Des Hasler is back at Brookvale in 2019, along with some staff from his previous stint, to coach a squad which nobody thinks is as strong as his last year at the club, in 2011.
However, a sense of deja vu is in the air.
The Stewart brothers were key members of the title-winning 2011 team and Tom and Jake Trbojevic are just as crucial in 2019 – possibly just as good.
As in 2011, this season begins with a big question mark about the halves and the fortunes are also resting largely on a recruit from Queensland who was also largely unwanted by other clubs.
Daly Cherry-Evans was dynamic in his first year and if Kane Elgey can strike the form he was in a few years back, then the whole functioning of the backline will improve markedly.
It’s dangerous to use YouTube as too much of a guide, but Elgey’s 2015 season highlights remind me of DCE’s style.
I might be clutching at straws in the centres but Jamie Lyon and Dylan Walker are both Australian reps and Steve Matai and Moses Suli are powerful players with a Pacific Island background.
A key element in Manly’s 2011 success was the way their centres seemed to have become quicker from their early days at the club. Suli also looks a bit sluggish and if he can get leaner and quicker, then he’s the perfect counter to players like Latrell Mitchell. He did a pretty good job on the young Rooster last season with less-than-ideal preparation.
We also have another young Hopoate ready to make a statement. This time it’s Albert, who has dominated the junior scene. John Hopoate was a winger in Manly’s 1996 title win as well.
Tony Williams was dynamic in 2011 and we have another athletic giant ready to cause damage in 2019 in Taniela Paseka.
Matt Ballin had already won a title at the start of 2011, just like Apisai Koroisau did with the Bunnies.
The front rowers are bigger and stronger than the 2011 props and are easily good enough to win a title.
I can’t remember Des still trying to pretend that Manly were underdogs in 2011, but both the club and he as a coach are well under the radar in 2019.
More stability and luck with injuries will have the Sea Eagles well away from the dreaded spoon and if Des can sharpen up the defence and rediscover his ability to get a team going in attack, the top eight is possible.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
I'm in agreement regarding Snake Stewart. He was our gun player in my opinion and a real winner. Even with his injury problems I can't think of any player who had a better strike rate in scoring and creating tries and that includes Slater and anyone one else.
Mathew
Guest
Mate i cannot believe the dragons are trying to resign paul MacGregor up when a ball hasn't been kicked and lets be honest after 10 games the dragons tend to fade away there........
Bailey
Roar Rookie
Looks pretty similar to when Des took over back in 2004 or whenever that was. Gonna need a few years to build and recruit I reckon. Almost all players off contract this year tho, so expect a huge turnover. I agree with the comment about Barrett being mediocre as a player and same as a coach. I think what Hasler had on him as a player, and definitely as a coach, is grit. That's what won us premierships in the past decade. That and the freak B.Stewart, who was way better than anyone ever rated him imo. Remember the win/loss stats when he played or was out injured - he made the difference. Tom turbo pretty good but not in the same class. Gonna need to recruit some class in the centres too. J.Lyon was a huge loss and hasn't been replaced.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
I thought he handled Latrell Mitchell as well as anyone in the comp and if he gets fitter and more mobile he could be the answer here. In saying that I believe his stats for putting his winger away with a well timed pass are woeful and if he can't do something about that then he can't play in the centres. Mitchell and Manu are still young so clubs will need centres who can deal with them to a fair degree.
Albo
Roar Rookie
There was a dramatic improvement in Suli's form towards the end of last season. Maybe he has finally matured and gotten his head together ? He obviously has ability as the Tigers noticed with a big contract when he was 18. And I am a bit of a fan of Parker. Reminds me a lot of another Manly winger Gutherson who seems to have progressed in recent seasons. Always has a go. But in saying that, I think that Manly look very vulnerable in the backs outside of DCE & Turbo. I like their pack, but the backs look light on, unless a couple of young guys like Hopoate excel early on.
Harvey Wilson
Roar Rookie
I am hopeful that Manly will improve this year with Hasler back there.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
I think a poor season like last year can take the gloss off the reality W.H. It's not a wasted season when the Turbos and a few others like AFB get another season under their belts. Some of the crew from 08 and 11 had some woeful losses under Halser but it's all experience and galvanises the right sort of player. Marty T is up there with our best ever props in my opinion but he needs a better team around him. We are overdue for someone to emerge quickly and become a rep player like a few did under Hasler before. Paseka could be a dominant match winner if he reaches his potential and we need a few to step right up.
WarHorse
Roar Rookie
40/20, I agree with most of your comparisons between the 2011 and 2019 teams, in particular the assessment of our forwards, halves and spine being of similar quality. However, the thorn in our side is our current outside backs and that includes the assumption that we will even have Walker playing again. Agree with comments that we are close but not quite there for this season, but anything will be an improvement on last year. Some luck with injuries and we will be a Top8 team for sure. Cant wait.
WarHorse
Roar Rookie
Please don't compare Ricky to Des. Have a look at their winning percentages over their careers and then you will see why. Ricky is a flop. He was lucky to jump into an already very good Roosters team in the early 2000s which artificially bumped up his winning average but since then on his own has achieved nothing.
Haradasun
Roar Rookie
He will have them fit that's for sure! Last year manly seemed incapable of scoring out wide under barrett's structure. I think it will be v different this year. I looked up Ruben garrick stats from last year and he had 8 try assists so seems he knows how to set up his outside man. He also missed 55 tackles ???? Also it's good to see Des has employed Snake to work with the outside backs. Will definitely bring on their positional play!
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
Half as good will be great in this case.
Damien
Guest
Des coming back will be like catching up with the ex girlfriend, not bad but never quite as good as the first time round.
AngryEagle47
Roar Rookie
Ricky the coach Des the coach, the difference is universal. Manly fans want Manly to show up when they run onto the field you can guarantee 100% that will always happen on Des’s watch
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
For me it’s more about the typical progression of teams at Manly more than the coach. The very worst that has happened in my time following the team is that a team rebuild led to two grand final losses in the early 80’s. Every other rebuild has led to a title and I don’t put it down to the coach as much as the players. Of course none of this proves much about the future but I’ve thought for a few years the roster is heading in the right direction and the placebo effect of having Hasler back might put the icing on the cake. What happens if he fails? The next coach after him will probably win a title. It’s rare that a club gets players like the Turbos and doesn’t win a title. Some very talented juniors on the way that are under the radar to back them up as well.
Paul
Roar Guru
I'm a rusted on Dragons fan and I didn't think much of him as a player (an average first grader but nowhere near HoF quality) and his coaching hasn't been a lot better. I truly hope he's not considered for MacGregor's job at the Dragons, if Mary doesn't get us into the top 4 this year.
Paul
Roar Guru
40/20, you and the other Manly faithful have put a lot of eggs in the Des Hasler basket. What happens if he fails? You're assuming he's going to save the side and return them to past glories. Isn't that what Ricky Stuart was hired to do at Canberra? I hope Manly does come good as I for one have missed hating them, but I suspect Des might not be the wonder coach, this time round. Obviously we'll see how things play out over the coming months.
AngryEagle47
Roar Rookie
I don’t know what’s sweeter , the pie they had to eat or the trophy we rubbed in their noses
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
I hope so
MarkD
Guest
Gday Forty Twenty , Des-ja vu with backended deals will fix the roster !????
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
Fair comment Hardasun. I'm hoping that the odd player like Suli proves a few of us wrong just like Matai and to a fair extent latrell Mitchell. We can easily forget the fans opinions of players after the fact. I didn't see Matai becoming the player he became at all but I had little doubt about Mitchell. Thompson would be a bad option I'd say and if the doubts about the outside backs are shown to be true then we just need to make that a recruitment priority and get it right next year , wouldn't be a huge disaster. Nothing wrong with releasing a few players and fixing the roster during the season either. Parker became the fans whipping boy last season but players like this sometimes come back to teach the critics a lesson.