Five new players arrived at Brookvale for 2018 but it's the question mark over Manly's No.6 jersey which could well decide the Sea Eagles' NRL season.
After two years of movement and retirements, Manly own one of the most settled rosters in the NRL heading into the opening round of the season against the Newcastle Knights.
However, it's what the Sea Eagles don't possess - an experienced five-eighth - that has attracted most attention since the release of Blake Green to the Warriors.
The club's highly-publicised salary cap saga contributed to Mitchell Pearce and Trent Hodkinson passing the club by.
But Trent Barrett insisted Manly have all the talent they need in untested 21-year-old Lachlan Croker after his move from the Canberra Raiders.
The Sea Eagles coach also indicated Croker will have plenty of help at hand as he finds his way.
"His calmness has stood out," Barrett told AAP.
"He's certainly got all the tools to make a very good first grader. Everyone needs an opportunity.
"We're fortunate enough that if it's Lachlan in the halves then we have a lot of good players around him.
"We're not a one-man band. We've all got roles to play and no one runs it on their own."
For that reason Barrett is confident the Sea Eagles won't see a repeat of 2016, when captain Daly Cherry-Evans had his least productive season without an established five-eighth alongside him.
The players around Cherry-Evans have developed significantly to the point where Api Koroisau, Tom Trbojevic, Curtis Sironen and, even, Jake Trbojevic are dangerous ball players who can offer options in attack.
"It's totally different," Barrett said.
"Tom was playing on the wing (in 2016), Api was coming off a shoulder reconstruction, Cherry was coming off a shoulder reconstruction. None of them had a pre-season."
Barrett is no stranger to shrugging off a minimised salary cap but still finding success.
Last year he guided Manly to the finals despite having $1.5 million of talent in injured veterans Brett Stewart and Steve Matai sitting on the sidelines, after the Sea Eagles were unable to have them medically retired.
Whether Manly can access the remainder of this year's cap remains to be seen, with the NRL threatening them with a reduced figure if allegations of five years of breaches are proven.
The club have long denied any wrongdoing, but it means they will almost certainly begin the season behind the eight-ball in terms of their cap with back-rower Joel Thompson their only high-profile recruit.
"We're used to it," Barrett said.
"It's not ideal but there's nothing I can do about it and we'll be fine.
"We've got some really good young kids coming through and we won the under-20s last year.
"There will be sceptics who won't have us in the eight but it's OK.
"They didn't have us there last year either."
SEA EAGLES
Ladder finishes over the past three seasons: 2017 - 6th, 2016 - 13th, 2015 - 9th
Coach: Trent Barrett
Captain: Daly Cherry-Evans
Gains: Lachlan Croker (Canberra), Jack Gosiewaski (South Sydney), Toafoa Sipley (Warriors), Kelepi Tangino (Parramatta), Joel Thompson (St George Illawarra)
Losses: Brenton Lawrence, Steve Matai, Brett Stewart (all retired), Blake Green (Warriors)
Best team: 1. Tom Trbojevic, 2. Jorge Taufua, 3. Dylan Walker, 4. Blake Green, 5. Akuila Uate, 6. Lachlan Croker, 7. Daly Cherry-Evans, 8. Martin Taupau, 9. Apisai Koroisau, 10. Darcy Lussick, 11. Joel Thompson, 12. Curtis Sironen, 13. Jake Trbojevic, 14. Lewis Brown, 15. Addin Fonua-Blake, 16. Frank Winterstein, 17. Lloyd Perrett
Predicted finish: 7th
Betting: $23
