After falling short of the finals last year, the Sea Eagles will be looking to take advantage of an opening month which sees them play a top-eight side from last year just once.
It all starts in Vegas for Anthony Seibold's men, who have won their season-opener just once since 2014, before returning home for a string of key match-ups at 4 Pines Park against the Roosters, Panthers, Eels, Raiders and Storm.
Teams they play twice
The Titans are the only Queensland side they face twice, but the Sea Eagles will play home and away legs against fellow out of state opponents the Warriors and Raiders. The Rabbitohs, Roosters, Eels, Dragons and Panthers are the other sides the Sea Eagles face twice.
Teams they play once
They have one-off meetings with the Dolphins, Bulldogs and Wests Tigers, who all finished below them last year, as well as the Cowboys who were one spot ahead of them on the ladder. Manly also see 2023 finals sides the Broncos, Storm, Knights and Sharks only once.
Day-by-day breakdown
- Thursday: 2 games (0 home, 2 away)
- Friday: 6 games (5 home, 1 away)
- Saturday: 8 games (1 home, 7 away)
- Sunday: 8 games (6 home, 2 away)
Turnaround time
- 5 days: 0 games
- 6 days: 7 games
- 7+ days: 16 games
The Sea Eagles are one of two teams (along with the Bulldogs) to not have a five-day turnaround in 2023, but they do have seven six-day turnarounds – including three in their final six games of the regular season. Manly's longest break comes between two big games against the Storm in Round 12 and the Panthers in Round 14, the latter of which will see any Origin stars back up after Game One.
Opening month
- Round 1: v Rabbitohs (H)
- Round 2: v Roosters (H)
- Round 3: v Eels (A)
- Round 4: v Dragons (A)
After kicking things off as the home team in the Vegas double-header, the Sea Eagles take on the Roosters back at 4 Pines Park on the back of a two-week turnaround. That's followed by consecutive away games against the Eels and Dragons at CommBank Stadium and WIN Stadium.
Magic Round
The Sea Eagles will be the home team at the home of the Broncos in Magic Round, taking on Brisbane in the annual event for the third season in a row. Manly have lost the corresponding fixture in each of the past two years.
State of Origin watch
A bye in Round 13 lines up with the game Origin players will miss as part of the series opener, while Manly also have the week off after Origin II, so any participating players won't need to back up. They'll play Round 16 against the Rabbitohs and Round 19 against the Knights without any players selected for Origin, while they face the Panthers and Titans in the round after Origin I and II.
Can't miss game
Round 20 v Titans, Sunday at 4 Pines Park (H)
Des Hasler's first trip to 4 Pines Park since he departed Manly at the end of 2022 comes on a Sunday afternoon in Round 20. The Titans ran out 26-10 in their sole meeting last season. The Sea Eagles faithful will no doubt be in full voice as both Hasler and long-time Manly playmaker Kieran Foran return in opposition colours.
