LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
Manly coach Anthony Seibold has ruled out rushing teenage prodigy Joey Walsh into first-grade in 2026 to replace departing captain Daly Cherry-Evans.
Instead, Seibold hinted at the possibility of moving Tom Trbojevic into the halves, stating that Walsh and 17-year-old Onitoni Large are not ready for the NRL yet.
Walsh, who impressed with a hat-trick in his first under-21s game, was brought in from rugby union at the start of the season, but Seibold emphasized the need for patience with the young players.
"I have only seen a small fraction of Joey.
He's a couple of years away," Seibold explained.
"His first game of rugby league in three and a bit years he played very well against the Warriors in Jersey Flegg.
He and Onitoni Large are very good young players, but they are very young.
It will be a couple of years before we see them in the top grade."
As Manly searches for Cherry-Evans' replacement, rumors have linked the team to Jamal Fogarty and Adam Reynolds.
However, Seibold noted that Trbojevic could potentially fill the No.6 jersey, with Luke Brooks making the shift to halfback.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the halfback position, Seibold expressed confidence in the club's young talent and their potential to step up in the future.
The article on au.news.yahoo.com highlighted Cherry-Evans' rejection of Manly's contract extension and the ensuing search for a new halfback.
The focus on developing promising young players like Walsh and Large indicates the Sea Eagles' commitment to building for the future.
Seibold's cautious approach to their progression underscores the importance of nurturing talent at the right pace to ensure long-term success for the team.