Following a sustained period of dominance in which the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles made the finals every year for a decade since 2006, the silvertails have endured a prolonged lull only making the finals once in the past four seasons.
While on the whole, the past four seasons have been painful for the Brookvale faithful, seeing many favourite sons walk out the door, this changing of the guard was typified in 2015 in which they lost club legends Anthony Watmough, Glenn Stewart, Kieran Foran, and eventually coach Geoff Toovey.
While the release of such players has allowed the Sea Eagles to rebuild their squad to be much more competitive, this change in trajectory, as well as the consistent squad that came prior, has resulted in more than a few future stars walking out the door.
Here are the top 10 players the Sea Eagles have let go, not re-signed or released since 2010.
The players have been listed in accordance with the contribution they made whilst at the Sea Eagles as well as considering the influence they have had at the clubs they have left for.
After a successful junior career at the Sydney Roosters which culminated in selection in the Australian Schoolboys side before moving West to join the Parramatta Eels, Cheyse Blair developed a reputation as a skillful ball-running outside back in his days at Parra.
Having been controversially singled out by then Eels head coach Ricky Stuart as one of the twelve players who did not have a future at the club in the form of a PowerPoint presentation, Blair was on the lookout for a new club and landed on the Peninsula in the form of a two-year deal.
After beginning the season on the wing for the first-grade side, Blair, unfortunately, spent the majority of 2014 in reserve grade after losing his spot to the impressive Peta Hiku following injury. However, he would work his way back into the side for their finals campaign.
In limited opportunities on the Northern Beaches, Blair recorded an impressive strike rate of 8 tries in 16 games, which was enough to catch the eye of the Melbourne Storm and Craig Bellamy, the masters of turning fringe players into quality first-graders.
Blair initially signed with the Storm on a one-year contract beginning in 2016, seeking to prove himself at NRL level once more. Having begun the year in reserve grade, Blair forced his way into the team in round 9 in the centres, impressing many fans and pundits down South with his consistent form from the get-go, being utilised primarily as a ball distributor to release prominent wingers Marika Koroibete and Suliasi Vunivalu.
Blair’s consistent and impressive form resulted in him playing in 14 of the Storm’s remaining 15 games and netting 8 tries along the way, including starting at centre in the Storm’s Grand Final loss to the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks.
He would go onto play a further 38 games for the Storm netting 18 tries in total before signing a three-and-a-half-year deal with the Castleford Tigers in early 2019 following Curtis Scott cementing himself alongside Will Chambers as the Storm’s premier centre pairing.
While Blair may have flattered to deceive in his short stint at Manly, he typified the values that Craig Bellamy looks for in a player, that being that hard work and adhering to the system trumps individual talent. Two qualities that Sea Eagles have been desperately lacking in the past four seasons.
After a slow start to his NRL career, playing 29 games across six seasons with three different clubs, Glenn Hall cemented himself as a quality first-grader during a three-year stint with the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles.
Hall’s three-year stay in Manly would prove to be vastly successful, forming a lethal back-row combination alongside Anthony Watmough, and playing 65 games over three seasons, appearing in two Grand Finals and winning one premiership.
In that three-year 65 game stint Hall would forge a reputation as a hard-man among the Manly forward pack, utilising his surprising pace and notable size to bully opposition back-rowers and playmakers that were unfortunate enough to cross his path.
After a short and largely disappointing stint at the Bradford Bulls in the English Super League, Hall re-joined the NRL in 2011, signing a two-year contract with the North Queensland Cowboys.
This move would immediately pay dividends for the Cowboys, with Hall being named in the Cowboys leadership group and as one of their vice-captains. He would go onto feature 23 times for the Townsville based club in his first season, helping them to their fifth straight finals campaign.
Once again cementing a dynamic back-row combination but this time alongside Queensland representative Gavin Cooper, Hall would go onto play 98 times for the Cowboys across five seasons, signing three short-term contract extensions during his time in Townsville.
An old style second-rower in that he had a larger build and was deployed effectively as a third prop to help the Cowboys win the battle of the middle, Cowboys football manager Peter Parr saluted Hall following his retirement in 2015, saying that “Hally has been terrific for this club on a number of different levels… He’s been a reliable player who has been a wonderful role model for our young players on and off the field.”
Born in Gisborne, New Zealand, Peta Hiku made a reputation for himself as a player of promise during his time with the New Zealand Warriors’ NYC team. In 2012 Hiku gained the second most metres in the NYC competition and went onto be named New Zealand Warriors under-20s player of the year.
These impressive performances caught the eye of the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles, with Hiku going onto sign a short-term deal with the Sea Eagles commencing in the 2013 season.
After starting the year in the NSW Cup, Hiku was handed his NRL debut in round 6 thanks to consistent injuries to the Sea Eagles outside back stocks including Brett Stewart, David Williams, and Cheyse Blair. After scoring a try on debut Hiku would continue to impress throughout the rest of the season, featuring in a further 13 matches and scoring three tries. This included an impressive man of the match performance in the Sea Eagles 4-0 loss to the Roosters in the final’s series, with Hiku running for an astounding 297 metres. He later backed up that performance with a similarly impressive 231 running metres in the following week’s semi-final victory over the Sharks.
Having impressed over the back half of 2013, Hiku began the year as one of the Sea Eagles first choices in the outside backs. Showing no semblance of second-year syndrome, Hiku’s good form would continue, resulting in selection at fullback for the New Zealand Kiwi’s in their 30-18 loss to Australia in the ANZAC Test.
Hiku would go onto feature 61 times for the Sea Eagles, netting 28 tries before being told by incoming coach Trent Barrett that he was free to look for a new club. With two years remaining on his contract and having just proven himself on the Kiwis tour of Great Britain, Hiku had no shortage of suitors, going onto sign a three-year deal with the Penrith Panthers.
Although Hiku’s stint at the Panthers only lasted a season and a half and was littered with consistent injury woes, he has since joined his junior club the New Zealand Warriors after a brief stint in the North of England with the Warrington Wolves.
Since re-joining the Warriors Hiku has only missed two games and has featured predominantly at centre, however, Hiku’s versatility has been a great asset for the Warriors, with the Kiwis representative being utilised in the halves and fullback when required.
The son of legendary Manly bad boy John Hopoate, Will joined the Sea Eagles NRL squad at the tender age of 17 in 2009, playing out the season with their Toyota Cup under 20s side.
Hopoate would go onto make his NRL debut the following season in round 13, cementing himself as a player of promise through is consistent performances that belied his young age.
While Hopoate resembled his father in regard to his size, strength, agility and natural skills, he did not share the same penchant for troublemaking like his old man, with Will being grounded by his Mormon faith.
In 2011 after only two years of first grade, Hopoate could call himself a premiership player, having been part of the Sea Eagles side that defeated the New Zealand Warriors in the 2011 Grand Final. However, in the lead up to the final Hopoate made known his desire to complete his compulsory two-year Mormon mission, meaning he would have to put the brakes on his burgeoning NRL career.
In the lead up to the 2011 Grand Final Hopoate would sign a two-year deal with the Parramatta Eels commencing in 2014, guaranteeing his return to the top tier of rugby league once his religious commitments were completed. The deal was said to be worth upwards of $500,000 per season.
Since returning from his Mormon mission in Queensland, Hopoate has featured for the NSW Blues on four further occasions following his debut in 2011, as well as playing seven test matches for his beloved Tonga.
Having departed the Eels for the Bulldogs following contractual issues, Hopoate has featured predominantly at centre following the acquisition of fullback and former Newcastle Knights young gun Nick Meaney. Possessing great leadership skills following his time in the upper echelon of the LDS Church, Hopoate is a consistent and reliable force for the Bulldogs.
While Kieran Foran has had a lean last few years since departing Manly, we must not forget the player he was, and can hopefully return to be.
Having played his junior footy in North Sydney after moving to Australia from New Zealand, Foran was signed to the Sea Eagles NYC squad for season 2008 before being promoted to the NRL squad ahead of the 2009 season.
Over the next seven seasons, Foran would rack up 147 appearances for the Sea Eagles, winning a premiership, as well as captaining the Kiwis to the 2014 Four Nations title. During this stint, Foran would cement himself as one of the game’s premier halves through his direct running style and ability to lead his team around the park.
The younger Foran brother was held in extremely high regard by his rivals, developing a reputation as one of the toughest playmakers in the game, who was more than prepared to put his body on the line. This unselfish style of play, as well as his undoubted leadership qualities, caught the eye of the Parramatta Eels and Foran’s old mentor Brad Arthur, now the Eels head coach.
He would eventually go onto sign a mammoth four-year, $4.8 million deal with the Eels to play under Brad Arthur, with the Eels hierarchy harboring hopes that Foran could be the halfback that they had been looking for since the departure of club legend Peter Sterling.
The rest, as they say, is history. Since leaving the peninsula Foran has played for three different clubs in four years, displaying flashes of brilliance that were previously constant but largely being hampered by fitness and off-field issues.
While the Sea Eagles may not be ruining Foran’s departure, his abilities and performances whilst on the Northern Beaches should not be forgotten. This is still the same man who if he hadn’t been ruled ineligible due to suspension for the 2011 Dally M Award would have won it in a canter, the same man who led Manly to a premiership and a Grand Final appearance, the same man who in 2013 became the second recipient ever of the Steve Watene Medal. Here’s to hoping we can see Foran reach those heights once more.
Perhaps one of the most underrated players in the NRL, Dean Whare joined the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles ahead of the 2010 season after two prolific years with the Dragons in the NYC.
Still only twenty years old, Whare would make his debut for the Sea Eagles in round 12 of the 2010 season, impressing immediately by score three tries on debut against the North Queensland Cowboys.
Whare would go onto make only five appearances over the following season and a half, featuring predominantly for the Sea Eagles in the NSW Cup. Whare would cement himself as an NRL player in his third-year of first grade, 2012. Becoming somewhat of a Mr. Fix it for the Sea Eagles, the junior Kiwis representative would feature in the centres, wing or fullback, depending on injury and requirement. Finishing the season with 21 games and 6 tries, Whare expressed a desire to stay at the Sea Eagles beyond 2012. However, he realised his path to regular first-grade was blocked by international centres Jamie Lyon and Steve Matai.
Following this sullen realisation, Whare signed a deal with the Penrith Panthers commencing in the 2013 season. Although he began the year at fullback and quite successfully, I might add, Whare cemented himself in the centres from round 7 onwards. This impressive start to the year saw Whare handed his Kiwis debut for the 2013 ANZAC test, as well as later going onto be selected in the Kiwis World Cup squad.
Since then Whare has been a constant for the Panthers, signing two long term contract extensions that look set to keep him at the base of the mountains for the rest of his career. He has made 113 appearances for the Panthers across his long stay at the club, as well as cementing himself as a regular for the Kiwis, playing 19 tests for his birth country.
While he may not be the flashiest of players, Whare’s highlights reel is littered with big hits and he possesses an explosive right foot step. Over the course of his nine-year NRL career, he has proven himself to be one of the best defensive centres in the NRL, often being handed the task of man-marking Australian superstar Greg Inglis in test matches and performing admirably in the process.
Another player who could stake a claim as being one of the most underrated in the competition, Blake Green has had a strange path to the top of rugby league. After playing for three different clubs over four years only managing 33 games in that time, Green jetted to the other side of the world to play regular football in the English Super League.
That decision would prove to be an inspired one, playing 89 games across four seasons with Hull KR and the Wigan Warriors. In that time Green would win the 2013 Super League Title as well as winning the Harry Sunderland Trophy for the man of the match in the 2013 Grand Final with the Warriors.
His consistent workmanlike performances in England’s North caught the eye of Craig Bellamy and the Storm who were in need of a replacement for Dragons bound Gareth Widdop, an organisation renowned for finding diamonds in the rough. Green would go onto sign a two-year deal with the Victorian club, slotting in at five-eighth and proving to be the perfect foil for Cooper Cronk. Green’s astute game management in conjunction with Cronk would help the Storm to a minor premiership and a Grand Final in his two-year stint in Melbourne, more than displaying how well he had honed in his skills during his four-year spell in the Super League.
These impressive performances for the Storm forced the Sea Eagles to stand up and take notice, who were desperately in need of a halves partner for Daly Cherry-Evans who could bare more of the responsibility of directing and managing the Sea Eagles, giving DCE a freer roaming role.
The Sea Eagles would eventually get their man, tying Green down to a two-year contract. This would once again prove to be an inspired choice, with Green’s superior game management leading the Sea Eagles to an unlikely sixth-place finish in his first season on the Peninsula.
While the proof was in the pudding in terms of the team finish on the ladder, Green’s signing did exactly what the Manly hierarchy hoped in relation to their skipper DCE. Green, being able to carry most of the load of the game management and team direction allowed DCE to pick and choose when to insert himself into the teams attack to great effect, registering 19 try assists and six tries for the season, the most since his outstanding rookie season in 2011. With this impressive output resulting in Cherry-Evans being named Manly’s Player of the Year as well as regaining his spot in the Queensland State of Origin side after previously being exiled.
Somewhat bewilderingly, the Sea Eagles would release Green from the final year of his contract to take up a lucrative long-term offer with the Warriors, signing the unproven and injury prone Lachlan Croker as his replacement in the halves.
This decision would prove to be calamitous, with Croker injuring his ACL in round 8 and missing the remainder of the season, with the Sea Eagles finishing the following season in 15th place with 17 losses. Whereas over the ditch Green would lead the Warriors to their first finals appearance since 2011.
One of the most respected players in the game due to his tireless work amongst the community, Trent Hodkinson forged a reputation for himself as a natural half and a player of promise in his rookie season with the Sea Eagles in 2010.
During his rookie season with the Sea Eagles, Hodkinson featured 25 times at halfback, forging a dynamic combination with the already established Kieran Foran. Impressive early season form attracted the attention of representative selectors and opposition clubs, with Hodkinson going onto be selected for NSW City in the annual City vs. Country Origin trial. Only a month later Hodkinson went onto sign a bumper three-year deal to join the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.
The following three seasons would prove to be rocks and diamonds for Hodkinson, with the former Junior Kangaroos representative missing the majority of the 2012 season with injury but going onto lead the Bulldogs to a top-eight finish in 2013.
After biding his time in the NSW Cup in early 2013, Hodkinson impressed the Bulldogs coaching staff with his excellent goal kicking and was swiftly reinstated to the first-grade team. This return coincided with a spike in form for the Doggies and resulted in a new two-year deal keeping him in Belmore until the end of 2015.
The following season would prove to be Hodkinson’s finest of his career, after leading the Bulldogs to seven consecutive victories early in the 2014 season, he and his halves partner Josh Reynolds were chosen for Game I of State of Origin. After eight wretched consecutive series losses, not much was expected of the Blues, but we now know that Hodkinson would go onto play a starring role in the Blues 2-1 victory, scoring the series-clinching try in the 71st minute of Game II to bring the shield back to NSW for the first time in eight years. Hodkinson would also go onto lead the Bulldogs to the 2014 Grand Final, which they would, unfortunately, lose to the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
Hodkinson would go onto feature three more times for NSW in the following Origin series, before being poached by Nathan Brown to help spearhead the Newcastle Knights rebuild. Since joining the Knights, Hodkinson has been weighed down by a spate of debilitating knee injuries as well as being temporarily demoted to the NSW Cup.
He has since returned to the Sea Eagles via a short stint with the Sharks in a more sporadic role. While he is no longer the player he once was due to injuries, on his day Hodkinson was one of the finest pure halfbacks in the game with his game management and kicking game being almost second to none, and the significance of helping bring the Origin shield back to NSW can never be understated.
A Manly Warringah junior having played his junior football with the Cromer Kingfishers, Clint Gutherson was widely renowned as the heir to Brett Stewart’s throne at Brookvale after a glittering junior career. While he had suffered a setback in 2015, rupturing his ACL in round 1, the Sea Eagles showed faith in the local junior by re-signing him to a new two-year deal. However, less than five months later he was inexplicably released from the remainder of his contract to sign a two-year deal with the Parramatta Eels commencing in 2016.
The Sea Eagles would almost immediately rue this decision with Gutherson displaying extremely impressive early season form at fullback and wing. Enough so to catch the eyes of the NSW City selectors, who picked Gutherson at fullback in City’s 44-30 win over NSW Country. Following an impressive first season in which Gutherson played 24 games, scored 5 tries and laid on 8 assists, the Eels up-graded and extended Gutherson’s contract for a further three seasons.
In the following three seasons Gutherson went onto cement himself as a fan favourite and the spiritual leader of the Eels, being dubbed ‘King Gutho’ by the blue and gold faithful. Initially changing between Fullback and five-eighth, Gutherson has cemented himself as a top class NRL fullback, possessing an incredible fitness base, as well as all the ball playing, tackling and ball-running abilities required of a modern fullback.
While his individual performances have often garnered praise, resulting in being selected in the NSW State of Origin squad for Game III, it is his leadership abilities and cultural influence that are gaining increasing notoriety. Having been anointed as one of the Eels co-captains in 2018, Gutherson has taken to the role like a duck to water, driving the high-performance habits of his fellow squad members by exchanging picture messages of meals with teammates in order to keep each other accountable.
While Manly is not lacking in the fullback department with superstar Tom Trbojevic in their ranks, Gutherson has displayed himself to be more than capable at five-eighth and would form a potentially lethal combination with Manly’s go to man DCE, and simultaneously take some of the playmaking pressure and the onus of their $10 million man.
Following an impressive junior rugby union career in Queensland before being signed to the Waratahs Academy in Sydney, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves was signed by then Manly recruitment manager Noel ‘Crusher’ Cleal to play in the Sea Eagles NYC team.
After consistently impressing for the Sea Eagles under 20s, JWH was handed his NRL debut in round 9 of the 2009 season and would go onto make six NRL appearances for the season. This combined with impressive performances in the NYC would see him named in the Toyota Cup under 20s team of the year.
With a logjam of quality middle forwards in front of him at Brookvale including Glenn Stewart, Jason King, George Rose, Brent Kite, and Josh Perry, Waerea-Hargreaves did not see a path for himself to play consistent first-grade on the Peninsula, and as a result signed a three-year contract with the Sydney Roosters beginning in the 2010 season.
Since then JWH has forged himself into chookies folklore, currently, their third longest serving player behind fellow veterans Mitch Aubusson and Jake Friend, Waerea-Hargreaves has picked up numerous individual and team accolades throughout his 10-year stay in Bondi. Including two Clubman of the Year awards, a Jack Gibson Medal, Premierships in 2013 and 2018, as well as a Four Nations series win in 2010 to go along with his 28 Kiwis caps.
With the twice caped NRL All Star racking up his 200th Roosters game in early 2019, he has cemented himself as one of the true squad veterans and has matured into a fine leader following a rocky start to his career in relation to his disciplinary record.
Even though he just turned 30, JWH is ageing like a fine wine and had arguably his finest season to date in 2018, winning his second premiership and his first NZRL Player of the Year Award.