While all the attention, rightly so, is on the Bulldogs at the moment, and their hot streak doesn’t look like ending anytime soon, I still like the look of a fully fit Manly side to take out the title again.
Don’t get me wrong: the Bulldogs are playing really well, but remember, they did beat Manly without the Stuart boys playing, which is an important loss for them.
And the way Manly beat Souths on the weekend, coupled with the mix of talent they have and the experience the players got from their premiership win last season, they’ll be very hard to beat come finals time.
That said, I don’t make that call with a great degree of confidence, especially as Manly don’t have the same depth as they’ve had in previous seasons.
And the Bulldogs are playing very smart footy under Dessie’s direction, using their big players as halfbacks and their halfbacks as support players.
Throw in the punch and power of the likes of Pritchard, Morris, and Inu on the edges and the unpredictability of Ben Barba, who has been able to get them out of a fix several times this season, and they’re a pretty powerful unit.
The style of their play actually reminds me of how they played back in the 90s, when they had guys like Dean Pay, Jim Dymock, Darren Britt, and Jason Smith creating the play and using the same 3 pass move that Dessie has adopted this season.
Back then, too, they Craig Polla Mounter at halfback, who was a runner, not a ballplayer, and Rod Silva at fullback, another lethal broken field runner.
So there are parrallels to be drawn between the two eras.
One thing I am confident about, though is that under the new finals rules, a team will have to finish in the Top 4 at the end of the regular season to be in with real chance.
I base that on the past experience with the AFL, which the NRL finals system is modelled on, and where I don’t think a team has ever won the flag from outside the Top Four.
So if things remain pretty much as they are now, it’ll be Canterbury, Manly, Souths and Melbourne all fighting it out for the title.
And what will make even more fascinating to watch is that each of those teams play a very distinct style of football. It’s not like it was 4 or 5 years ago when most teams were mimicking the Storm’s style of play.
Instead, there will be four totally different approaches on show, which is a sign of good coaching and is great for the game.
NF
Guest
oikee the Broncos will not be in the top 4 every year it doesn't mean the end of the broncos.overreacting again and it's the team and coach that let themselves down now the system deal with it.
oikee
Guest
:) Mlas you really would love to catch me out. Mate i was a Toowoomba junior, played for Toowoomba in the State comp. I moved to east Brisbane and Wynnumm a year later during school. So i was a Wynnum Manly boy. And when the Broncos come into the comp, i followed the players. I have always been a Broncos fan from day dot. You wont catch me out, trust me. I lived in Brisbane for 37 years, are now back in Toowoomba. Been to England NZ and Sydney. I think Sydney is the best, love North England, and NZ, Brisbane is good enough for me. I love living up in the mountains because my wife is a Pom. She thinks she is in heaven, Brissie was a little hot in Summer, that is all. Their, i cant tell you much else, i built bridges and overpasses , this is why i like roadworks and bridges. Their, thats about it, not much else to tell ya. Now, as you can see, i am league, nothing else. My Mrs works in law. She was in health in England.
Mals
Roar Rookie
Thanks Oikee I am touched that you will remember me. I have been a Manly supporter since the day I was born & will be one for life. If they eventually get kicked out of the NRL I will continue to watch them in the metro league. I will not support another NRL club. I'm guessing you jumped on the Broncos bandwagon in the late 1980s after they had joined the ARL comp when you were in your 20s/30s/40s?? It will be easy for you to jump off the bandwagon when convenient.
oikee
Guest
The problem now is once you know it is flawed, it will be forever flawed, if you know what i mean. Who is going to fix it, and every year now when the Broncos finish outside the top 4, i know it is the system letting down this team. Same as the warriors and any other powerhouse clubs. You tend to lose interest and passion once that happens. the only team i can follow now with confidence is the Maroons. Is probably why alot of people only follow rugby league in these 3 games each year, then switch off. Even the period around origin is flawed, the rules, knock-ons and awarded tries, flawed, the list goes on, falling on a ball without grounding with your hand, flawed. Now they are introducing a captains call , not a coach's call like they should be doing, but a captains call. How is a captain supposed to see what has happened in the play, only the coach can see on a replay. Mate, the amatuer side of this game is just getting to hard for me to keep beating myself up over. Took them 2 and half years to change a corner post rule you know. Two and half years. They built the gateway bridge in two and half years.
Queensland's Game Is Rugby League
Guest
It would be good if the selfish Broncos fans got off their bums and supported the Queensland Cup. WIth the Broncos playing almost every Friday night there's a perfect opportunity for them to get to a Saturday or Sunday arvo Queensland Cup game at Langlands Park, Kougari Oval, Bishop Park, Davies Park, Brandon Park or North Ipswich Reserve.
Queensland's Game Is Rugby League
Guest
Sydney are should have no more than 6 clubs in its metro area. Brisbane should have at least 3 clubs in its metro area. There should also be a club in central QLD. That would bring the total amoutn of QLD clubs to 6. Put the Dragons in Wolloongoog, leave the Knights in Newcastle, put the Bears in Central Coast and have 6 clubs in Sydney metro. Do that and the problems oikee talks about will disappear.
Queensland's Game Is Rugby League
Guest
oikee, If the Clydesdales were brought back into the Queensland Cup then would you become a ticketed member?
Queensland's Game Is Rugby League
Guest
"AFL has 2 in most cities, only really Brisbane left, this will happen, The AFL is switched on." The Lions lose millions of dollars each year. Their attendances have dropped by a few thousand since the Suns came into the competition. Another team in Brisbane would kill the Lions off for good.
Anakin
Guest
Too many posts here to read fully and comprehensively - but what I've gleaned i think I agree with Oikee on a number of matters - the cap is shit and does nothing to reward junior development, the NRL/ARL/ARLC (or whatever they want to call the admins of the game these days) are far from top notch sports administrators and will be swallowed up by the likes of the AFL if they dont wake up to themselves.
sean maguire
Guest
Rubbish, the rule was introduced so players cold dive over with the ball held into the torso. That wouldn't constitute downward pressure with the hand but is obviously a try. They should modify the rule but it wasn't introduced so Manly could be awarded a try.
WobbliesFan
Guest
Jesus Okiee, relax. No use getting all hot and bothered over a side-show club like Manly. Their time will come, no ifs, no butts.....The league, CH 9 and all the power brokers will not let a small time, on-borrowed time, suburban club like Manly rule the roost at the expense of rating, gates receipts and the wider money-making good of the game....no way hose. Even those old timers like Ken Arthuson will quietly admit it….money talks, Manly winning premierships doesn’t equate too money for the league. END OF Outta ere….
Andy
Guest
unfortunalty someone has to lose, broncos were a top team. they have lost a few older players, and have brought in fresh blood, manly have a few players that will set to retire in the next few yrs. while the young guys of lets say the broncos are all getting match time., and they will be a top side again while manly have new blood and are learning the game..... broncos have had their chances with some of those juniors that go, and for what ever reason they didnt want the players........ i myself would knock back money to stay somewhere that i love..... not everyone is Greedy. How ever... this yrs final who ever makes it is going to be a cracker
planko
Guest
The names is Menzies and most people still refer to one club players are ones that play for one club in the NSWRL/ARL/NRL ...
Gremlin
Guest
Oikee, The thing you seem to be struggling with is that the Broncos ARE NOT The Maroons. The Broncos DO NOT have a birthright to every QLD player ( and then some, see Thats In QLD for explaination ) like the Maroons, that is the difference between Rep' and Club footy. That thinking is a throw back to the 60's (and earlier) when Club sides had to have a percentage of local juniors, maybe you need to ask yourself who's thinking is really holding the game back. To suggest that the Broncos deserve to be compensated for every Junior in South QLD is ludicrous, The ARL financially prop up the bulk of junior footy. If this was to be the system my beloved Eels would be wealthy beyond measure, as would Penrith and St.George/Illawarra.
Lost Earthling
Guest
Brett Stewart obviously forgot about Bradford and Catalans when talking about Menies only playing for one club...
Red Rooster
Guest
Oikee I am on your side re the torso rule. Introduced a couple of seasons ago to let Manly have a try. The Commission should bring the rule back to what it was originally - the ball to be placed with pressure from the open palm of the hand. That would stop 90% of try referrals.
Andy
Guest
Do you think if lockyer got paid more money to go anywhere else he would??? its all about business and players have good managers. like you wrote locky was on 700 thousand then a good manager got him all the sponcers he needed..... its just business... and if you can see that then maybe you should just stick with the Queensland cup
Andy
Guest
sean maguire
Guest
Yeah we poach them when they're juniors! Manly have some top players but we also have a lot of players on minimum wages and have to let go some good prospects i.e. Warea Hargreaves, T Rex, Daniel Harrison, Lussick etc plus the entire Hopoate clan. It's not like we can keep all our players and pay them top dollar, unlike Brisbane who have the Thoroughbreds to support players. Lockyer was in their cap at around $200,000 or something mad because of all the outside payments.
oikee
Guest
Mals is all tuff while Manly are on top, see how he is in 5 years when Manly look like relocating or gone, struggling with the spoon. Dont worry Mals, you will be remembered, i will make sure of that. :) Once the cap is fixed up, Manly will be on borrowed time. Or Mals might even get a bigger wish, his team leading the Sydney comp, still with only 2 thousand crossing the bridge, pathetic. . I will be here in 5-10-20 years Mals, and trust me, you will be remembered.