Morgan Boyle with more to give after constant injuries in the NRL

Manly prop Morgan Boyle might be frustrated to again be sidelined through injury, but he’s still got plenty left to offer at NRL level.

That is the opinion of his manager David Riolo, with the 25-year-old yet to play first grade this year due to a recurring ankle injury.

Boyle is off-contract at the end of this season, and has only managed 25 NRL appearances in his four seasons with Manly Sea Eagles, since coming down from the Titans.

Health setbacks have also prevented him from playing more games during that period.

But like his father David Boyle, who played 117 games for the Canberra Raiders, Riolo believes the hard-running frontrower can play plenty more games at the elite level.

“He just needs to play, Morgs,” Riolo told bettingsite.com.au.

“He’s had a couple of weeks off. He had a bit of a setback with his foot, but he’ll be right.

“Once he gets back on the field then we’ll look at where his future lies, either at Manly or elsewhere, hopefully in the NRL or the Super League.
“We’ll just see what comes up.

“He’s just had a bad run and that’s happened to a few blokes over their careers.”

Riolo said Boyle – who told bettingsite.com.au he was enjoying his time at Manly despite his injuries – was maintaining a good outlook on his future.

“That’s just where he is, unfortunately. He’ll bounce back – he’s just got to stay positive,” Riolo said.

“He’s fit and healthy. He just has to get his foot right now.

“Once that’s right, hopefully in the next month he’ll be good to go. He’s still got plenty of footy left this year.

“It’ll be a good opportunity for him to show his wares, and then hopefully we can progress from there in terms of where he plays next year.”

Raiders veteran Adam Elliott is the partner of Boyle’s sister, Mille, and he is another client of Riolo’s coming off contract at the end of this year.

It appears Elliott has his life back on track after some highly publicised off-field incidents led to his departure from Canterbury, subsequently signing a one-year deal with the Green Machine.

And after a good start to the season, particularly his rotation with Tom Starling at hooker, coach Ricky Stuart is keen to re-sign Elliott to a long-term deal.

Jillaroos prop Millie Boyd could join him as a Raiders player, with the club’s push for an NRLW licence next year gathering momentum.

“He (Elliott) is playing great footy, so he’s got some options,” Riolo said.

“Canberra is one of them, and he’s got to make a decision from there.

“Him and Millie are very happy, but they have to work themselves out individually first, and work their respective careers around that.”

Riolo also manages star Dragons utility Jack Bird, who is close to signing a three-year extension with the Red V.

It will end months of speculation about his future, after the 27-year-old initially rejected a two-year offer, prompting the Eels and Dolphins to express their respective interests.

“It’s been an interesting negotiation and Birdy’s a local junior,” Riolo said.

“That’s a good thing from the Dragons’ perspective. It looks like it’s all sorted and he can move forward.”

Riolo is also confident Braedon Hamlin-Uele will end up staying at Cronulla long-term, with the powerful prop also coming off contract at the end of 2022.

Hamlin-Uele has gone on the record saying he would be willing to take a pay cut in order to stay at the Shire club.

“He’s really happy there. We’ll work through that and it’ll get sorted,” Riolo said.

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