Roar Rookie
Joined August 2013
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I'm a one-eyed Manly supporter. I forced myself to sit through four rounds of torture, before enjoying Manly's late-season renaissance. Although many lay the…
I bleed maroon and white. Have done, since 1987. Since the recent news that Glenn Stewart will not lace up a football boot again…
Gary Jack once said something to Ian Roberts in a Manly v. Balmain game, and got absolutely destroyed. Yeah, don’t cross Ian Roberts.
The 60 players who explain the 1990s: Memorable characters from rugby league's unprecedented decade
Daly makes a LOT of tackles too, for a half. He could get away with making half the tackles and preserve himself for another 2-3 seasons.
But then, a halfback who’s played under Toovey and Hasler probably has to feel he needs to live up to the model they’ve set.
No country for old men? The NRL warriors defying convention (Part 4)
What’s most bizarre to me was–last year and the first month, every time he handled the ball I cringed. He just looked off the pace. Not fitness wise so much as reaction-time wise.
But in the last two months, I don’t even notice his service out of dummy half at all because it’s becoming clockwork. I vaguely recall Matt Ballin and Michael Monaghan are floating aronud in the background of the Eagles support staff–maybe Croker’s been schooling under them? In any case, I no longer feel like we’re going to be struggling until Fainu’s return (if that ever happens.)
Renaissance men: The unsung heroes behind Manly's resurgence
A really pleasing report a week ago was that they resigned Keppie, Schuster, Olakau’atu, Parker, Garrick and Sipley. They’re building a solid core that should be competitive for the next few years.
Renaissance men: The unsung heroes behind Manly's resurgence
Brilliant.
I think this solves all the Sydney/non-Sydney problems the current half and half conference system creates. I hope someone at league central is listening.
Why divisions, not conferences, are better for the NRL
Agreed. But this is nothing new. Des has always loved carrying that utility player on the bench like Jamie Buhrer or Lachlan Croker.
Are Manly just making up the numbers in 2020?
Yeah, I think you’re spot on. @Nambawan made a point about our outside backs.
If I was in charge, I might here are the changes I’d make.
I love Jorge Taufua, but he’s lost a lot of pace over the years. But I think his on-line defence is still excellent. I’d move him into centre, and put Funa or Miski on the wing outside him–someone with a lot of pace and height.
I think we give Brad Parker a season to bulk up, and play in the second-row, taking Joel Thompson’s position on the left edge. His defence has been outstanding this season, and he’s made a lot of good one-on-one tackles.
Keep Cade Cust in the halves, and use Dylan Walker’s pace in the backline somewhere.
I think our right-edge is doing okay. Suli is a monster who can run over people, and Garrick has a lot of pace–there’s been a few breakaway tries where he’s made it from right wing to left wing in cover.
Are Manly just making up the numbers in 2020?
No-one’s asking my opinion, but seeing as how they’re dead-set on making Barrett see out his contract, I’d make him the halves coach.
If nothing else, Barrett has done magnificent things for Daly Cherry-Evans’ game in the last 2 years. If he can take Lachlan Croker’s game and turn him into a decent NRL starter, that would a go a long way to getting a decent team on the paddock next year.
Trent Barrett remains in limbo
Tom Trbojevic is only 18. He’ll benefit from 2-3 years in the Holden Cup.
Gutherson has a handful of starts, and was a useful replacement on the wing for Jorge Taufua before he injured his ankle. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him get more first-grade experience on the wing next year.
Manly making the right moves
The opposite, I would have thought.
The stats in the article above are quite interesting. Brett Stewart is no longer a prolific try-scorer, but he is a prolific playmaker. 22 try assists puts him third overall this year.
So, rather than having a damaging ball-returner from the back, he adds another playmaking dimension, taking some weight off the halves. At the same time, he’s not going to have the same damaging, line-breaking impact that Hayne had.
Back to square 1 for NSW
DCE and Foran are in different situations though.
Foran has been at the club for a bit longer, and was really tight with Glenn Stewart (and by connection, the older crew).
DCE has had a young family for the last few years, and has repeatedly said that they are his priority (both timewise and moneywise).
Some unwanted advice from an outsider on how to fix Manly
Yeah, the Parra coach is Brad Arthur, who was assistant coach at Manly last year.
Some unwanted advice from an outsider on how to fix Manly
Wow, that’s true.
That’s sad, him and Foran used to be really tight.
Some unwanted advice from an outsider on how to fix Manly
Yep, I agree. I think Hiku would be the best long-term replacement for Matai, switching him and Taufua on defence.
The money saved on Watmough, Matai and Stewarts should be used to front-load Foran and DCE for the next few years.
Picking up Mason has been suggested to give the young forwards some leadership, which I think is an excellent suggestion.
Jesse Sene-Lefao already proved this week he can step up to first-grade.
Some unwanted advice from an outsider on how to fix Manly
http://www.seaeagles.com.au/news/2014/09/21/in_the_sheds_with_glenn_stewart.html
And this is why Glenn is my favourite player. He’s being pretty genuine here.
Why Glenn Stewart is my favourite player
Hasson is a deceptively big boy. Big big boy. He has the potential to be a human wrecking ball, but at the moment he’s a bit like a 2013 T-Rex–just not angry enough.
Decision time at Brookvale
But one of them was Andrew Johns.
Towards the end of his career, the Knights forward pack was never quite as good as the 97 pack, with monsters like Harragon, Butterfield, Glanvilles, and co.
If anyone knows how to coach DCE to play behind a suboptimal pack, it’s Manly’s halves coach.
The thing is, when the forward pack isn’t going forward, a good kicking game can keep your team in the game. You pin the opponents in their own 20 metre line, and get the odd 40/20 to completely change the momentum of the game. DCE has done a lot of that this year, but not successfully in the last month. This has coincided with the forward pack being at weakest ebb.
(although I thought there were some good signs from Dunamis Lui and Jesse Sene-Lefao in the last quarter of the game–running the ball up with enthusiasm).
Seven questions from Round 1 of the NRL finals
But one of them was Andrew Johns.
Towards the end of his career, the Knights forward pack was never quite as good as the 97 pack, with monsters like Harragon, Butterfield, Glanvilles, and co.
The thing is, when the forward pack isn’t going forward, a good kicking game can keep your team in the game. You pin the opponents in their own 20 metre line, and get the odd 40/20 to completely change the momentum of the game. DCE has done a lot of that this year, but not successfully in the last month. This has coincided with the forward pack being at weakest ebb.
(although I thought there were some good signs from Dunamis Lui and Jesse Sene-Lefao in the last quarter of the game–running the ball up with enthusiasm).
Seven questions from Round 1 of the NRL finals
I thought Fa’aoso had officially retired?
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-02-04/richie-fa27aoso-announces-his-nrl-retirement-because-of-neck-i/5237770
Ballin set for early return if Manly win
Manly’s strikerate (premierships per years in the competition) is a great deal higher though (even if you include the Northern Eagles years).
NRL finals stats: Sea Eagles vs Rabbitohs, Roosters vs Panthers
I don’t disagree; we get shafted as far as home-field advantage goes. At the same time, the problem is as much Sydney as anything else. We lack a modern stadium that can fit thirty-thousand people north of the Parramatta River. Indisputably, Brookvale Oval is anything but modern, and transport (not to mention public transport) is painful from anywhere apart from the northern beaches.
There's no point finishing second if you can't play at home
It doesn’t just come down to money. I’d take convenience over money. But as has been pointed out, ANZ is crap. It’s 20 minutes from me by car, but will take me more than an hour to get home after a game, either by car or public transport.
Packed Brookvale shows NRL can't abandon suburbia
In the past decade, just three NRL head coaches have been axed within 12 months of their team making the top four.
Two of those have been at Manly: Geoff Toovey in 2014 and now Hasler at the end of 2022.
If you make that past 11 years, Hasler was also sacked at the end of 2011 after winning a grand final. So that’s three sackings from Manly in 11 years.
Club vs country wrangle looming as England Rugby may delay Seibold's start at Sea Eagles