lismore_fan
Bencher
http://www.sportsfan.com.au/burning-questions-for-2014-sea-eagles/tabid/91/newsid/120672/default.aspx?cid=BP_RSS_SPORT_1_BurningQuestionsfor2014SeaEagles_220114
Questions for 2014: Sea Eagles
Brought to you by
Wednesday, January 22, 2014 - 3:01 PM
Source: SportsFan
Author: Glenn Valencich
Is this team sticking around?
Okay, so Manly reached the grand final and they didn't disgrace themselves either. But for so long they were considered too old and too broken to again challenge for the premiership. In parts of the season, this actually looked true. They had to wait until the penultimate round to defeat a fellow top-four outfit, topping Melbourne at Brookvale Oval after a 10-10 draw with the Storm in round 10 and going down to the Roosters and Rabbitohs twice.
The Sea Eagles showed steel in the finals though, coming up big against the Rabbitohs to win through to the big one. They didn't hand the trophy over to the Roosters either, showing there's plenty left in the tank despite the elderly feeling around the club. Halfback Daly Cherry-Evans had a career year under the guidance of Immortal Andrew Johns, and even coach Geoff Toovey would have been surprised at how much he got out of 2013 recruits Justin Horo, Brenton Lawrence and Tom Symonds.
Some of their best performers are or will be on the wrong side of 30 by the opening round, with the list including Anthony Watmough, Jason King (who only played four games in 2013), Jamie Lyon, Glenn Stewart and Matt Ballin. None of these players are at a point where they will be throwing in the towel, but there are a couple of replacements in the ranks.
Regardless, the Sea Eagles will be competing for the top prize once more. Toovey has surprised many after taking over from Des Hasler, and he will continue this trend with the Sea Eagles surely flying under the radar once again.
Do they have enough depth?
For the second season running, Manly's most important players appeared in the bulk of their matches. Of their starting side in the grand final against Sydney, only Brett Stewart played less than 20 matches in the campaign. It was a massive effort from their leading stars. Even Steve Matai managed to last 27 games, those shoulders seemingly stronger than ever.
James Hasson, Tom Symonds and recruit Dunamis Lui will be set for a boost in matches with the departures of David Gower, club legend Brent Kite, cult figure George Rose and Joe Galuvao while King will return from injury. Richie Fa'aoso would have been in line for more matches, but his broken neck and a number of criminal charges have clouded his future. Jake Trbojevic, who will turn 20 in February, could fill that gap if needed.
Peta Hiku and new signing Cheyse Blair will again cover the backs, but Toovey could do worse than blood the former for a permanent spot in the line-up alongside fellow young gun Jorge Taufua. And that's what 2014 will be for the Sea Eagles. Should their experienced heads help the team settle in the eight, Toovey will have some wiggle room around the Origin period to give these youngsters some confidence. Ignore these players that need to step up, and 2015 could be looking fairly bleak.
Who tops the try-scoring charts?
With Taufua and the Wolfman both racking up 20 tries in 2013, the smart money would be on another bustling effort from the wingers. There's no doubt they'll keep their spots in the line-up, but what of a rejuvenated Brett Stewart? Without the hamstring injury that troubled him for much of the season, the No.1 should find that sense of freedom that he was forcing through late last year.
We'll rule out Matai from the running, but his consistency should see him easily reach double figures again in 2014. Lyon is a chance because he just knows where to be, but he could be one that Toovey decides to rotate out of the squad for Hiku and Blair, given his age.
The fact is, Taufua and Williams are in the box seat to repeat their 2013 effort. Cherry-Evans isn't going anywhere, nor is Kieran Foran, so their attacking weapons will get just as much service as in the past. In fact, we're more interested in watching the hat-trick race. Both wingers scored two apiece in 2013, their hunger for the ball unmatched in the Sea Eagles squad.
Questions for 2014: Sea Eagles
Brought to you by
Wednesday, January 22, 2014 - 3:01 PM
Source: SportsFan
Author: Glenn Valencich
Is this team sticking around?
Okay, so Manly reached the grand final and they didn't disgrace themselves either. But for so long they were considered too old and too broken to again challenge for the premiership. In parts of the season, this actually looked true. They had to wait until the penultimate round to defeat a fellow top-four outfit, topping Melbourne at Brookvale Oval after a 10-10 draw with the Storm in round 10 and going down to the Roosters and Rabbitohs twice.
The Sea Eagles showed steel in the finals though, coming up big against the Rabbitohs to win through to the big one. They didn't hand the trophy over to the Roosters either, showing there's plenty left in the tank despite the elderly feeling around the club. Halfback Daly Cherry-Evans had a career year under the guidance of Immortal Andrew Johns, and even coach Geoff Toovey would have been surprised at how much he got out of 2013 recruits Justin Horo, Brenton Lawrence and Tom Symonds.
Some of their best performers are or will be on the wrong side of 30 by the opening round, with the list including Anthony Watmough, Jason King (who only played four games in 2013), Jamie Lyon, Glenn Stewart and Matt Ballin. None of these players are at a point where they will be throwing in the towel, but there are a couple of replacements in the ranks.
Regardless, the Sea Eagles will be competing for the top prize once more. Toovey has surprised many after taking over from Des Hasler, and he will continue this trend with the Sea Eagles surely flying under the radar once again.
Do they have enough depth?
For the second season running, Manly's most important players appeared in the bulk of their matches. Of their starting side in the grand final against Sydney, only Brett Stewart played less than 20 matches in the campaign. It was a massive effort from their leading stars. Even Steve Matai managed to last 27 games, those shoulders seemingly stronger than ever.
James Hasson, Tom Symonds and recruit Dunamis Lui will be set for a boost in matches with the departures of David Gower, club legend Brent Kite, cult figure George Rose and Joe Galuvao while King will return from injury. Richie Fa'aoso would have been in line for more matches, but his broken neck and a number of criminal charges have clouded his future. Jake Trbojevic, who will turn 20 in February, could fill that gap if needed.
Peta Hiku and new signing Cheyse Blair will again cover the backs, but Toovey could do worse than blood the former for a permanent spot in the line-up alongside fellow young gun Jorge Taufua. And that's what 2014 will be for the Sea Eagles. Should their experienced heads help the team settle in the eight, Toovey will have some wiggle room around the Origin period to give these youngsters some confidence. Ignore these players that need to step up, and 2015 could be looking fairly bleak.
Who tops the try-scoring charts?
With Taufua and the Wolfman both racking up 20 tries in 2013, the smart money would be on another bustling effort from the wingers. There's no doubt they'll keep their spots in the line-up, but what of a rejuvenated Brett Stewart? Without the hamstring injury that troubled him for much of the season, the No.1 should find that sense of freedom that he was forcing through late last year.
We'll rule out Matai from the running, but his consistency should see him easily reach double figures again in 2014. Lyon is a chance because he just knows where to be, but he could be one that Toovey decides to rotate out of the squad for Hiku and Blair, given his age.
The fact is, Taufua and Williams are in the box seat to repeat their 2013 effort. Cherry-Evans isn't going anywhere, nor is Kieran Foran, so their attacking weapons will get just as much service as in the past. In fact, we're more interested in watching the hat-trick race. Both wingers scored two apiece in 2013, their hunger for the ball unmatched in the Sea Eagles squad.
