Fresh-faced Matt Parcell wouldn't know it but he embodies the new era Manly plan to usher in during their 70th anniversary season.

The 23-year-old, who was signed from the Brisbane Broncos, will vie with former Penrith rake Api Koroisau for the vacant No.9 jumper and new coach Trent Barrett is banking on the healthy competition for that spot, and others, including five-eighth, to trigger a new hunger at the club after they missed the finals in 2015 for the first time in a decade.

Barrett has recruited some hard heads in the forwards for 2016 in Martin Taupau, Nate Myles and Darcy Lussick, and he retains some exciting talent in a back line that features Daly Cherry-Evans, Brett Stewart, Jamie Lyon, Tim Moltzen and perhaps even Tom Wright, the hottest property in schoolboy rugby who gave up his shot at an Olympic gold medal with Australia's rugby sevens team for a Sea Eagles contract.

Parcell, who attended the club's midweek media launch at Freshwater Life Savers Club – whose colours the footy team adopted when, in 1946, they were told by the NSWRL they and Parramatta would play in the 1947 competition – declared Manly was where he wanted to be.

"It's awesome to have this opportunity," said Parcell, a product of the Queensland stronghold of Ipswich who studied civil engineering at university. "I only got down a few days before pre-season started [last Monday] and I've been soaking it all in."

He comes from a family steeped in league history. His great-grandfather Percy Parcell represented Queensland as a rugged forward, his grandfather Gary represented Australia in eight Tests and alongside Noel Kelly and Dud Beattie formed an all-Ipswich Australian front row from 1959-62, while another relative, Hector Gee, scored twice in the infamous 1932 Battle of Brisbane Test against Great Britain.

His father, Steve, captained the Ipswich Jets and played alongside the likes of Allan Langer, Kerrod and Kevin Walters under Tommy Raudonikis in the 1980s.

"It's a big thing," said Parcell of his family ties. "My grandfather is really proud of what I'm doing and I talk to him after a game and he's great. There's never been any pressure on me to play. Actually, his advice has always been to enjoy it, and I do. I'm proud to have that family history, but I'm keen to carve my own path."

He'll compete for a position that was vacated when the Sea Eagles moved on Matt Ballin, a club favourite for the past 11 years. While respectful of Ballin's place at Manly, Parcell has adopted the same "looking forward" approach as Barrett to taking over from local hero Geoff Toovey, whose demise sparked an outpouring of anger.

"He was a great player, a club legend," said Parcell of Ballin. "I hope to bring my own spin to the position and I guess my running game and speed will come to the fore.

"Growing up I followed Danny Buderus and Andrew Johns because I liked their combination at Newcastle. I liked a lot about Buderus, his toughness, competitiveness and I think that's something I can bring to Manly ... a desire to compete for every play and to never give up."

Those words would be music to the ears of another new recruit, Nate Myles, who left the Gold Coast to add the starch he remembers Manly packs of old possessing.

"When I came into first grade Manly was a side you never wanted to play in regards to their forward pack," he said. "Their line speed was tremendous and they had players there like Jason King and they played for keeps ... I'd love to emulate what those guys did."

While Manly's "godfather", Ken Arthurson, spoke of his love and hope for the club for which he played, coached and then ran, skipper Jamie Lyon reflected on all the recent changes – some painful – and expressed his optimism.

"It feels like a new club, which is a bit refreshing," he said. "Everyone is looking forward to the new season."