With almost eight rounds down, the nominations for this year’s wooden spoon are starting to take shape.
The good news for Newcastle Knights fans is that after three consecutive spoons they appear to be unlikely winners (or losers) in 2018. They currently sit in sixth position on the ladder and look to have enough fight to avoid the dreaded title.
The leading lights for the bottom prize seem to be Manly Warringah Sea Eagles, Parramatta Eels, North Queensland Cowboys, Gold Coast Titans and Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. My prediction is the Sea Eagles.
With off-field issues and rumours circling around team morale, the Manly seem to have a few dark days ahead. Last Friday night they lost to a Newcastle Knights team that was missing star recruit Mitchell Pearce. They had everything to play for, including their loyal but small home crowd, but the Manly fortress has currently lost its aura, and the seaside club is causing a touch of seasickness among their loyal fans.
To put things in perspective, it’s the first time the Newcastle Knights have beaten Manly at Brookvale Oval since 2006. If Manly do continue to struggle, it will be their first wooden spoon ever, which will be hard to take for a club that boasts such a proud history.
(AAP Image/Brendan Esposito)
Other clubs that have managed to avoid the spoon are the Brisbane Broncos, New Zealand Warriors, St George Illawarra Dragons and the Wests Tigers. Having said that, a part of the Tigers, the Western Suburbs Magpies, managed to hold up 17 spoons before they merged with Balmain to create the Wests Tigers entity.
If Manly do grab the unwanted title, it will be a relief for the Parramatta Eels club, as they hold the record for most spoons among the current teams in the competition. Since their inception in 1947 they have come last 13 times, with a horror run early in their history comprising spoons in 1952, 1954 and then seven in a row from 1955 to 1961. That’s a cruel start.
I’m expecting Manly’s main competition to come from either the Parramatta Eels or the Bulldogs. The Eels enjoyed their first win of the season against Manly last week with a 44-10 thrashing. It’s possible that they’ve turned the corner, but we’ve all thought that before about many teams in 2018.
The Bulldogs, on the other hand, have lost two in a row and will come up against the Broncos next week away from home. Their form this season has been sporadic, but they have the talent to steer clear of the bottom of the table, with a bit of luck.
(Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)
Not so long ago the Canberra Raiders would have been in contention, but their fortunes appear to have changed – they displayed courage and a stern defensive attitude in their win against Johnathan Thurston’s Cowboys on Saturday in North Queensland.
Even though they only sit on three wins from eight games, they lost their first three matches of the year by a total of five points – the first game by two points, the second by two points and the third by one point. This indicates to me that they aren’t far away from the rest of the pack, but they still are struggling to put two good games together in a row.
So it’s Manly for me. There is still two-thirds of the competition to go, but with poor form and injuries, the signs aren’t good for one of the most successful clubs of the last 15 years.
Who is your pick?
madmax
Guest
54 - 0 lolol
souvalis
Guest
Oh,I more than know what Newcastle had and acknowledge they were worthy winners..but Manly were 2 strokes of fortune for Newcastle (Croker and Cherry tries) off icing that game..that loss wasn’t about attitude and despite the injuries, it’s just not a wooden spoon roster..
Chrisn
Guest
They also had 57 percent of possesion and Newcastle had no mitchell pearce and had a prop in the bin for 10 mins.
3_Hats SSTID 2014
Roar Rookie
It was Souths who got the leftovers in 2002. We only had 4 months to get a squad together, all the best players already had contracts! We had Adam Muir, Anthony Colella, Andrew King, Paul Stringer all Manly rejects
souvalis
Guest
Absolutely no chance of Manly coming last..it’s not working for them right now but it’s definitely not through lack of trying..in that Knights game they had the better of it for 70 mins,despite losing their 5/8 who was having a wow of a game,a winger,which is a real pain to replace and a backrower breaking his hand..Coach Barrett’s going as well as most would be considering what’s happening backstage..
Big Daddy
Guest
Programming doesn't help. 6p.m. on a Friday is a crowd killer.
BA Sports
Roar Guru
A very close second i'd say. Manly's two wins came from big early leads against teams who played just awful - Eels and Canberra. So there is no indication they have the ability to close out or defend in close games either.
Birdy
Guest
So it's a Newcastle thing, nothing for Manly to worry about.
Beastie
Roar Rookie
Lowest crowd at Brookvale I have seen is Round 14 last year. 4,189 against Newcastle as well.
kk
Guest
Jay, Have been dancing around this one since first read. Here goes! Rorke's Drift lasted 2 days. That was 100 v 3,000 Manly's Drift has 125 days to run. That is 21 v 435 (15 teams x 29 av.per team list) The romanticist in me wants Manly to win this one. Like Paul says they need a miracle.
no one in particular
Roar Guru
Teams that can score points can pull off upsets, variance demands it. Teams that struggle to score points will find it much harder to. The Dogs can't score and will need to improve in leaps and bounds to avoid the spoon. Manly and the Titans both have halves, Dogs don't
no one in particular
Roar Guru
they'll be two of the first picked
Dirk Diggler
Roar Rookie
Agree Albo, the Titans can beat any team on any given day but struggle to close games out and don't have the mettle to defend close games. Manly a close second and dare I say the Cowboys???......no I just can't bring myself to do it. They have too much experience to let that happen. Still now sold on the Tigers & Warriors though- anywhere from Top 8 to missing finals Isn't it funny how lower ranked teams that played some strong teams in the early rounds and won unexpectedly. I don't see the Tigers beating the Storm now. Eels looking better won't be pushovers, ditto Raiders. The next 4 -6 rounds will sort out the contenders from the pretenders.
Albo
Guest
Before the season started I thought the Titans stood out as specials for the spoon. I have seen nothing as yet to change my mind there. Manly & Cowboys have too many good players not to turn around their poor form on and off the field. And the Dogs will scrap for enough wins & the Eels will get on a roll with some attacking flair. The Raiders have Canberra to put off enough opposition teams. Titans for me.
Paul
Roar Guru
Hard to say who will win the wooden spoon only because, like the top 8, there are likely to be a lot of contenders. The comp's so tight any of the 6 sides you mentioned could come last. There are 5 sides with some "up side", ie players come back form injury, starting to show some form (even if it's a bit sporadic), etc. The only side with no "up side" is Manly based on injuries, SOO player loses, off field issues, etc. They need a miracle if they're going to ressurect their season.
Emcie
Roar Guru
congrats mate, you did it!
Eel
Guest
5,000 fans at home game?? That's not good for the game. Off to Central Coast me thinks.
Birdy
Guest
Manly , genuine contenders for the spoon, unheard of. But didn't mention this weekend's crowd 5000. That must be pushing the record books for Brookie. That sayes more about problems from the board down to the tea lady. Are they the new West's Tigers the league just has to have.? I noticed Marina Go broke a leg to get the Tigers back on top, any volunteers from Manly?
Emcie
Roar Guru
and I'm not sure selection is garunteed if they continue being down on form
Jay Ross
Roar Guru
Appreciate your kind words Emcie.