrive in a big ball of cotton-wool?)
    Theyโ€™re for Their
    Due for Duo
    Broncos for Bronson etc

    Anyway:
    – D for the Dragons is really mean. Theyโ€™ve got rid of Hook and signed Flanagan Senior. They havenโ€™t let Ben Hunt walk. The attitude and motivation in the squad has go to be much higher than it was this time last year. Even if they didnโ€™t sign anybody new, those two actions alone have got to be worth a comfortable B

    – C for the Titans is a bit mean. Theyโ€™ve re-signed Mo and Tino and five good guys. They didnโ€™t break the bank (somehow!) and could still afford Palasia. That has to worth a B at least.

    – C for the Dogs is generous. The quality of the guys leaving is greater than the quality of the recruits, (even with Crichton). D for me.

    – C for Parra is generous. Signing only Morgan Harper (no offence to him) is not good enough for a pass mark. D for me.

    – C for the Cows is equally generous.

    – Bunnies look like a B to me, but I won’t squabble over the A

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