No Paps, No Mercy: Manly Sea Eagles Gears up to pounce on Melbourne as storm star sidelined ….
Manly Gears Up for Storm Test as Papenhuyzen Remains Sidelined…
As the Manly Sea Eagles prepare for a high-stakes clash against the Melbourne Storm, head coach Anthony Seibold is doubling down on consistency and mental resilience. With Storm fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen ruled out once again due to a lingering calf injury, the Sea Eagles see an opening—but they’re not underestimating the challenge.
Manly will field an unchanged 17-man squad, signaling Seibold’s confidence in the current lineup. The team’s preparation has included what Seibold calls “controlled chaos”—non-traditional training sessions on beaches and in unfamiliar settings, designed to build composure under pressure.
“Storm are relentless. We need to match that intensity from the first minute to the last,” Seibold said during a midweek press conference. “This group is learning to adapt and respond, regardless of the opponent.”
One of the key adjustments has been Lehi Hopoate’s move to fullback, following the repositioning of Tom Trbojevic to the centres. Despite losing their star fullback, Manly remains optimistic. “We don’t need Turbo to be at the back to be dangerous,” Seibold added.
With Papenhuyzen’s absence, Melbourne loses a crucial attacking weapon. Nick Meaney will again fill in at fullback, offering stability but lacking the dynamic edge Paps provides.
As kickoff approaches, the Sea Eagles are quietly confident. Their challenge will be to bring aggression through the middle and exploit any gaps in Melbourne’s reshuffled backline. It’s a test of depth, discipline, and belief.
