The Manly Sea Eagles’ season took another devastating blow over the weekend, with both their performance on the field and the injury toll leaving fans and players alike with little to celebrate. In what has been described as one of the club’s poorest showings of the year, the Sea Eagles not only slipped further away from finals contention but also lost yet another key player to a serious injury.
Reuben Garrick, the reliable goal-kicker and versatile backline player, suffered what appears to be a significant shoulder injury. Reports indicate that Garrick felt and heard what he described as a “crack” in his shoulder after falling awkwardly in a tackle. The incident immediately raised alarm bells, as Garrick has been one of Manly’s most dependable performers this season, often covering multiple positions across the backline, including wing and centre. Losing him at this critical point in the season almost certainly rules him out for the remainder of the year, a bitter pill for coach Anthony Seibold and the Sea Eagles faithful.
Garrick’s injury compounds an already worrying casualty list for Manly, with several other first-choice players unavailable due to injury or suspension. His absence will leave a gaping hole not only in the backline but also in the team’s scoring ability, given his role as the primary goal-kicker. Without him, the team will be forced to reshuffle their line-up and rely on less experienced options to step up in both attack and defense.
Coach Anthony Seibold fronted the media following the match, offering an update on the club’s growing injury crisis. While Garrick’s shoulder injury was the headline concern, Seibold also confirmed issues with two forwards who are under assessment. Though he stopped short of providing definitive timelines for their return, Seibold acknowledged that the disruptions to the team’s forward pack have added to the difficulties of competing at a high level week in and week out.
The timing of these setbacks could not be worse for Manly. Heading into the final stretch of the season, the Sea Eagles are clinging to faint hopes of making the finals, but with their current form and mounting injuries, that dream is slipping further away. Fans who had hoped for a late surge into contention were left disheartened by not only the performance but also the growing sense that the season has unravelled beyond repair.
For Garrick personally, the injury is especially cruel. He has been a model of consistency, often called upon to steady the side in tough moments, whether by slotting conversions or making crucial defensive plays. His likely absence for the rest of the season marks a significant loss in both skill and leadership for Manly.
As the Sea Eagles attempt to regroup, Seibold and his coaching staff face the difficult challenge of keeping morale high and finding solutions within a depleted squad. Whether the next generation of players can rise to the occasion remains to be seen, but one thing is certain—Manly’s road to recovery, both in this season and beyond, just got a whole lot steeper.