Manly are interested in signing Newcastle hooker Danny Levi, reportsย The Daily Telegraph.

It is believed that the Knights will not stand in his way if he the 24-year old requests a release, with the Sea Eagles firming as the favourites to land him.

Levi still has a year to run on his deal with Newcastle but was shopped to rival cubs for most of last year.

Manly's hooker situation is dire heading into the 2020 season, with first-choice rake Manase Fainu currently stood down under the NRL's no fault policy for his alleged church dance stabbing.

Another potential answer to Manly's hooker crisis is Papua New Guinea-born speedster Edwin Ipape.

Ipape received a trial with the Sea Eagles after starring in PNGโ€™s stunning win over Great Britain last November, impressing coach Des Hasler.

And according to Manly insiders, the 20-year old has excelled in training with his application and willingness to learn and could shape as the perfect replacement for Fainu.

Legendary Manly hooker Max Krilich toldย The Daily Telegraphย that Ipape has all the tools to be successful in the NRL.

โ€œHe is a work in progress, like a lot of those young guys coming out of Papua New Guinea at the moment, but under Desโ€™s tutelage I think he will go very well,โ€ he said.

โ€œHe is obviously a talent given he has played for PNG, so hopefully he will come through now.

โ€œIt is a big step playing week-in and week-out NRL. Some kids can handle it, and other kids canโ€™t, but he will get the coaching from Des and he wonโ€™t be thrown to the wolves.

โ€œIโ€™ve got a wrap on him though. I watched him play a number of games last season, including that try he scored for PNG.

โ€œThere are a lot of good players coming through from Papua New Guinea and hopefully he can be another one. Weโ€™ll just have to wait and see.โ€

Krilich praised Ipape's speed and believes clubs should value a "quality dummy half".

โ€œYou are blessed if you have speed," the Sea Eagles great said.

โ€œAll the good teams have a quality dummy half. Look at the Roosters, Melbourne and Canberra.

โ€œThey all have fantastic dummy halves.โ€

16 COMMENTS

  1. Levis experience would be the safer option. But Manly should go with Ipape it could be the attacking edge that Manly need this season. I can’t see Des taking a risk he’ll go with the safer boring option. Nothing against Levi his footy just doesn’t excite me.

  2. I noticed Max Krilich didn’t include souffs or their dummy half Cook when he said “All the good teams have a quality dummy half”. HAHAHA.

  3. Interesting Ropeable.
    Do you mean the S.O.O. winning dummy half . The one who played for Australia. I guess he must be pretty good.

  4. Chookstir, what are you implying. If there was no captain Cook there would be no national anthem?

  5. Not a story about the Rabbits why flood it with comments not about Manlys hooker options for 2020 when already 90% of stories on ZT are already about Souths ๐Ÿ˜ด. Comment does not require a reply.

  6. Iโ€™ve called for a while for manly to sign Levi.
    I honestly believe he is a good hooker who will flourish under and manlys dominant forward pack, wouldnโ€™t think heโ€™d cost a fortune. He can definitely play and even when or if fainu back sea shown he wants 2 hookers

  7. Bob Fulton agree with you
    Levi can play, , Nathan brown come across as a person if he doesnโ€™t like you then he wonโ€™t talk or discuss anything with a player. Iโ€™m not a fan of manly but I do like old dessie if any coach can bring the best out of someone itโ€™s Hasler

  8. All Isdon just poking some fun at the current state of the media, couldn’t very post it on a Souths story

  9. You’re not the only culprit brissybunny and certainly wasn’t aimed at you I thought I’d get in early before 90 comments later its all about rabbits and roosters

  10. Fair enough even as a life long rabbitoh it does get embarrassing to watch the moronic carry on each story

  11. Eagles should have hung onto Api Korisau . Levi has had plenty of opportunities at Newcastle and failed to lock down a starting spot. If he goes to Manly I think he will not be the right fit for Des style of play. He once had plenty of people with high expectations to replace Isaac Luke as the Kiwi hooker but has failed to live up to promise. At Manly I think he will just fill a first grade spot until they can nab a long term hooker prospect ( maybe this young PNG player )

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