A host of experienced players are set for the chop from the Wests Tigers following the club’s dismal performance this season.
Last weekend’s 74-0 humiliation in Townsville was the last straw for club management, who are set to show at least half a dozen players the door.
Veteran winger Ken Maumalo (Titans) and forward Joe Ofahengaue (Eels) have already been released mid-season, while centre Tommy Talau and much-maligned halfback Luke Brooks have both signed with Manly for 2024.
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Several other players, including Alex Seyfarth, Brandon Wakeham, Charlie Staines, Daine Laurie and Tukimihia Simpkins are off contract and most of these are likely to be released.
But the blood-letting won’t stop there as new recruitment manager Scott Fulton attempts to overhaul the Tigers’ poor roster.
Several players under contract for 2024, including injury-plagued utility Adam Doueihi are likely to be told they can shop around for new clubs.
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Doueihi suffered yet another ACL injury recently and may miss the entire 2024 season.
The Tigers’ management realises changes need to be made, with Fulton set to start his recruitment soon by signing Manly’s talented young Fainu brothers on a package deal.
Newcastle wins race for young gun
The Knights have signed promising Manly outside back Fletcher Myers, who played in the NRL trials at the start of the season and looked the goods.
The Sea Eagles were keen to keep Myers, a 20-year-old speedster, and his signing represents a coup for the Knights’ new recruitment boss Adam Doyle.
A Knights junior, Myers had been signed with Manly’s development squad for the past two seasons after being spotted by then coach Des Hasler playing for the NSW Koori Under-16s in 2019.
Big and a strong ball-runner, he has been playing against men in the NSW Cup this year and will prove a handy pick-up for the Knights next season.
Manly veteran eyes new deal
He’s 32 and has been slaving away in the engine room for more than 250 games, but big Aaron Woods still has the hunger.
The former Tigers, Bulldogs, Sharks and Dragons prop has resurrected his career at Manly in recent weeks and is hopeful for a new deal at the Sea Eagles in 2024.
A popular player and good trainer who has also worked his way into the media, Woods hopes to sit down with Sea Eagles officials soon and get a new contract sorted.
He’s doing his talking on the field and is hopeful his form will warrant a 12-month extension.
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