If the positivity and the confidence on display at Lottoland today is any indication, then the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles are set for another huge season in the 2018 NSWRL Junior representative competitions.
In front of proud parents, families, coaching staff and team-mates, the Sea Eagles announced their captains, vice-captains, and their leadership groups for the Harold Matthews (U16) and SG Ball (U18) teams a week out from the season kick-off.
Manly Sea Eagles CEO Lyall Gorman was joined by NRL captain Daly Cherry-Evans, and vice-captain and Manly junior, Jake Trbojevic, for the announcements with each one addressing the audience.
Sea Eagles Harold Matthews Coach Trevor Ott, a former SG Ball Coach at Newcastle Knights, announced second-rower Sam Pinomi as his captain with Kaeo Weekes as the vice-captain.
A quality back-rower, Pinomi was named the 2017 Hill Sports High Junior Rugby League Player of the Year and first joined the Sea Eagles development program in 2016.
Weekes is in his second season with the Harold Matthews team after enjoying a superb 2017 for Manly that also saw the skilful five-eighth represent the NSW U16 Origin team despite playing a year up for his age.
Manly’s SG Ball Coach Brett Fulton then announced hooker Tyran Ott as his captain with the very talented Joshua Schuster as vice-captain.
Ott played SG Ball for the Newcastle Knights in 2017 and was the West Maitland Captain and Player of the Year.
Schuster enjoyed a stellar season for the Sea Eagles last season as captain of the Harold Matthews team that finished runners-up. Named Manly’s Harold Matthews’ Player of the Year, Schuster also represented the NSW U16 Origin team and was selected in the 2018 NSWRL Under 18 Emerging Blues squad.
The opening round of the Junior Representative season sees the Sea Eagles tackle rivals North Sydney Bears at Lottoland on Saturday, February 10. The Harold Matthews match kicks-off at 10.30am with the SG Ball at 12pm.
2018 Manly Harold Matthews
Coach: Trevor Ott
Captain: Sam Pinomi
Vice-Captain: Kaeo Weekes
2018 Manly SG Ball
Coach: Brett Fulton
Captain: Tyran Ott
Vice-Captain: Joshua Schuster
