Forty Twenty's Roar Profile

The best league team over the last half decade by far has been the Pennies. I’m not sure if they’re sitting back and having a giggle at all the other teams but I doubt it.

Despite the massive advantage QLD have apparently got because they’re the only state which knows how to select a team , the series is open to either party and injuries will once again be a big factor.

Injury-hit Maroons won’t panic over Origin selections but just sit back and laugh at Blues’ hullabaloo

It’s no big deal if Manu leaves the game.

He’s been around for a long time and if he wants a change or wants more dollars then what’s the problem.

NRL News: Maguire happy with Papi's claims for Origin berth, Souths set to name new defence coach

I’d say the comparison between Latrell and Alf is a bit tenuous.

For a start it’s a different era and players are expected to behave better these days. Apart from that everyone wasn’t roaming around with a little video machine in their pocket in the 90’s either.

Too old, too slow: Do these two stats explain why Souths have fallen off a cliff in 2024?

I’ve never seen stats before for the amount of times a team is not pinged for being off side.

I wonder if they’ve got stats for offside penalties given when the team was onside? It happens and it’s horrible.

'F--- you': Insults fly after Des confronts Ricky as Annesley admits yet another blunder robbed Titans of victory

The Titans have given Manly more than one touch ups over the years and who knows what they bring next round.

Saints are hard to play against when they are at their best. Their defence can be very hard to breach when they are on song and can frustrate teams and keep them frustrated. In saying that , the potential of the Tigers is pretty high. The young backs look like the real thing and could be the drivers of a golden spell.

I don’t hate Gutho but it’s not a bad thing for the game that fans do, if that’s the case. ”Villans” just add theatre to games and games need theatre. He’s very smart and plays right up to his potential. Maybe the Eels fancy their chances with Schuster just like they did with Cartwright in getting the best out of the talent players possess?

The trouble with Schuster could run deeper than his fitness though. I like to use Graham Eadie as an example. Eadie started off as fast , lean and powerful. When you start off like that , you can get a bit bigger and slower and still be a viable player but if you start off like Eadie at the end of his career , you are in trouble. Schuster looks to be getting slow quickly and I’m not sure it can be fixed , particularly if he’s not that keen on training. Hopefully he can turn it around.

NRL Round 6 Talking Points: Concussion sub needs a fix, learning about 'disruption', why does everyone hate Gutho?

I saw Lomax get the ball away from the wing , more like where a centre would be and saw him put on that huge sidestep he’s got but I started thinking that centre could be his worst position.

The sidestep is huge and beats the opponent but the momentum vanishes because he loses all speed and just ends up in an upright wresting match.

It’s a bit simplistic but he looks more effective on the wing where you really do need to run the ball and he has the ability to then operate if the room is created for him. Maybe he’s a lock? Or a wing or fullback?

Lomax shines on a wing with some flair in Dragons' win over Tigers as Bunker hauls off Bird but spares Klemmer ... twice

I didn’t see the game but it’s been pleasing to see a range of different players do well for Manly over the season so far.

The Manly fans singled out Talau , Aloiai and Jake in particular but others as well.

Turbo is playing very well without dominating but appears healthy.

The match defining penalty was correct I believe.

I’m not sure Manly has started as favorites in too many games this season and very few picked them against the Warriors or Pennies.

Manly are getting full value out of the less highly paid members of the team this season which is a nice change. It’s happened in the past when we were flying high and although coaches need to take some credit , it seems that a core group of uninjured quality players will drag the lesser lights along with them as well.

We’re now picking up a few injuries but they’re not serious ones and a few players are returning with a spring in their step as well.

DCE and Johnson put on masterclass as Warriors and Manly can't be split after controversial Bunker call

Fatty is a naturally funny sort of bloke and I enjoy listening to him.

He always bangs on about wingers standing deep and so do I and we’re both right.

Viewers need more of Paul the analyst, less of Fatty the class clown's cringeworthy commentating

Schuster is a star , a shooting star which is heading the wrong way.

'Embarrassing': Joey fumes over Knights keeping injured Ponga on the park as Roosters rally to win nail-biter

I haven’t watched Kikau closely enough in defense to comment on it but I’ve had a look at a couple of players in the past who were bagged for their defence and it’s not all about the stats.

James Maloney is one.

When he signed for the Pennies , a Raor article said something like ”he won’t be improving the clubs defence with his record of missed tackles”

I had a look at Maloneys impact on the previous clubs he joined and found that the defence actually improved when he played for them.

Api was bagged by the sheeples on the clubs fan forum for his defence but his style was to race up and give the opponents a whole heap of curry. Of course you are going to miss tackles.

Luke Brooks stats probably aren’t that stellar either but I’m happy how he goes, he gets stuck in and has smashed a few blokes. Great work. I think it was him who smashed Edwards last week.

Don't believe the hype: Why did Bulldogs fork out big bucks for the most overrated player in the NRL?

Manly trainers can pat themselves on the back for the health and fitness of the squad , including reserve grade, except for one player.

What does that tell you?

Brown is in the best form he’s been in for years and so was Lodge before he was injured , so their conditioning is fine.

Why his latest ban could be best thing for Latrell’s career - or the beginning of the end

Schuster is on the market.

Funny old game this one.

Ponga is so good. All this talk of Schuster and how he is somehow under too much pressure is really all about the individual and their ability to handle it.

Ponga came to the Knights with huge expectations and has done all he can to be at his best. It comes with the job and the huge contract.

I’ve noticed a few punters mentioning the Chickens getting away with lying on the tackled player. I couldn’t believe how the ref didn’t give the Knights heaps more 6 agains. It was a stitch up , very poor work from him.

The Warriors are deserved favorites because they are at home but Manly feels at home in N.Z as well and will enjoy the trip more than Wollongong.

The Roar's NRL expert tips and predictions: Round 6 - battle for Brisbane, Roosters written off, will Demetriou survive?

He’s not at his prime at 28. He was at his prime years ago.

He’s just another decent 1st grader these days.

Rooster must remodel: Angus Crichton says he'd want to 'dominate' in rugby union - this is what he'd have to change

I’m reading a few comments suggesting Schuster would do better under other systems and the influence of other players.

This might be true but Manly has taken a few players who have been at great systems and turned them around including Brown and Lodge , so there is nothing wrong with what’s on offer at Manly in that regard.

DCE doesn’t have any trouble thriving at 46 either.

I’m suggesting he could prove himself in reserves and sign a new contract at Manly of $200,000.

Incentives can be put in place if he plays SOO . Then he can get a SOO type wage.

If he can’t play well for the rest of this year , then see ya later.

Schuster is worth a shot because he would be on more realistic coin.

What Schuster should do now is start living up to the hype which he put on himself in reserve grade at Manly and earn a new contract at Manly.

I’d be interested to see if he can get some speed in his legs though. He looks so slow. Injuries could be the reason but these days players usually return from injuries in great shape.

The Manu hit should have been the defining moment where he completely woke up but he didn’t.

For all his good points, he’s a bully on the field , a nasty one at that.

I was a big fan of Mundine and Blacklock but plenty of players miss out on playing SOO regardless of their background.

Dylan Edwards and Alex Johnson are two example which come to mind straight away. Phil Blake was as dynamic as any player in his early career but ended up with one SOO on the wing.

Edwards and Mundine had a lot of even better players ahead of them.

Performance clauses should be standard in contracts I believe.

I’ve long thought that. If a poorly paid player like DCE in 2011 can get an upgrade on an existing contract , then someone like Schuster who is on a fortune should be dealt with in the opposite manner.

I don’t know how it is done or could be done but I’ve always thought it had to be part of the future.

Someone is missing out on the money Schuster is getting. Half the squad could get a good pay rise maybe……….

NRL News: Sea Eagles show Schuster the door, Eels encounter 'market value' hitch in Lomax deal, Reynolds eyes early return

Weekes yet to get a start?

People say he wasn’t given a fair crack at Manly but the young players given a go this season across the game have made an impression in a short period.

NRL Round 6 Team Lists: Cleary suffers setback, Walsh return confirmed but Riki under cloud, Big Phin out

Golden Boot isn’t out of the equation.

A lot of it. He’s possibly lacking the wisdom to take on the role he has, it’s not easy.

NRL News: Wighton says 'sorry' Latrell has burning desire after Gus raises retirement call, Annesley refutes hip-drop critics

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