Rugby league legend Cooper Cronk has delivered a damning assessment of Manly’s finals chances in 2025, believing they will be one of a quarter to drop out of the top eight.

As it stands, the top six on the ladder look to be locked in for finals according to Cronk and Matty Johns, leaving the Dolphins, Roosters, Sharks and Sea Eagles to fight for the final two spots.

Trent Robinson’s Tricolours suffered a damaging loss on Thursday night, giving the remaining trio a boost in their bid to feature in the post-season.

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For Cronk, Anthony Seibold’s side are lacking punch in the middle of the park with Taniela Paseka (Achilles), Josh Aloiai (shoulder) and Nathan Brown (biceps) sidelined.

“I think the Sharks and the Dolphins have a bye, Manly and Roosters don’t. That helps,” Cronk said on the Matty and Cronk podcast.

“I don’t think Manly are playing well enough, I know they beat Melbourne on their home deck and things like that.

“They are missing Paseka, some big guys through the middle that if they lose momentum, their defence is not good enough.

“I don’t think Manly make it.”

For Johns, he believes there’s still tension lingering with Anthony Seibold’s future coming under the microscope in June.

Meanwhile, Daly Cherry-Evans’ decision to depart Brookvale at the end of the 2025 season also sent shockwaves through the rugby league world and the Manly club alike.

“You still get a sense, without reaching in to the off-field, that there’s still stuff going on. There’s just a little bit of a distraction around the corner,” Johns explained.

“Manly are just so inconsistent. Once again, going back to those little noises coming out of the club, I don’t like.”

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Cronk also highlighted the Sharks as one team he believes will find a spot in the top eight.

But the final position is up for grabs between the Roosters and Dolphins, with a Round 23 clash between those sides set to be a crucial factor in which team jumps ahead.

“The Sharks, under Craig Fitzgibbon, they are a finals team. They have got a decent run, so I think they finish seventh,” Cronk said.

“They are doing all the right things at the moment, so I think they will kick on. Then it comes between the Dolphins and Roosters.

“They actually play at each other in Round 23, and the Roosters have a poorer points differential between the two.”