Anthony Seibold’s reign over the Sea Eagles in 2023 has had the highs of impressive victory’s over the Storm and Raiders and the lows of another Tom Trbojevic long-term injury and off-field discrepancies.
The Northern Beaches club is in the headlines again this week, with club chairman Tony Mestrov hitting out at claims that the Sea Eagles are under salary cap pressure next season, stressing that they will not be having to shed anyone for cap reasons.
Speaking to SEN 1170, the Daily Telegraph’s Michael Carayannis has backed Mestrov’s claims and believes that Manly finances are in order.
“Whether or not they move players on to get a better balance on their roster, he (Mestrov) is not guaranteeing anything,” Carayannis told SEN Breakfast.
“What he is saying that if they are moved on it is not because of salary cap pressure.
“They’ve saved themselves around $700,000 from their cap with the Fainu brothers heading to the Tigers.
“DCE’s 1.2-million-dollar deal goes backwards next season.”
“They’ve upgraded Haumole (Olakau'atu), (Josh) Schuster has re-signed and (Tolutau) Koula’s re-signed.”
Despite these positive contract extensions and upgrades, the contentious issue that continues to plague the Sea Eagles is their divisive playmaker, Josh Schuster, remaining on $800,000 a year.
“It’s a polarising contract, he was on 800K this year and they’ve kept him at that figure next year and beyond,” Carayannis told SEN 1170.
“He’s going to switch from the halves to the backrow next year with Luke Brooks arriving at the club.
“He hasn’t played like an $800,000 player.
There’s been glimpses of it but we haven’t seen it for a sustained 80-minute performance.”
Manly face-off against the table-topping Penrith Panthers at 4 Pines Park on Thursday night.
It is a must-win clash if the Sea Eagles want to play finals football in 2023.