Des Hasler insists Manly’s big-name absentees can’t be to blame for the Sea Eagles’ third straight loss as he battles to stop his side’s sudden inconsistencies.
Manly have now dropped all three games since Tom Trbojevic and Dylan Walker went down against Canberra, and face at least another three weeks without them.
Powerful prop Addin Fonua-Blake still has another match to run in his ban, meaning he will not face ladder leaders Parramatta on Saturday night.
“I don’t think being down on injuries contributes to making too many errors with the ball,” Hasler said.
“It’s the week in week out performances that I am a bit concerned about.
“Three weeks ago at Campbelltown against the Raiders we were real solid against the Raiders and the next week against Cronulla we weren’t.
“We should have won the game against Newcastle. And (against the Dragons) we started well. I thought our attack… in the first 20 minutes was pretty on song.”
(Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images)
Hasler also indicated he would continue experimenting with his spine while his main men are out, after Brendan Elliot played fullback and Cade Cust five-eighth on Sunday night.
Halfback Daly Cherry-Evans also had a nightmare at Kogarah as the Sea Eagles went tenth on the ladder.
The only experienced man in Manly’s key attacking roles, he twice dropped the ball cold on Sunday night and threw a key intercept to gift the Dragons a try.
It proved a crucial point in the match, after Cherry-Evans broke the line with Manly down 6-4, only for the play to end with the Dragons leading 10-4.
Cherry-Evans could easily have been accused of trying too hard with the calibre of players out around him, but Hasler didn’t believe that was the case.
“It’s not that he’s trying too hard, sometimes you have those games,” Hasler said.
“It’s very rare. But we’ll fix that.
“He’s real professional in the way he goes about his preparation.”
Blair Mitchell
Guest
I think Metcalf to fullback. Bit to soon for frontline but he has speed and anticipation which Elliot and Garrick don't appear to have. They never appear ready to support through middle or have the passing skills out wide.
Tom G
Roar Rookie
Manly managed last season’s injury disasters much better than this year so injuries aren’t the be all and end all to the problems. There was enough talent on the park yesterday to be more than competitive so I can only conclude that recently it’s a case of attitude. Des is a great coach and I am certain that he’s more than aware of where his issues lie. Having said that the forwards seem to be doing their bit but the back line seems all over the place with DCE carrying just about everything. His game is suffering by having to be the only option and limited by so much by the lack of quality support at 5/8. Croker has too many mistakes and Cust, whilst passionate has skills issues. He reminds me a lot of Travis Burns.. great player we all loved but he too had his limitations. I wish a fully fit Kieran Foran was on the market at a bargain basement price.
Wood.Duck
Roar Rookie
Manly need a geniune 5/8 if they want to be a serious contender. Its been there problem ever since Green left them. Metcalfe should be elevated to halfback and Cherry-Evens best asset is his running. Des needs to move DCE to 5/8.
Albo
Roar Rookie
Yep ! It was cold & wet . South of the Bridge . And a bunch of Sea Eagles were carrying a lot of strapping. Writing was on the wall pretty early once the Dragons got into the match.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
Coker has looked good at times but lately he has looked very average. Elliot has done some good things but he doesn't appear to have the wisdom needed to be a regular top liner. Twice last season he was in the clear and bombed tries by not passing.
Bearfax
Roar Guru
He is a clever coach, no question. I just think he had a blind spot when it comes to making changes when needed. As for the two players you mentioned, Garrick has potential and I think he'll get better, Croker is solid, but lacks pace and does not feed the backline well. Cant see him as a 5/8. Maybe bench hooker with Fainu to start (if he ever comes back) may be a fit, though I think Cust would be better in that role. However two positions in that backline are causing Manly real problems are full back and 5/8. Seems obvious that Hopoate would be the ideal fit for full back, and Schuster at 5/8 or at least, at first, off the bench. That would give the back line more confidence
Nat
Roar Rookie
Cliche alert! Defence is an attitude. So I understand where Des is coming from in that regard but he has to give some consideration to the attacking options sitting on the bench. I do agree though that DCE just had a poor night and that just compiled the bad night over all.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
You could be correct Bearfax and there are some great young players in the club but Des was criticised in the past for sticking by players at Manly when many fans thought he had several rocks in his head. He also bought players like Will Hopoate and Foran in when they were young along with others and you would imagine he will do the same again when the time is right. Players like Garrick and Croker and some of the forwards are looking a bit average but then so did Matai and Jason King and others but he allowed them time to develop. It's not an easy equation though.
Bearfax
Roar Guru
Des is beginning to make the same mistake Barrett did in 2018. With injuries hitting their strike players, he seems reluctant to bring in some of his exciting youngsters such as Hopoate and Schuster, both star attacking juniors, but rather try to play safe with a pedestrian back line that tries hard but lacks the skills to create opportunities to get across the try line. Little wonder Cherry-Evans is making mistakes. Everything has to come from him and he's therefore easy to target. Wears himself out with trying to do it all. The forwards are getting the Sea Eagles into the right areas, but the back line is too easy to shut down. Parramatta and Penrith could score cricket scores against this side at present, that lacks imagination and confidence. Des is a fine coach, but he does tend to stick with the same players, even when they are losing. He needs to take risks or Manly will end up in the bottom 4 this season
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
I didn't see the match but the highlight reel is pretty long and involves plenty of Saints tries. Good work Saints , it's actually good to see some players enjoying themselves after a long struggle even when it's another team. I had a few looks at the long range Dufty try and tried to see if he could have been stopped. Turbo has done a lot of work on his defence this season and I reckon he would have chased Dufty harder , earlier than Brendon Elliot and stopped the try. Anticipation is a the key difference between the good players and outstanding ones I believe. Elliot had to get closer to the danger before Dufty was in the clear and he could have possibly stopped him instead of entering a foot race when it was too late.