Des Hasler won't rush changes

If he actually does go with an unchanged team he can drop the Professor from his nickname... he will be just know thereinafter as just plain old Mad

Keppie should be there, as should Harper. Also I’m confused about Cust being overlooked for Croker. I know he had a thumb injury and assumed he was sidelined through that injury. However he not only played in the Reserves in the win over Norths, he scored a hat trick.

I totally agree. If Manly’s entire future is reliant on one player and that player has hardly been there for two years then where is Dessies plan b? Surely they should devise a game plan that factors in his absence rather than his presence. After all the former is far more common than the latter

Been following Manly since about 1951 but for just about the first time I feel pessimistic about their prospects this season. Remember Saturday's disaster was just the last of several consecutive blowouts,. And yet Hasler continues with what I am beginning to believe is an eccentric selection policy wherein he declines to drop players who continually are shown to be inadequate at NRL level. I cant believe that Hasler will persevere with Croker at dummy-half - he was hopeless on Saturday and Cust was left to play for the 2nds on Sunday. Also, Olakau'atu - a terrific prospect in the 2nd row - was again mysteriously left to languish in the 2nds and has now picked up a serious injury. The defensive deficiencies continue whilst hard working forwards like Sipley and Keppie can't get a game, and don't start me on Garrick on the wing. For me, it boils down to the reality that rigidly sticking with the same group of players is a continuing game plan for failure.

Hasler has done well at times as a coach by being very loyal to some players who came good in the long run but a few players have had enough time to prove their value and they haven't. Garricks non attempt to catch a bomb was just awful and although he looked handy a couple of seasons ago , he has been substandard for over a year. Croker tries hard and is very fit but has gone backwards also. Very few players have improved if any and it's not going to work out unless that changes quickly. I don't think the Chooks were that dynamic , just good solid play against marshmallow defence out wide. Mitchell at his peak would not have been tackled once against this lot and would have destroyed them with every touch. In hindsight , the Morris twins would have been ideal signings for Manly because they fill in at fullback very well also and are playing very good footy. Some pretty weak Manly teams from the past at least provided some great highlights in attack and really chanced their arm. The current team is in danger of ending up like Haslers Dogs , at the end , who had zero attack. Combine that with zero defence and the mighty spoon will find its way in to the trophy cabinet.

What is it with Manly and hookers. They've signed Karl Lawton who has an injury and won't be available until mid year. Very strange.

I didn't see all of this match last night. I was at a function at my local pub and had to find excuses to sneak off every now and then for a look. I tend to favour Manly for family reasons, but I was shocked as the score built for the Chooks. All right, it's only round 1, and Manly was a bit understrength. But it was round 1 for the Roosters too, and lots of teams play understrength. I fear for the Brookvale Boys already. Still, there's plenty of the season left. Although that comment can be taken two ways.

I was trying to lift your spirits Hard Yards. What is the norm these days anyway? The rules change every other week which shifts the momentum like the ebb and flow of the tide on Manly beach affecting the results of games in the process. Nothing is absolute like it was in the old days. Form is not set in stone. As the saying goes; "Past performance is no guarantee of future results". There are far too many variables in the game now. All that a team needs is a few back-to-back repeat sets, and they can look like a champion side when fatigue brought on by the breakneck speed of the game often leaves a defensive team gassed and legless. The constant rule changes, the inconsistency of rulings and the uncertainty of possession after a successful defensive set of 6 tackles is no longer guaranteed. The speed of the game largely due to repeat sets of six and an increase in second phase play push players to their limits, dramatically increasing fatigue and giving any team a chance if they are able to seize the opportunity. Carpe diem Hard Yards, seize the day! Possession has always been a key factor in Rugby League but today even more so. Teams that can defend without giving away repeat sets of six and then control the ball by eliminating errors while speeding up their play the ball are already halfway to victory. Manly need to get their defence and ball control in order and build from there. Fingers crossed it will take them at least one more week to figure out how to achieve that though. :stoked:

I love watching games from there too. I'm sure it's the nostalgia of remembering Saturday afternoons watching the match of the round from the SCG, but's still a terrific place to watch sport.

A good side can win from here.

Retro, it's not an aberration! It's the norm now.

As I said last week, Teddy & the Morris boys love the SCG more than Warnie does ! Manly were never a show with a spine currently consisting of ......DCE ?

Good point Duncan. Hope springs eternal

I think it was simply a good example of an old fashioned first round game, where one side was way better prepared than the other Nat. DCE wasn't far behind Walker with some pretty glaring errors, but they'll be better for the run.

2020 round 15, Souths 56 vs Manly 16. :stoked: :thumbup:

Take it easy Hard Yards. Give Dessie and the boys the week off to get over this momentary aberration and start preparing for round 3 and build from there. :stoked: :thumbup:

“I don’t think it takes much for one side to really dominate.” That’s the thing about the new rules and the faster games Paul. The scoreline can blow out very easily at the back end of games with a flood of possession and fatigue have an increasing influence on the game. I would go so far as to say the teams that are most successful at adapting to this new style and getting on a roll depend on it.

Walker made quite a few mistakes yesterday. Eitherway the Roosters still win but I think the margin id significantly better for Manly.

What's the story with Keppie? I like his no-nonsense approach to the game.

I agree with Tony, Dessie confirmed that Jake T. is his back up hooker. Why wouldn’t they be depressed ? Schuster can’t get a run. Haumole can’t get a run. Keppie punted. Walker at fullback. 2 Dragon reserve graders on the wings. No changes.