Manly Warringah Sea Eagles have strengthened their playing ranks for next season with the signing of three quality young players and an extension of a current club international.
The Sea Eagles have signed half-back Luke Brooks for four years, winger Jaxson Paulo for three years, and centre Tommy Talau for two years.
And in further good news, the Club has also extended the contract of exciting young Tongan international Tolu Koula for a further three years from the end of the 2024 season.
Brooks, 28, is a very experienced and established half-back who has scored 43 tries since his NRL debut for Wests Tigers in 2013.
“Luke is a quality half-back, a former Dally M half back of the year (2018), and brings over 200 games of experience to our club,’’ said Manly Coach Anthony Seibold.
“He has got a fantastic left foot kicking game and is a really good runner of the football.
“We feel as though he will add to the spine players we have already got at our club.”
Paulo, 23, has scored 25 tries in 54 NRL matches through stints at South Sydney and now the Sydney Roosters.
An exciting young winger with plenty of skill and speed, Paulo played for South Sydney in the 2021 Grand Final. He has also represented Samoa at Test level.
“Jaxson brings over 50 games of NRL experience with him. He has been in really good systems at the South Sydney Rabbitohs and Sydney Roosters,’’ Seibold said.
“His best year was in 2021 where he appeared in the NRL Grand Final. The thing I liked about him that year was just the consistency in his performance.
“He has started the year really strongly for the Roosters and we feel as though his best football is in front of him.”
Talau, 23, has scored 19 tries in 44 matches for the Wests Tigers since his NRL debut against Manly in 2019.
“Tommy is someone I’ve watched closely for a number of years. He made his debut as an 18-year-old at the Tigers but he has been hampered a little bit by missing the full 2022 season,’’ Seibold added.
“I think he has shown this year his aggression. He is a powerful player but he also shows great skill.
“What Jaxson and Tommy add to us is competition for spots because we are trying to build consistent performances as a team.
“We want competition for spots and they add to the quality that we have already got in our outside backs.”
Seibold said Koula deserved a contract extension after the big impression the 20-year-old centre has made since his NRL debut for Manly last year.
“Tolu has been a real find for our club over the last 18 months,’’ Seibold added.
“He has come through here as a junior, playing in our Harold Matthews and SG Ball teams.
“Tolu has further improved as a player this season and we feel that he has got great potential.
“With Tolu now signed on for another couple of years, we are really looking forward to seeing him play his best football.”
Manly CEO Tony Mestrov said the club was delighted to have secured Brooks, Paulo, and Talau, bringing much added depth to the playing roster.
“Luke is a very fine player who will enjoy a fresh start and some much-needed stability at Manly,’’ Mestrov said.
“We believe his game will only further improve working alongside Daly Cherry-Evans and playing with the likes of Josh Schuster and Tom Trbojevic behind a very strong forward pack.
“For a young man, Jaxson has already made a strong impression, having played in an NRL Grand Final as well as being a Test player.
“Tommy can cover wing and centre and is a player with plenty of speed and skill.
“We believe all three players will only further improve their game under Anthony Seibold."
