Gordon Chan Kum Tong

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Whilst Croker is the tackling bag
Gordon is the bag of tricks that will add the much needed Xfactor
Great to have a dynamic hooker like Gordon in our 2024 squad
 
He embodies players like Wolfman and To'o, in that he brings exuberance and character into the game. Not only is he a great little player, but he also brings in marketability.

I'm of the view that if Manly are full strength, as much as I love Croker, GCKT starts, and we have better utilisation in the 14 jersey (a player that CAN play rake if desperate, but can also play halves, and possibly a wide-running forward (Jake Arthur, I'm looking at you).

With a smaller talent pool, we need to maximise each positions effectiveness. That's why players like Jake Trbojevic should play nothing but prop. We need a mobile, explosive ball playing lock. That COULD be Schuster of he lost another 10-15kg's and gets down to his 2021 weight.

But then we need to acquire a marquee player (again, mobile, aggressive, explosive) in the number 12 jersey. We can't carry too many slower forwards like (Jake T, Josh S, Haumole, Sipley, Lodge etc - all power players, not mobile).

But play all players in their specialist positions. My one caveat is a swap between Koula / Turbo if it extends Turbo's career, and means we get a consistent number one for an entire season. Centres are much easier to replace.
 
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Probably would be inclined to start with Jake at 13 until Lodge is available and bring Alioia from the bench to 13 and then move Jake to prop at least in the early season stanza . Alioia is no Dylan Walker but may be more effective in that type of role then playing at prop [ and the proviso he is up to required fitness and form standard and slotting straight into a 13 role ] .
Probably only some limited benefit starting or playing prop [ Alioia ] when Tent , Sipps , Bully and jake can probably go better there .
When Lodge resumes , a different equation then but if Alioia can show enough at 13 , could still justify that position and then even starting there .
Unless someone out of left field can appear like young Navale .
Gordy also still most likely suited coming on from the bench giving Froggy a rest
 
manly al said:
Probably would be inclined to start with Jake at 13 until Lodge is available and bring Alioia from the bench to 13 and then move Jake to prop at least in the early season stanza . Alioia is no Dylan Walker but may be more effective in that type of role then playing at prop [ and the proviso he is up to required fitness and form standard and slotting straight into a 13 role ] .
Probably only some limited benefit starting or playing prop [ Alioia ] when Tent , Sipps , Bully and jake can probably go better there .
When Lodge resumes , a different equation then but if Alioia can show enough at 13 , could still justify that position and then even starting there .
Unless someone out of left field can appear like young Navale .
Gordy also still most likely suited coming on from the bench giving Froggy a rest
Click to expand...

That's a lot of players playing out of position:

Prop in Jake still playing lock
Prop in Aloiai playing lock (0 ball playing ability)
Half in Croker still playing hooker (noting our poor success each season with him at 9)
Lodge may or may not play next season - but given his size, will need plenty of time to get match fit

Not sure any of that bridges the gap between us and Penrith
 
Ryan said:
He embodies players like Wolfman and To'o, in that he brings exuberance and character into the game. Not only is he a great little player, but he also brings in marketability.

I'm of the view that if Manly are full strength, as much as I love Croker, GCKT starts, and we have better utilisation in the 14 jersey (a player that CAN play rake if desperate, but can also play halves, and possibly a wide-running forward (Jake Arthur, I'm looking at you).

With a smaller talent pool, we need to maximise each positions effectiveness. That's why players like Jake Trbojevic should play nothing but prop. We need a mobile, explosive ball playing lock. That COULD be Schuster of he lost another 10-15kg's and gets down to his 2021 weight.

But then we need to acquire a marquee player (again, mobile, aggressive, explosive) in the number 12 jersey. We can't carry too many slower forwards like (Jake T, Josh S, Haumole, Sipley, Lodge etc - all power players, not mobile).

But play all players in their specialist positions. My one caveat is a swap between Koula / Turbo if it extends Turbo's career, and means we get a consistent number one for an entire season. Centres are much easier to replace.
Click to expand...
Im hoping Caleb Navale is that small quick mobile forward we've been missing.
We need a few more of these type of forwards to adapt to the quick 6 again infringement rules.
 
Can we stop with the Croker is a half playing hooker. Players evolve, Croker is a hooker playing hooker.

He has played only 15 of his 106 games at 5/8. His last 70 odd games all hooker.

Its like saying Isaah Yeo is a centre playing lock or Jarome Hughes is a fullback playing halfback
 
Samoa under the pump but I have seen nothing special in Gordy. Which is probably why the club have moved Jamie Humphreys to hooker.
 
Even though Gordy hasn’t had any missed tackles yet which is very impressive. He concedes big meters in the middle where the kiwis have been generating loads of momentum. He needs to find a way to stiffen up the middle 3rd and complete the tackle straight after 1st contact.
To his credit he never drops off the tackle. If he can fix this he will be great for us.
 
Ben said:
Even though Gordy hasn’t had any missed tackles yet which is very impressive. He concedes big meters in the middle where the kiwis have been generating loads of momentum. He needs to find a way to stiffen up the middle 3rd and complete the tackle straight after 1st contact.
To his credit he never drops off the tackle. If he can fix this he will be great for us.
Click to expand...
To be defending in the middle against a red hot JFH, Leota, and Tapine combined must be brutal. But nevertheless, he struggled badly with that first 40. I am very concerned for Manly, because it looked like Danny Levi was out there
 
Pete W said:
To be defending in the middle against a red hot JFH, Leota, and Tapine combined must be brutal. But nevertheless, he struggled badly with that first 40. I am very concerned for Manly, because it looked like Danny Levi was out there
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He was gassed and couldn’t get to dummy half until the 4th and 5th tackle
 
cc eagle said:
He made 28 tackles and missed none, give the guy ago in only his 4th game at the top level, FMD some hard markers on here
Click to expand...

No one is knocking his effort but a lot of those tackles he was dragged along. However, you are right he is still pretty green.
 
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