Voss: The young Sea Eagle who should start as five-eighth over Brooks

SEN’s Andrew Voss believes exciting Manly youngster Joey Walsh should play Round 1 over established playmaker Luke Brooks.

The Sea Eagles have a big question mark over their starting halves pairing after the departure of club legend Daly Cherry-Evans to the Sydney Roosters.

Former Canberra Raiders halfback Jamal Fogarty has joined Manly and will likely partner up with Brooks to start the year.

However, Vossy believes the pre-season form shown by 19-year-old Walsh warrants his selection for Round 1.

“I just think Manly have to make a decision sooner rather than later,” Voss declared on SEN 1170.

“The decision is all to do with their attack. I know that there is an extended bench with six players now instead of four.

“It’s easy to put a player like Joey Walsh on the extended bench every single week.

“If I'm perfectly honest, I’m going with Walsh first up over Luke Brooks.

“It’s not Walsh who sits on the bench for mine. It’s Brooks who sits on the bench and maybe he becomes a pinch-hitter dummy half.

“I’d give the reins to Joey Walsh right from Round 1 at Manly. Manly with a halves combination of Fogarty and the young gun Joey Walsh.

“I’m benching the experienced Luke Brooks and going with the kid straight up.

“I’ve seen enough of Walsh and spoken enough with him and been really impressed.

“I’d make that big call.”

Walsh was a standout in Manly's 33-18 win over the Warriors in the first week of the pre-season challenge.

Despite being soundly beaten in Mudgee by the South Sydney Rabbitohs on Sunday, Manly looked more creative with Walsh leading the attack over Brooks.

SEN’s Greg Alexander is also convinced that Walsh deserves a crack at first grade to begin the 2026 season.

“I watched him as a schoolboy and he played (fly-half),” Alexander said on SEN 1170.

“I reckon he’s as good as any kid I’ve seen at schoolboy level.

“The movements he made on Sunday in Mudgee, he was doing in schoolboy rugby.

“If he didn’t sign with Manly and stay with rugby, I’d have no doubt that he’d be the Wallabies five-eighth.”

Manly open their 2026 campaign at home on March 7 against the Canberra Raiders.