From Australian Schoolboys, State Cups, to rising junior representative players, there is a clear abundant of exciting young talent representing the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles in season 2025.
Head Coach Anthony Seibold provides a rundown on some of the developing players to watch from our NRL squad, supplementary, and train and trial lists.
Joey Walsh (18, half-back, Top 30)
“Joey is a Northern Beaches boy who went to St Augustine’s College, Brookvale. He was an elite schoolboy rugby player who captained the Australian U18 side at flyhalf. He has played junior representative rugby league and is someone who we have been tracking for the last 18 months. We feel Joey can be an NRL player in the future.
The transition from union to rugby league means there will be a lot of learning for him in his first year, but we feel like he can be an elite half-back. We’ve got some really good players that can mentor him and some really good coaches to help him grow. I’m really pleased that we have been able to give him this opportunity being a local guy. We feel he can really progress his game over the next 12-24 months.”
Caleb Navale (21, lock, Supplementary List)
“Caleb has played the last two post season Pacific tournaments for Fiji. It is where he has really shown that he is up to playing NRL level. He made his NRL debut this year against South Sydney and I thought he was excellent in our win against the Newcastle Knights on Golden Eagles Day at 4 Pines Park.
The thing I want to see from Caleb is that he is competing for a spot in the NRL team. He has got that potential to be in and around selection week in, week out. We want him to have the best pre-season that he has ever had. I feel his best football is in front of him.”
Simione Laiafi (18, prop, Supplementary List)
“Simi is an Australian Schoolboys front-rower who played against France and Papua New Guinea. He is a really big powerful prop who has played in our Manly Pathways system the last couple of years.
We feel he has got great potential if he is willing to work hard and build reliability in regards to what he does on the field.”
D’Jazirhae ‘Mia’ Pua'avase (21, prop, Supplementary List)
“Mia is a tall and athletic forward with a good offload and carry. We have signed him for the next two years. He is a developing front-rower who was recruited by the North Queensland Cowboys as a schoolboy from New Zealand. He has great potential and is at the very start of his career.
Mia is a massive young man in size and he has played in the Queensland Cup since he was 18. He comes to us having played against men already and we know his best footy is in front of him. I have high hopes for him as an NRL player.”
Zaidas Muagututia (18, Hooker, Supplementary List)
“Zaidas joins us on a two-year deal after playing Jersey Flegg for Canterbury and representing the NSW City U18s side this season. He played Harold Matthews Cup with Parramatta (2022-23). Zaidas is somebody who we have been tracking for a little while.
Zaidas is in our full-time supplementary training program for 2025 and will then join the top 30 squad the following season. We feel Zaidas can progress in the coming years. He is a very talented dummy half."
Tyler Melrose (17, Halves, Train and Trial)
“Tyler was recruited from St Brendan’s College, Yeppoon. Peter Gentle (Head of Football and Recruitment) has built a really good relationship with them over the last 12-16 months. Tyler and Simon Green, who is in our SG Ball squad, are the first two guys who have come down from St Brendan’s. Tyler has had a really good schoolboy playing career in the central Queensland region. He has got potential but he is only very young at 17 years of age.
Tyler is getting exposed to the NRL team for eight weeks of pre-season training sol he can learn his trade when he goes back to SG Ball. Hopefully he can progress through to Jersey Flegg by the end of next year. It is a steep learning curve for him. It is about good habits with his preparation and reliability in and around how he does things day to day.”
Navren Willett (19, outside back, Train and Trial)
“Navren is someone that I saw play live for Wests Magpies against our SG Ball side this year. Peter Gentle did a great job identifying him and tracking him. The thing that excites me about Navren is that he is only 19 and he has already played NSW Cup, Jersey Flegg and SG Ball in the last 12 months. His ceiling is quite high I feel. I think if he is willing to work hard and again show through his preparation in the pre-season that he can be consistent and reliable day to day, then he will give himself a good opportunity to make his NRL debut at some stage.
Navren is excellent in the air and is a great finisher. I see some similarities to guys like Campbell Graham and Xavier Coates in terms of his body shape. Navren is someone we feel can play first grade. We want him to learn his trade in 2025 and compete for a spot.”
Onitoni Large (17, Five-eighth, Train and Trial)
“Onitoni has already captained the Junior Wallabies in rugby and represented the U16s NSW Blues in rugby league. He played Harold Matthews Cup and Jersey Flegg Cup for the Western Suburbs Magpies this season. Onitoni is someone that we identified as being an elite junior.
He has got one more year to go at The Scots College, so he will combine his schooling and rugby commitments there with doing the pre-season with our NRL squad. He will play in our SG Ball side. We feel Onitoni can be a long-term player at our club. He is very fast and is a running five-eighth who can also play a couple of different positions as well.”
