Manly seem to have been largely on the back foot all season in 2020.
Although the score was fairly close in Round 1 against the Storm, the Eagles looked well off the pace.
A win against the Chooks in Round 2 looked good on paper but they were the better team and we won for one reason only – Turbo played.
We also beat the other grand finalist from 2019, the Raiders, yet it was based on heroics and didn’t convince me that we were on track.
A win and a controversial loss against the high-flying Eels looks good on paper once again, but we seemed to be on the back foot for much of the time.
This time last season we were thumped at home by the Titans. We then lost to the Panthers leaving us in the lower end of the eight, with just a forlorn hope of making a challenge for the crown.
In theory we are in a similar position to 2019, now with Turbo out of action again. It’s worth hanging on to some hope but it would be easier if we had a decent attack and defence.
The combined try haul this season from Brendan Elliot, Brad Parker, Moses Suli and Rubin Garrick is four.
Some players in the NRL are scoring that many in half a game by themselves.
What’s gone wrong?
The most obvious issue is Turbo spending more time in the grandstand than on the field once again and then injuries to other players are a minor factor.
But the absence of Manase Fainu is a massive issue as well. Fainu is a real gun player who causes the opponents plenty of grief with his tricky play and strength which the other key players could feed off.
Another big problem at the moment is that hardly any players in the team are in great form, most are doing ok but when you look at most other teams you have heaps of players jumping out of their skin with great performances.
The only real stand out was Turbo with Daly Cherry-Evans great at times.
Brendon Elliot at fullback tries very hard but he looks very much like a park footballer in survival mode and it can’t be doing anything for team morale to see him having zero impact in attack or defence and being mauled every time he runs the ball back.
The reasons for any sort of optimism this season are pretty flimsy but I’ll hang on to a bit because a fit Turbo could wake a few players up from some sort of semi hibernation and this season still has plenty of twists and turns to come I suspect.
It’s hard to remember the last season at Manly where it was fairly smooth sailing all year and maybe 2021 will be the one.
It will be ten years on from the last title and ten years since a great run with injuries and other dramas if it happens.
Haz
Roar Rookie
Agreed. But this is nothing new. Des has always loved carrying that utility player on the bench like Jamie Buhrer or Lachlan Croker.
Haz
Roar Rookie
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.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Turbo (and others) injury aside, I think the main problem is players that had absolute breakout / career best seasons last year just haven’t been able to maintain it Parker and Suli could have made a case for being, if not the best, then certainly top four centre combination. This year they’re looking like park footballers. A few of the back up forwards are the same. That’s a risk with a top heavy roster like the Eagles have It also looks like they’re overplaying Jurbo’s passing before the line. I think it’s best when used as a shock weapon or in traffic but it seems like he’s passing more than running at times The constant injuries ruining title chances must be frustrating. I really hope Turbo can get some extended time on the field. He could be one of the games best. The concern is his frame - which isn’t exactly built for rugby league - and fearlessness could bring him undone
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
It's a wonder they can't sort out his hammy's, players from previous eras had a lot more issues with them.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
Turbo has continued to improve over the last few years and is now the complete package I seem to recall Teddy being injured a fair bit early in his career as well along with Laurie Daley who had plenty of hamstring issues and I hope you are wrong about Turbo, HY. Our golden spell from 2007 resulted from players improving as the years rolled on and this year we haven't seen players get better , some have gone backwards. A fair few players would be on notice for the rest of this year.
no one in particular
Roar Guru
But they are all untested and any depth is pure speculation. Surely one is better then Brad Parker. With Walker in the centres the starting 13 is good and very competitive, but 14-17 isn't much and there is nothing past that. The continued selection of Croker is baffling. Des is a good coach, but it seems like he is living and dying with injuries to his best 13
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
Turbo was doing so well in defence as well as attack which also gave his troops a lot of confidence. If he plays against the Panthers , he clearly stops a few of those tries and most likely scores at least one and sets up a couple. I'm not joking either, Elliot tries very hard but he is just there to witness the opposition scoring tries, I can't remember him stopping one.
Bert Eagle
Roar Rookie
I have the same view on Turbo's long term future HY. One of the best NRL athlete's ever but perhaps a body that can't sustain that brilliance. AFL chased him for ages and that my be a better option for him ...? He is better than Teddy was at the same age
Hard Yards
Roar Rookie
Good article 40/20, keep them coming. My humble opinion is that a lot of game plays were based on or around Turbo. Sadly, I think Manly have done their dough on that lad. It seems highly likely that he doesn’t have the physical resilience for first grade despite his native talent. A big hole to fill. But it needs to be filled. Outside of DCE, all the backs need an overhaul, but having said that, I’d be prepared to give Custie some rope : he’s a good lad - and if Reuben were to get back to his kicking success rate of last year, I’d give him a season. I think Dylan Walker should be moved on. He’s past his best and physically can’t take the knocks. That’s not bagging him, it’s just my observation. More personally though, I don’t think he’s a Manly kind of guy.
Tom G
Roar Rookie
Given the last two seasons carnage of injuries and suspension, their position is totally understandable. Any decent run with a full strength squad will move the up the ladder. Cust needs more regular first team starts though
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
It's pretty rare not to win a title with players like Turbo, Jurbo, DCE and Fainu at some stage. Can't wait for a largely injury free season, or at least end to a season.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
Keppie is an enforcer but hasn't been as good this year, he'll be the one though I reckon. Fainu is close to my favorite player. He sees way more options in attack than Levi and also Api , who is a great player as well. He's got something unique does Fainu.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
Depth in the backs includes Funa , Hopoate , Schuster and Turbo version 3 and there are some gun forwards in the wings as well including Fainu's brother. Possibly Des is reluctant to use young players who haven't been playing , rightly or wrongly. Schuster could be anything once he reaches 1st grade.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
That's true but if we meet a team in really good form we get beaten every time I'd say. The only wins from memory have been from teams who played poorly at least in spells and when we have met a team who play really well for 60 or 70 minutes we are smacked. It's not proof that we can't come good but the evidence is mounting.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
I agree broadly with all your points Nambawan. I felt much better when Funa and Cust were playing. Too many of the other backs are in survival mode and these two are looking for the line. I too wonder about big Ola'kauata , he looks a great prospect and an impact player. I've gone right off Wadell , his impact is very average. I'm reluctant to criticize Des's selection policy because I've become a small time observer of the advice fans have given him over the years and he has in the past proven many of them completely wrong. I am however a bit concerned about his recent history at the Dogs where he just seemed to end up in a dark hole despite having many years to recruit and select an outfit. Most of the cattle needed are at the club and some are still pretty young so the future is looking pretty good however a few players need to go and we need to find a couple of dynamic attacking players who are hard to defend.
Muzz
Guest
Hasler, his hairstyle and basic playing system are outdated. Perhaps if Foran was lured back things could be different.lol
Albo
Roar Rookie
Spot on ! They have pretty cruisy draw left, with just the Storm away the only query match really ? Whilst they are carrying some injuries and Turbo is the key man they need back desperately, they should harvest enough points to get into the 8. Then if they do get Turbo back with a few games under his belt, anything is possible.
no one in particular
Roar Guru
NAS is a dog.
WarHorse
Roar Rookie
Just remember Manly wins a title every decade so we are not too far off. Paseka is a big unit but he needs more agression in his game and to run much harder. He reminds me of TREX. But I wish he was more like NAS from the storm.
Bert Eagle
Roar Rookie
For better or worse, I'm a long term Manly fan having grown up near the brickworks in Brookvale (true fibro territory!) Depth was always going to be an issue and Manly have been crippled by a few injuries: • Tom Turbo is obvious. He is probably the most critical player of any to their club in the comp. This year his defence had gone up a notch and he was leading the Dally Ms when injured. My concern is that Turbo will continue to get injuries – he’s a big lad, frighteningly fast and with that may be a higher risk of injury • The loss of Manase Fainu is huge. Towards the end of last year he was outplaying Api Koroisau and given they couldn’t retain both, they invested in the future (just watch last year’s game where we beat the Storm at AAMI – Manase was the best forward on the field). If we had Api this year things would be quite different in terms of creativity and defence. DCE and the 5/8 aren’t getting the same quality of service from Danny Levi, so the backs have less time • Manly need one more enforcer in the pack. It’s clear when both Marty Taupau and AFB are off we go backwards • Reubin Garrick is a class player and good finisher, I disagree with you Four Twenty. Jorge on the other hand needs to go as you don’t hold your spot for one crushing tackle a game with missed tackles and missed tries. Brendan Elliot is at best a utility back-up not first grade • Dylan Walker out for most of the season is also a loss. The jury is still out for mine on his best spot, as earlier on the year he was great at five eighth • Parker I think is solid and has grown last few years. He’s good in defence (e.g. tackle on the Siva the other day) • I also like Cust – remember he has only played half a dozen first grade games! He has class The other issue that we didn’t have last year is Manly’s poor starts. That’s cost us more than a few games. If we did not have those there’d be a few more wins on the board