Manly great Steve Menzies says Willie Mason is the man to keep the club's proud winning culture alive.
The Sea Eagles will be aiming for an 11th straight top eight appearance when season 2015 kicks off but will have to overcome the loss of several of their forward generals.
The Sea Eagles have lost nearly 900 games worth of experience with the departures of Jason King (retired), Anthony Watmough (Parramatta), Glenn Stewart (South Sydney) and Richie Fa'aoso (Parramatta).
But Menzies sees no reason why the club can't continue its proud dynasty.
He said it was up to the likes of Justin Horo and Jamie Buhrer to become forward leaders and former premiership winner Willie Mason would lend vital experience.
"Big Willie - I think he's a really astute purchase," Menzies said at the Jack Newton Celebrity Classic in the Hunter Valley.
"He's the kind of guy, he won't be captain but he can lead the team off the field as well as on.
"He's a big personality and he's good to have around, players listen to him and want to follow him."
While the Sea Eagles will begin to rebuild this year, he said there was plenty of talent coming up from underneath.
He said outside back Peta Hiku - who was a standout at fullback for New Zealand during their Four Nations win - was representative of the potential coming through.
"There's no reason whatsoever (Manly) can't make the finals," Menzies said.
"Obviously they've lost a couple of senior guys but there's still some good young guys.
"Especially Peta Hiku, the way he played in that (Four Nations) series for New Zealand, he's really come of age.
"He was a great player before but he's just matured and getting better and better and it's going to be guys like that you probably wouldn't have looked at last year to be a senior player.
"The way he played in that Four Nations was amazing - that's world-class rugby league."
Menzies said he was also undecided about whether he would take part in next year's Auckland Nines tournament.
The 41-year-old made an appearance for his beloved Manly in the inaugural tournament this season and said while he would like to turn out in the 2015 edition he had not begun training and was recovering from a broken hand.
"There is no (training) plan at the moment," he said.
"I don't know. The mind always says he wants to play but the body is unsure.
"I broke my hand playing touch footy four weeks ago so maybe that's the body telling me to slow down."
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