The Manly Sea Eagles have not let a lack of salary cap room stifle their recruitment this offseason, with several development and value buys making their way to the Northern Beaches along with a couple of big names.
In the Sea Eagles’ latest recruitment push, they have reportedly landed promising young utility back Jayden Innes, securing the Orange-born talent on a multi-year deal as part of their SG Ball squad for 2026.
Innes, who spent last season within the Wests Tigers system playing five-eighth and fullback in the Laurie Daley Cup, will now link into the Sea Eagles’ pathways program as he transitions toward first grade — something the club believes will happen in time.
While the re-signing of club legend Tom Trbojevic, along with new recruits Jamal Fogarty from the Raiders and Kobe Hetherington from the Broncos, has taken up much of the Sea Eagles’ spending, they’ve still managed to secure several youngsters for their lower-grade teams and future depth.
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The signing of Innes follow other young stars being recruited by Manly, most recently talented back-rower Jackson Rodwell from the Roosters just last week.
In his latest campaign, Innes captained the Western Rams in the Laurie Daley Cup, highlighting his leadership credentials, and has also shown versatility in his young career so far — something the Sea Eagles will see as a major positive.
Manly have high hopes for the 18-year-old, who was a standout member of the Tigers’ backline with a strong combination of footwork and power in his game and also comes from strong pedigree with his father Craig Innes, a former rugby international.
With Innes now firmly in the Sea Eagles’ setup, the club’s commitment to bolstering its development and pathways talent has once again been underscored, with his signing reflecting their long-term recruitment strategy that has been evident through multiple acquisitions this offseason.
The SG Ball side will face South Sydney in a trial match at Erskineville Oval on December 13, giving Innes an early chance to integrate into the squad ahead of the 2026 season.
If Innes continues to progress and display the leadership qualities that made him so valuable for the Tigers, there’s little doubt he could not only debut within the coming seasons but also carve out a long and successful NRL career.