Big names in manly roster shake up daily telegraph
Inside Manly Sea Eagles’ surprise roster shake-up
The Sea Eagles are in the midst of a roster shake-up. Find out which contracted players could be on the way out and who has re-signed.
Michael Carayannis and Fatima Kdouh
Manly’s season may have just ended but their roster shake-up has already begun with five contracted players told they are free to leave the club.
It is understood Ben Condon, Kaeo Weekes, Zac Fulton, Kelma Tuilagi and Karl Lawton have had talks with the club and will be able to leave if they find better offers elsewhere.
None of the players are being forced out and, if they cannot secure a better deal at rival clubs, they will report to Sea Eagles pre-season training in November.
The Sea Eagles do not need to move any players on because of salary cap constraints, instead it is about getting a better-balanced roster.
Kelma Tuilagi only joined the Sea Eagles from Wests this season. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images
Despite having not announced new deals, it can be revealed that Raymond Vaega, Ethan Bullemor, Jamie Humphreys and Gordon Chan Kum Tong have all re-signed for next season and have spots in the top 30.
Manly also want to upgrade and extend boom back-rower Haumole Olaka’uatu.
Brad Parker is off-contract but he will be the first player to be given a top-30 deal if a spot becomes available. The Sea Eagles also want to give Matt Lodge a contract for next season.
Lodge is expected to come into the top 30 at some point next season despite a long stint on the sidelines after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament.
Veteran prop Aaron Woods is another player the Sea Eagles would consider keeping next year.
Tuilagi and Weekes have been given permission to talk to other clubs to push for regular first-grade opportunities.
Tuilagi has completed just one season of a three-year contract. The back-rower is expected to attract plenty of interest in the open market given he has been a mainstay in the past two seasons at the Tigers and Manly.
Weekes only re-signed for a further 12 months earlier this year.
Manly’s desire to tie down Olakau’atu and the impending positional switch of Josh Schuster to the second row could result in Tuilagi leaving. Ben Trbojevic was also favoured in the back row in the latter stages of the season.
Kaeo Weekes could be in demand with rival clubs. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
Lawton is recovering from shoulder surgery which may delay his exit from the club, although he has attracted interest from UK Super League clubs. The Sea Eagles have agreed to allow Lawton to leave if he can secure a multi-year deal in England.
Condon has played just four games since joining the club last year while Fulton has featured in just one game – the pride jersey fiasco clash last season and is well down on the pecking order
The Sea Eagles failed to make the finals but finished the season with strong back-to-back wins against Canterbury (42-24) and the Tigers (54-12).
Manly have signed Tigers pair Luke Brooks and Tommy Talau, and Sydney Roosters winger Jaxson Paulo for next season.
