Sipley exit leaves Manly in need of more muscle
Jasper Bruce |
Manly are in need of some middle forward depth for 2026 after releasing Toafofoa Sipley to the English Super League.
The prop has played 93 games since arriving at Manly from the Warriors in 2018 but will leave at season’s end to join Warrington, currently coached by NRL legend Sam Burgess.
Sipley signed with Manly through to the end of this season in 2023 before quietly inking a one-year extension, but the club did not want to stand in the way of a longer deal in England.
“This is a great opportunity for me and my family, and I think the experience will be good for us,” Sipley said.
“I look forward to finishing this season strongly before saying my goodbyes.”
Taniela Paseka’s long-term achilles injury has exposed the 10th-placed Sea Eagles’ lack of middle forward depth this year and Sipley’s exit looks to have compounded the situation.
Manly are also in the process of farewelling fellow prop Josh Aloiai from the roster, with the 29-year-old set to medically retire with a persistent shoulder injury.
The Sea Eagles have not signed any new middle forwards for next season but are currently in talks to extend stalwart Jake Trbojevic beyond a current deal that ends after 2026.
Ethan Bullemor also re-signed last week in a boost to the club’s middle forward stocks.
Josh Papali’i, Daniel Suluka-Fifita, Corey Jensen, Josh Kerr and Adam Elliott are quality options on the market should the Sea Eagles look to bolster their middle-forward rotation.
AAP
