NRL Supercoach 2026: Sea Eagles squad analysis

The post Daly Cherry-Evans era begins at the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles.

Jamal Fogarty is the man who will be tasked with filling the size 10.5ish Nikes of the club legend.

Each year they’re extremely hard to place, their best footy is scintillating but they’re among the most volatile teams in the competition.

So much of their success rests on the health of Tom Trbojevic who has failed to play more than 20 games in a season since 2018.

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In his defence, he did amass 18 games in the COVID shortened 2021 season.

Rookie flyer Lehi Hopoate emerged last year as a brilliant replacement for the fullback role when called upon.

What I do know is that on their day they’re an attacking juggernaut that can pile on the Supercoach points, it’s just a matter of catching these runs of form which can be tough.

Let’s take a look at their NRL Supercoach prospects for the 2026 season.

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Predicted Round 1 starting team

1. Tom Trbojevic

2. Jason Saab

3. Tolu Koula

4. Reuben Garrick

5. Lehi Hopoate

6. Luke Brooks

7. Jamal Fogarty

8. Jake Trbojevic

9. Jake Simpkin

10. Siosiua Taukeiaho

11. Haumole Olakau’atu

12. Ben Trbojevic

13. Kobe Hetherington

14. Taniela Paseka

15. Ethan Bullemor

16. Nathan Brown

17. Caleb Navale

Analysis: Manly’s backline is set with Jamal Fogarty replacing Daly Cherry-Evans.

The pack could go one of two ways pending how big man Taniela Paseka returns from a lengthy ACL lay-off.

If they opt to ease him back off the bench, Jake Trbojevic could shift to prop with recruit Kobe Hetherington starting at lock.

If Paseka is ready to rock and isn’t eased back, he could start up front with Siosiua Taukeiaho allowing Trbojevic to remain at lock.

Anthony Seibold does like to run a utility in the 14, so gun rookie Joey Walsh could come into the picture if he opts to go that way.

I’m just not sure how he’d look to utilise the young half when injected if he were to feature on the pine.

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Fixtures

Round 1: Raiders (H)

Round 2: Knights (H)

Round 3: Bye

Round 4: Roosters (H)

Round 5: Dolphins (A)

Byes: (Major bye rounds are 12, 15, 18)

Round 3, 15, 22

Verdict: The round 3 bye is frustrating, however their first three games at home in Manly is very enticing.

The Sea Eagles face two top eight sides in their opening four fixtures, along with the wooden spoon winning Knights.

While there’s some tricky fixtures, the fact the majority are at home offset this quite significantly.

Looking longer term, they’ll play two of the three major bye rounds.

All-in-all it’s a reasonable draw to start the season if you’re able to look past the round 3 bye.

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Start

Taniela Paseka I $328,600 I FRF

Paseka looms as a very popular bench FRF option to begin the season after playing just three games through injury in 2025.

With his price reduction from limited games he starts at just $328k.

In 2024 he averaged a reasonable 45 points per game, and a very healthy 54 points per game in 2023.

Returning from a lengthy injury I think he’ll be a slow burn in cash that’d be a risky play in 17s each week, but as a plug at third FRF I like his cash generation potential.

Manly look fairly light through the middle this year so I suspect he’ll build his minutes as match fitness returns.

As it does, he’ll provide a serviceable starting FRF option when needed before cashing in at his peak.

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Consider

Tom Trbojevic I $692,200 I FLB

Ah Turbo, despite the inevitable pain you’ll cause us Supercoaches in 2026 we can’t help but ponder over whether or not to pick you up.

In the 2025 Supercoach season he averaged 74.44 points in games of 80 minutes.

In the 2024 Supercoach season he averaged 91.8 points in games of 70+ minutes

On the flip side, in the past four seasons he’s missed 39 games of a possible 96 for the Sea Eagles.

Priced on a 71 point average there’s a case to say he’s undervalued to begin the season.

More importantly though, it’s his upside if he is fully fit to begin the season.

If he carves up the trials and looks healthy he’ll be a serious option, but there is value elsewhere at fullback with a little less risk around injury.

I wouldn’t be shocked to see him start at sub 20% ownership then be the most popular trade in by round 4 if he starts well.

I’m unlikely to go near him early, but history suggests I’ll only need to see him at full flight once in a trial to get interested…

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Haumole Olakau’atu I $650,000 I 2RF

In non-injury impacted games last season Olakau’atu averaged an outstanding 72 points per game.

He also averaged above that in the first five rounds with 75 points per game.

You could easily make a case to start him at a reasonable rate, my issue is the absence of long-time half Daly Cherry-Evans inside him.

The pair forged a formidable partnership with Big Ola reaping the rewards of his star No.7’s crafty ballplaying.

With DCE gone, I don’t see how his attack improves, at least in the early parts of the season as he forges a combination with Jamal Fogarty.

Not for me to start, but one I’ll be targeting early on at a hopeful price reduction.

Reuben Garrick I $664,500 I CTW & Tolutau Koula I $643,200 I CTW

Garrick is one we’ve always considered early on in the year with his Supercoach pedigree.

The man is a Supercoach beast, averaging 68+ points in his past five seasons across both centre and wing.

He’ll likely goal-kick, but if Jamal Fogarty takes over the duties you’d immediately put a line through him to start the season.

Like Ola, I don’t like that DCE won’t be on his edge this season.

Manly’s attacking contingent are largely a watch for me early as we see how they look with a new No.7.

I won’t be starting Tolutau Koula either, but I do feel he was worth mentioning off a bumper 2025 season that saw him average a career high 66 points per game.

He scored a ridiculous 17 tries in 22 games last season which makes me think he’s overpriced to begin the year.

While no DCE will hurt the right side, it should see the left edge see more quality ball which will work in his favour.

Lehi Hopoate can probably join this par as a huge watch, and one I’d start with if Turbo got injured and shifted him to fullback.

For this reason, I’ll be monitoring the trials closely.

Jake Simpkin I $422,700 I HOK

The retirement of Lachlan Croker and departure of Gordan Chan Kum Tong has Manly extremely light in the hooking department this season.

Simpkin will be the beneficiary as the likely starting No.9.

If he’s given an 80-minute role he’ll provide value to kick off the new campaign.

He’s priced on a 43 point average from 56 minutes per game last season.

He played five 80 minute games at the end of the year, averaging 62 points per game with an extremely solid 48.8 in base stats.

If locked into big minutes as the sole hooker he could be very serviceable as a starting Supercoach hooker for the early stages of the season before upgrading to Harry Grant or Blayke Brailey.

While there’s some risk in minutes and output, it’s also a pretty easy jump to Grant should he struggle early.

Not for me right now, but I am interested and will be watching closely as the pre-season progresses.

Cheapies

Joey Walsh I $235,600 I HFB

Walsh is one of the highest regarded rookies in the NRL, earmarked as a long-term halves successor to DCE.

He won’t start in round 1, but he may jag a bench spot.

He won’t be Supercoach relevant until he starts, so be ready to pounce should he get the opportunity through injury or form.