For much of 2025, Manly fans dared to believe. The Sea Eagles had started brightly, knocking over Canberra with an emphatic 40-12 victory in round three, sparking talk of a genuine finals push. The squad looked strong on paper, Daly Cherry-Evans was still steering the ship with class, and the Trbojevic brothers were expected to carry the club forward.

But as the season wore on, things began to unravel — and fast. Injuries struck at the wrong time, internal uncertainty brewed, and an unexpected bombshell from their captain left fans and officials scrambling to process what had gone wrong.

The DCE Saga

It was only three rounds into the season when Daly Cherry-Evans, the club’s long-serving halfback and captain, made the announcement that shocked the NRL. On Channel Nine’s 100% Footy, DCE confirmed he would be leaving Manly at the end of the season. Even more intriguing was his hint that he might not be leaving the NRL altogether, leaving the door wide open for a move to a rival club.

The revelation blindsided many. Cherry-Evans claimed that Manly had never presented him with a formal offer for 2026, while the club insisted otherwise. It became a classic case of “he said, they said” — a messy rugby league break-up that no one had predicted.

Chairman and owner Scott Penn later admitted the situation could have been handled differently. The timing, the communication, and the lack of clarity all combined to cast a shadow over what was supposed to be a promising campaign. For a team already under pressure to deliver, losing their captain and most influential player became the first crack in the armour.

The Turbo Question

While DCE’s departure dominated headlines, Manly’s other major storyline revolved around the Trbojevic brothers. Jake Trbojevic, the heart and soul of the team, suffered yet another head knock, sparking concerns about how much longer he could continue at the top level. For a player built on toughness, leadership, and relentless work ethic, the prospect of an early retirement looms as a cruel possibility.

Then there’s Tom Trbojevic. Once the game’s most electrifying fullback, his career has been constantly disrupted by injuries. Every time he seems to build momentum, another setback sidelines him. For Penn and the club’s management, the question becomes: how much is too much? What is a fair price to pay for a superstar who can change a game in an instant but struggles to stay on the park?

The “Turbos,” once seen as the backbone of Manly’s premiership hopes, have instead become a symbol of the club’s frustration and fragility.

Seibold Under Pressure

As all this played out, head coach Anthony Seibold found himself under the microscope once again. Manly’s form slipped at crucial stages, and with the finals race tightening, pressure mounted. Critics questioned whether Seibold was the man to steer the Sea Eagles back to their glory days, while whispers began about whether his eventual successor should have the so-called “Manly DNA” — a nod to the club’s tradition of hiring figures with deep ties to the northern beaches.

A Season Hanging by a Thread

Heading into their clash with the Wests Tigers, Manly’s finals hopes hang delicately in the balance. A victory will keep their season alive, at least mathematically, but a loss would all but slam the door shut on their playoff dreams. Missing the finals would mark a disappointing end to a year that started with so much potential.

For Penn, who recently addressed these issues before flying back to his New York home, the big questions remain unanswered. How do they manage Cherry-Evans’ exit? Can the Trbojevic brothers still be the club’s foundation? And what happens if Seibold can’t turn things around?

The Sea Eagles are at a crossroads. Their premiership window, once wide open, now looks in danger of closing. And unless they can find answers quickly, Manly fans may be left to wonder whether 2025 was the season when it all slipped away.