Re: Bold & Fearless 2011 Predictions
Predictions for Manly. I am going to be honest in my thoughts I will give positives but there will also be negatives, not to attack manly but to open discussion.
While the return of Stewart and Williams will add some much needed speed in attack there is no guarantees either will play well. They will both get starting spots when healthy, Williams will do what he always did, hopefully his speed is still there and he has spent his year off cleaning up some of the silly little errors in his game. Stewart is a bigger issue. He hasn't played in 2 years and I expect some serious ring rust. This is not to say he won't return but it should be noted it won't be the Snake of old in the first quater of his season. I am expecting him to have a similar year to Matt Bowen's 2010, ginger starts with gradual improvements. Hopefully he is the cinderella story of 2011 but only time will tell.
Fitness is a big issue for me with the Sea Eagles. I felt many players were carrying extra weight this year. Without specifically picking on him Glenn Stewart was carrying a lot of unnecessary weight early in the season, his speed and work rate seemed down as well. A lot of guys had a bit of blubber around the belly that could be eliminated. This seems odd for a team coached by Hasler as he is known for high intensity training and a team that is very proactive in rehabbing. Maybe the club needs to look at a better nutrition and conditioning coach to make sure the team is lean and firing. I think some of the problems of 2nd half fall offs in season 2010 came from weight and as a side matter that the players at times looked leg tired in the game.
The forward pack. I think we have one of the best 2nd rows in the game today and that’s saying a lot when you look at teams like the Broncos, Panthers, Tigers etc. I don’t think they had the best 2010, but they may be the spark that lights them to fire in 2011, sometimes you need to be knocked down to get back up. I am worried about the front row however. The forwards need to set a platform for the backs and our props are far from the best. I assume King and Kite will start and neither has set the world on fire the last 2 years. I don’t remember either having a dominant game in the last 2 years and how King made origin makes my head spin (but that is another rant). Rose wasn’t fit this year and Cross was far from impressive with an error riddled game. There needs to be a lot of work put into these guys.
The backs. There are 3 wingers fighting for 2 spots (4 if you want to give Hopoate game time). I think David Williams is a shoe in, the argument is then do you go with a solid winger in Robertson who won’t make mistakes but also won’t be a game changer or set the world on fire or do you go with unpredictable Tony Williams who on a good day can tear through anyone on the field but too often falls asleep on the field and fails to wind up his runs consistently. I don’t have the answer. Lyon and Matai (upon return) are obvious centres although I pray Matai can clean the penalties out of his game or he will be in the stands more than the field this year. I’d actually like to see Tony Williams paired with Matai on the left for a game. What defense could stop a left edge of T-Rex, Matai and Choc?
The Halves. No one knows. I watched the NSW Residents vs QLD residents game before Origin 3 and must say I was impressed with Cherry-Evans but whether he can handle first grade who knows. Pairing two young halves is dangerous but we did it last year well lets hope for a repeat. Foran is coming into his own as a 5/8 particularly his work within the opposition 20. His kicking game is much better and he is becoming a director on the field, late in the 2010 season he was barking the orders to organise the team, the halfbacks job but well done from a 5/8. There is a future Captain in him. I’m expecting a high number of try assists from him this year.
Here is my top 8 in no particular order: Manly, Dragons (bottom 4), Titans, Tigers, Warriors, Storm, Rabbitohs, Roosters.
I would like to say Raiders but without Campese for so long i don’t see the structure they need and being the fairytale 1 year doesn’t seem to translate a year on. Dogs and Cowboys will improve into tough teams but will fall short. Dragons will make the 8 on the back of their boring grind, but after loosing some key forwards they will lack any real spark, I don’t expect a grand final repeat. I pick Titans and Tigers as the top two teams this year.
Controversial, but honest
