The Sea Eagles are in the midst of a bitter internal dispute and senior club official Peter Peters has also risked alienating sections of their supporter base by blasting social media critics of coach Trent Barrett as "cowards" who "sit at home having a sausage roll".

Barrett's Sea Eagles head to Townsville for an imposing round-three assignment against North Queensland on Saturday night. And after two defeats to start the season there are already questions being asked about the coach's future at the club, fuelled by speculation that Des Hasler may return to the helm at Brookvale.

"Cowards": Peter 'Zorba' Peters has lined up social media critics. Credit:Simone De Peak

Manly premiership winner Peters defended Barrett in an online video discussion this week and also lined up those attacking the coach from behind their keyboards.

"I think they get angry because they're dummies and they don't know the game," he said.