It's been an underwhelming start to 2025 for Manly.
Considered potential premiership contenders coming into the new campaign, the Sea Eagles have slumped to a 3-4 record to start the season.
While we're only seven rounds in, not many would have expected Anthony Seibold's side to be sitting in 11th place.
It's been a challenging period for Manly off the field, too.
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In March, star halfback Daly Cherry-Evans confirmed he would leave the club at the end of the current season.
News Corp's Phil Rothfield believes that the veteran's decision to depart Brookvale has impacted his on-field performances, which he argues have contributed to some of the team's losses.
He also believes that DCE should step down as Manly's captain and allow either Tom or Jake Trbojevic to take over the leadership role.
"I wrote a story this morning [about] Anthony Seibold, who’s furious about the Sea Eagles draw and having three games in 11 days ... that’s a cop-out," Rothfield said on NRL 360.
"They’ve actually got five of their first seven games at home, and clubs have got much tougher draws than they have.
"What I’ve said is, I think Daly Cherry Evans should stand down as the captain of that club.
"Since the story broke, [in the] last three games, he’s had one try assist. I think you can see in body language on the field when tries are scored and Manly behind the posts, they’re not rallying for DCE.
"He doesn’t want to be there. He’s given the players no explanation of why or where he’s even going, so it’s different to a lot of other players.
"And I think the Trbojevic brothers, who would die for that jersey, would be a far better appointment as club captain at this stage.
"They’ve got to bite the bullet."
Manly will look to get their season back on track when they take on the Panthers on Saturday evening.