How a leadership shift looks set to unlock Manly’s marquee stars this season

Luke Brooks impresses in his first hit-out for Manly.

Daly Cherry-Evans is already seeing Luke Brooks thrive without the responsibility of being an NRL side’s main conductor, just as new $7 million man Haumole Olakau’atu takes on his first leadership role.

Brooks’s new life at Manly is gathering momentum after an impressive outing in a 68-6 thumping of a second-string South Sydney side on Sunday.

The former Wests Tigers half, who wore consistent criticism throughout his 11 years at his junior club – not least because his own pay packet had shot beyond $1 million in recent years – dominated in the maroon and white on the Central Coast.

Brooks set up three first-half tries, including two for recently re-signed back-rower Ben Trbojevic, who is mounting a fair case to start alongside Brooks on a new-look left-edge. Trbojevic finished with a hat-trick as he pushes the injured Josh Schuster for a starting spot.

Cherry-Evans, Olakau’atu, the two elder Trbojevic brothers, Schuster and Josh Aloiai were among the Manly stars watching from the stands, while South Sydney played only a handful of first-graders ahead of their round one clash against the Sea Eagles in Las Vegas on March 3 (AEDT).

Schuster is aiming to play in Saturday’s trial against the Roosters to prove he has recovered sufficiently from a calf issue and is able to travel to the US on February 21.

Speaking before Brooks’s performance on Sunday, Cherry-Evans said he had been impressed by the 29-year-old’s switch to a secondary role alongside him.

“With the role he’s going to play, there’s going to be a whole lot less responsibility on him,” Cherry-Evans told this masthead.

“He’s just got to come here and be himself now, I think he’s going to really enjoy that. He doesn’t have to be anyone else, he doesn’t have to be a role player, he doesn’t have to be the man, he just literally has to come here and be Luke Brooks.

“I can see the excitement in the way he’s training, the way he’s getting around the team… We’re building nicely, but there’s still a lot of work to be done. I’ve had heaps of halves partners over the years, so I’m hoping this one clicks quicker than most.”

For perspective, Cherry-Evans played alongside four different five-eighths – including Schuster, Cooper Johns, Kaeo Weekes and Jake Arthur – in 2023 after Kieran Foran was moved on to accommodate Schuster in the halves.

The hulking ball-player is now moving to the back row, where coach Anthony Seibold sees him having the potential to emulate Glenn Stewart and Wade Graham.

While Schuster and Ben Trbojevic duke it out for a left-edge role, Olakau’atu has made the right-side slot his own outside Cherry-Evans.

Ten tries in each of the past two seasons speak to Olakau’atu’s prowess out wide, while nothing more needs to be said of the ferocious hit on Melbourne’s Justin Olam that was crowned tackle of the year at the 2023 Dally Ms.

Manly have invested significantly in Olakau’atu adding more consistency to his game, tying him down with a $7 million-plus, eight-year deal in the hope of making him an “Eagle for life”, as described by CEO Tony Mestrov at the time.

As Olakau’atu heads into his fourth full NRL season, Seibold has added the Tongan star to the club’s leadership group. Despite being renowned for his softly spoken manner, Olakau’atu is relishing the show of faith to go alongside his lucrative contract.

“It’s a big step and a huge opportunity for me to lead in some way for the team, hopefully for a long time,” Olakau’atu said.

“I’m not very good with my words, but I’d like to lead with my actions. [Younger players] do come up to me and I’d like to give them good life lessons or advice.

“From their perspective, seeing me play good, consistent footy for the last few years, it’s always good to grow as footy players and as men on and off the field.”

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