Eight players will make their debut for Manly at the NRL Downer Auckland Nines tournament at Eden Park.
Sea Eagles Coach Trent Barrett announced his 18-man squad for the annual tournament which sees Manly taking on St George-Illawarra Dragons, Parramatta Eels, and the NZ Warriors, in the Piha Pool.
Prop Brenton Lawrence has been named Sea Eagles captain. Lawrence played in the Nines for the first time last season.
New recruits Jono Wright, Brian Kelly, Akuila Uate, Cameron Cullen, Shaun Lane, Jarrad Kennedy, Curtis Sironen, and Lloyd Perrett will pull on the famous Sea Eagles colours for the first time in Auckland.
New Zealand Test player Martin Taupau has also been chosen after returning to pre-season training this week following the Four Nations tournament.
"I feel we have chosen a well-balanced squad. There is a good mixture of experienced senior players combined with a number of exciting young players who will have the chance to show what they can do," Barrett said.
"We also have some very experienced senior players in the team, so I feel we have chosen a well-balanced squad.
"The Nines is a great tournament for the players to enjoy some footy after a long pre-season and a chance for some of the younger players to get some good exposure."
Sea Eagles squad:
Brenton Lawrence (c), Jono Wright, Matt Wright, Brian Kelly, Akuila Uate, Jorge Taufua, Pita Godinet, Cameron Cullen, Peter Schuster, Tom Wright, Joey Lussick, Shaun Lane, Frank Winterstein, Jarrad Kennedy, Curtis Sironen, Addin Fonua Blake, Martin Taupau, Lloyd Perrett.
This article first appeared on SeaEagles.com.au
