I’m a one-eyed Manly supporter. I forced myself to sit through four rounds of torture, before enjoying Manly’s late-season renaissance.
Although many lay the tribute squarely at Tom Trbojevic’s feet, success has many parents. When I reflect back on Manly-Warringah’s season, I think Turbo’s return coincided with several other important factors in Manly’s success.
First of all, I will gladly admit I was wrong about Lachlan Croker.
I thought Manly had made a serious recruitment error by releasing Danny Levi, not buying a hooker and relying on two halves to fill in at hooker in Croker and the unfortunate Cade Cust.
When not injured, Croker has been a reliable player. A solid defender, a decent kicking game, but when it comes to service out of dummy-half, he was a step behind.
He was a big reason for Manly’s pack failing to impress in the first month of the season – being a half-second slow out of dummy-half cruels your entire game.
But an injury to Cust saw him keep the reins for a month, and come May, his service improved out of sight, culminating in a wonderful dummy-half’s try against the hapless Broncos.
Karl Lawton was originally signed as a hooker option, but hasn’t needed to play a minute at hooker. I don’t have the stats to quantify the speed or accuracy of his service, but by my eye-test, Croker’s now looking like a geunuine 9. Fair play to the young man.
Jason Saab now looks like a Rolls Royce, but for the first four weeks he got zero ball, and looked completely lost at sea defensively.
He spent four weeks being trampled by the left-edge attack of successive teams, the worst of which was Penrith who ran in five tries into his corner.
The key to unlocking Saab has been the injury to Moses Suli and the emergence of Morgan Harper at centre.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
This is no knock on Suli – the lad is a big unit and a damaging ball runner. But with little time and space, I recall Suli passing to Saab perhaps once in four weeks.
But Harper has built up a wonderful partnership with Saab, and has the quick hands to pass on a ball from Daly Cherry-Evans.
In addition, Harper is a much better defensive centre, and his shutdown work on David Fifita in the Round 6 game against the Titans was a key factor in the Titans failing to score. But he probably wouldn’t have got a start without injuries to Dylan Walker and Suli.
Something else that doesn’t get a lot of airtime has been the entire renovation of Manly’s pack.
From the starting side in Round 1, Josh Aloiai, Jack Gosiewski, Curis Sironen, Andrew Davey and Morgan Boyle have all suffered long-term injuries.
This has allowed the emergence of Taniela Paseka, Toff Sipley, Karl Lawton, Sean Keppie, Haumole Olakau’atu and Josh Schuster, all young players who have been enormous in Manly’s rise.
All of them look like permanent first-grade fixtures.
Paseka had an 80-metre line-break off the kick-off against the Titans that should have delivered a try.
Sipley is a perfect impact player off the bench.
Keppie is another big strong player with great tackling technique and a big motor, and the move from the prop rotation to the second row has done his game the world of good.
Olakau’atu is a monster who has size, speed, strength, and skill. He caught and converted two bombs into tries against the Cowboys in Round 14, the second a testament to his determination to get to the line. I suspect he keeps Sironen out of the starting line-up for the foreseeable future.
Josh Schuster? A great deal has been written about him, and although his no-look pass can be a bit hit-and-miss, I’m looking forward to his future in the Manly jersey.
A season playing alongside a true professional like Kieran Foran can only do his game the world of good.
As they say, success has many parents, and in this case it’s true.
It’s undeniable that Tom Trbojevic has made the other players around him look better, but at the same time, a lot of players have emerged who have taken their first-grade opportunities and run hard with them.
The forward have become better, the backs have become better, the halves have played better.
This team looks to be on the rise, not only in this season but in seasons to come.
Rick luhan
Guest
Manly Grand Final 2021.
Haz
Roar Rookie
What's most bizarre to me was--last year and the first month, every time he handled the ball I cringed. He just looked off the pace. Not fitness wise so much as reaction-time wise. But in the last two months, I don't even notice his service out of dummy half at all because it's becoming clockwork. I vaguely recall Matt Ballin and Michael Monaghan are floating aronud in the background of the Eagles support staff--maybe Croker's been schooling under them? In any case, I no longer feel like we're going to be struggling until Fainu's return (if that ever happens.)
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
I'd heard about the big O but only saw him when we did really well in the finals a couple of years back. His intent reminded me a bit of JWH at Manly and I too wondered why he wasn't selected more. I'm sure Des had his reasons but we'll never know how things would have panned out if he was selected earlier. It's possible the timing is really good.
seajay
Roar Rookie
Many good points, I would include the combination of Foran and Parker, Parker is now a much more effective attacker with growing confidence.
Nambawan
Roar Rookie
I was one of those critics - particularly of the form and play of Croker and Garrick. There is no doubt that Croker's dummy-half service was very poor which significantly restricted the play of team-mates. However, Hasler stuck with both those players and he has been proved right and am happy to concede that Croker has transformed his game which has contributed substantially to the team's improved performances. Garrick's wing play has also improved out of sight and his goal kicking is a real string to his bow. But still contend Hasler was mistaken in holding back Olakau'atu - for almost a full season, as that player is currently a competition stand-out for his position. I think also noteworthy is that Manly appears to be a group of confident men with good team spirit with Hasler also keeping the club well and truly 'under the radar' (his press conferences are classics for telling the media virtually nothing).
Tom G
Roar Rookie
A problem he has been praying for. If Fainu ever gets through his debacle it may yet give him an even bigger good problem
Haz
Roar Rookie
A really pleasing report a week ago was that they resigned Keppie, Schuster, Olakau'atu, Parker, Garrick and Sipley. They're building a solid core that should be competitive for the next few years.
NorthNarra
Roar Rookie
Great wrap Haz. Had us on spoon 1 but have come out of my first four rounds funk and see the logic in your argument. Still, Turbo factor massive. Also loving Keiran back in his true jersey and glad to be wrong after writing him off as an injury magnet signing.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
I'm not sure how Des works out his best squad if all players are available in the next few weeks.
Hard Yards
Roar Rookie
Mate, you have absolutely hit the nail on the head with this analysis. Good job.
Country Eagle
Guest
Same here. I was thinking “oh s**t, our first wooden spoon. They weren’t just losses, they were hidings! Now I’m thinking, and dreaming… I can sense another 2008-type team developing. If we don’t win the comp this year we’ll win it next year. In the meantime pray Tom’s hamstrings hold.
Tom G
Roar Rookie
There is no doubt that Manly had the toughest draw in the comp that first four weeks. So that, along with the injuries didn’t help. The ‘can’t win without Turbo’ thing is a bit simplistic for mine. Every top team has a key man whose absence causes huge disruption just look at Penrith without Cleary as an example. I’d also ask which team in the competition wouldn’t be a twenty point better side with him in it. Aloai was a big out, Davey looked good but the guys replacing them have gone to another level entirely. As for the inclusion of Morgan Harper for the injured Suli, that has added so much to both the service to Saab that it’s become a really potent edge and solid as a rock in defence too. Lawtons arrival a few weeks back has been very welcome too, big hearted performances with big minutes in him.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
Most fans were critical of Haslers selections after losing the first 4 games which included some floggings but a degree of mythology has crept in to what has happened since. Davey was possibly our form forward along with Aloia and I doubt strongly that the team selected today without Turbo would have done any better in the first 4 rounds. The main players the supporters were gunning for were Croker , Parker , Garrick and Saab and they are still there but have dramatically lifted their form. Levi was awful at hooker and I was delighted when he left. The idea that Hasler has been lucky because players were injured and forced his hand is ignoring the probability that the injured players form would have come good just like the 4 players mentioned above. In saying that I always thought the young forwards coming thru are an upgrade on who they are replacing. Bigger , faster and more talented.
Cam
Roar Rookie
Probably the best indication the Mad Scientist has the team heading in the right direction was the 50 they put on the Cowboys in R14 without Turbo. They didn't miss a beat.
Len
Guest
A great analysis of a rags to riches story
Nat
Roar Guru
It's actually refreshing to see a winger hug his sideline and such an advantage to know you have that weapon there when defences bunch in the first few tackles. You give hima few metres of space and he'll get you 90m down the park. He still has the defensive issues but wheil they can simply outscore an oponent they'll keep doing the same.
Tom G
Roar Rookie
Great and very accurate assessment. Whilst Turbo’s absence left a gaping hole, the problems were team balance that first few weeks. Injury forced Dessie into making some good replacements. I’m really happy to see him finally giving Toff Sipley a crack, he’s worked hard for it
Dirk
Guest
After the first 4 rounds I was resigned to watching my team nab maybe 3 or 4 wins this season and possibly obtain the clubs first ever wooden spoon, so abject were they. The turnaround is out of this world. From 0 wins and a -150+ PD to now 9 wins and a +120 PD is phenomenal.
kk
Roar Pro
A riveting read, Haz. You nailed it first up. I agree with all your observations. Admire the toughness and the speed. As Canterbury man I have always held Manly in the highest regard and the current success does not surprise me.. We were sure given a guide. Haz, You set a standard. More please.
Harvey Wilson
Roar Rookie
In their current form and with Cleary doubtful for Penrith. Manly might be the only team to stop Melbourne for the title.