Sea Eagles halfback Daly Cherry-Evans has revealed Tom Trbojevic is the man most likely to wear the No.1 jersey for Manly in 2017.
Speaking to Fox Sports, Cherry-Evans confirmed the 20-year-old had spent the entire pre-season at fullback as veteran custodian Brett Stewart continues to battle a knee injury.
With Stewart on the sidelines, Trbojevic played 12 games at fullback in 2016 and his speed, size and ability to break a game open has him touted as a future representative player.
"I honestly don't know anything about the situation, I just know that right now Tom Trbojevic has been training the whole pre-season there," Cherry-Evans said.
"I don't know what's going to happen in the future, but it's probably fair to say that it looks like Tommy might be our No.1 this year and moving forward."
Regardless of the fullback situation, it will be a very different looking Sea Eagles side that takes the field in Round 1 compared to the one that finished 13th in 2016.
Former skipper Jamie Lyon has retired, dynamic hookers Matt Parcell and Jayden Hodges have moved on, while forwards Jamie Buhrer, Josh Starling and Siosaia Vave have also left the northern beaches club.
In their stead, the Sea Eagles have signed former Storm five-eighth Blake Green, as well as Jackson Hastings, Cameron Cullen and Akuila Uate, to name a few.
Cherry-Evans said he was looking forward to being a part of the new-look Manly side in 2017, and is confident he can return to the sort of form that saw him play for the Maroons and Kangaroos in 2013 and 2014.
"I feel as if there's a changing of the guard at Manly, and some thought that it might have happened last year with the changeover of coaching staff, but more specifically the changeover in the playing group now has this squad in a new, different arena," he said.
"It's got a very different balance across the board, and I'm extremely comfortable in where that stands for 2017. I do feel as though we're a very balanced side now, and I'm very confident in my role this year, more so than ever before.
"I am excited at the prospect of 2017 and what it holds as a side, and also what I can contribute to that side. I am looking forward to it and I can't wait to apply myself this year."
