Seawolves Bring Domestic Prop Ezekiel Lindenmuth into 2026 Fold
The Seattle Seawolves had a rock at loosehead prop in 2024 and 2025, depending on the big Australian Cam Orr for a total of 33 games, 32 of them starts. Orr held up his end of the scrum well and offered Seattle an option to power through enemy lines with meters after contact, but after he announced his retirement from professional rugby earlier in the offseason, the Seawolves were sent looking for a new number one.
It seems the Seawolves have gone back ashore to the remains of the fallen SaberCats, building on their acquisitions of Davy Coetzer and Marno Redelinghuys with Samoan-born prop Ezekiel Lindenmuth, the team announced on Friday. Over two seasons in Houston, Lindenmuth accrued 29 caps in 21 starts and gained 465 meters but has yet to score a try in the MLR.
Seattle was likely looking for continuity with the acquisition of the internationally capped Lindenmuth. Although the 6-2, 282.2-pound SaberCat offers Seattle a little more weight in the front row than they got with Orr, his 1.4 meters per carry was in the ballpark of Orr’s 1.6 meters per carry in 2025. Lindenmuth beat nine defenders in 94 carries for 0.096 defenders beaten per carry, again similar to Orr’s 11 defenders in 126 carries for 0.087 defenders beaten per carry. The Seawolves want someone who can do the same things Orr did in 2025, and they appear to have gotten their man.
Despite Lindenmuth’s history in Samoa and New Zealand, the 28-year-old prop is domestic eligible and received his first USA Eagles cap in a July 19 test match against England. With MLR reducing international gameday slots to seven for 2026, having a domestic loosehead will allow them more flexibility to keep their international talent in other positions.
