Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles (known simply as ‘the Sea Eagles’ since 1947) have won their fair share of premiership finals and were the first club to achieve three consecutive victories. As one of Australia’s most successful clubs for many years, their reputation as a formidable team was further cemented with recent Grand Final victories over St George Illawarra, Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, and New Zealand Warriors.
Is manly a chance of winning the premiership? Manly has always been a formidable defensive outfit, boasting some of the best defenders in the NRL. In 2010, Manly led the league in tackle breaks and was second for missed tackles. Furthermore, their try-line defense proved instrumental to their success; Manly was rated as having one of the second-most diligent sides when it comes to protecting their lines.
They were one of the most efficient sides in the competition when it came to winning ball turnovers, their average of 4.6 turnovers per game more than doubled that of Melbourne Storm (4.3). Furthermore, they led all sides in line break assists and meters gained during these breaks.
Their most recent grand final appearance was a close one, as they edged out New Zealand Warriors 26-20 in Auckland. Unfortunately, that same season they lost their opening round match against Wests Tigers before going on to defeat Sharks by 18 points.
Though the club has had its share of ups and downs over recent years, they have managed to stay afloat thanks to an experienced team that consistently produces results. Despite some setbacks along the way, their form over the last decade or so has been strong enough for them to make each year’s finals.
This has made them one of the NRL’s most consistent sides, and it will be interesting to see if they can maintain that level in 2021. They boast some of the top wingers in the game, a hard-nosed front-rower, and an explosive fullback who can set the world ablaze with his pace; so with any luck, these talented players should be able to find their feet again provided they don’t let any minor setbacks get them down.
It is essential to remember that it is the team as a whole that determines their chances of winning the premiership. Tom Trbojevic, better known by his nickname Turbo, plays an integral part in this regard.
Over his tenure with the club, Turbo has won 68 percent of the games he’s played in. Additionally, he missed just one-quarter of those matches due to injury – suggesting that his high rate of winning should continue for another year.
He possesses great leadership qualities, which all coaches strive for in their players. He will be an important factor in how the team performs this season and could potentially be a huge asset for the club in 2021.
