Manly Centres an issue

[Go manly]

Were Lyon and Matai that fast? I think Matai was... but even if he slowed down he got better at other things.

I'm just thinking re: Parker - surely he knows that he is a decent defender but kinda slow. So he, the coach, someone should be figuring out the best lines, etc so he can get his winger away.

He's not going to do a Saab... but how can he get 'em into a gap.

Jorge wasn't going to do length of the field tries, but give him the ball 10 metres out and most times he would barge on over.

I dunno....

Answers on a penguin.

I recall speaking with snake and having a laugh about the same thing

However ,Snake said that killer speed was underestimated and looked like he was slow in his style and action but reckon his legs Speed and steps were quicker than most and made him motor more than he looked

especially those first few metres and relaxed acceleration to get round people or those famous grubbers up the sidle line

geez he was good
Great memories

 

[Tragic Eagle]

The signing of Tuipulotu is curious. He is on a 4 year deal so someone within the club identified real potential in this kid as a first grader. He's had one game in first grade in a under strength team that got flogged in a trial match and has been in reserve grade since. He is on a 4 year deal and in our top 30. Do our recruiters and coach not see eye to eye?

 

[Nordburg]

Suli is an interesting one.Under normal circumstances,I’d say he lacks that mongrel in him and doesn’t seem to want to bust a nut for the coarse but in the back of my mind is that semi in ‘19 where he tore Souths apart,to the point that the Rabbits had to move Origin centre Gagai to the other side of the field.Is Suli heading down a similar path to Tony Williams?

 

[Chip and Chase]

Everyone is forgetting Tuipulotu. I think he is a long term option IF he can be committed. I have fears he may be a lazy trainer and Des won't give him a crack

Someone rates him because we signed him to a 4 year deal. That's mildly crazy for an untried rookie unless it is on minimum wage.

 

[frank stokes]

The signing of Tuipulotu is curious. He is on a 4 year deal so someone within the club identified real potential in this kid as a first grader. He's had one game in first grade in a team that go flogged in a trial match and has been in reserve grade since. He is on a 4 year deal and in our top 30. Do our recruiters and coach not see eye to eye?

Signed under Des so maybe seen as a First Grader once someone came off contract at end of 2021??

 

[KaZa]

The Dogs are not re-signing him,that tells you everything you need to know

Exactly. No thanks to the hoppas.

Koula is the future. We need to find his partner. Maybe ben turbo? Think we need to sign a marquee one.

 

[47MVEagle]

The signing of Tuipulotu is curious. He is on a 4 year deal so someone within the club identified real potential in this kid as a first grader. He's had one game in first grade in a under strength team that got flogged in a trial match and has been in reserve grade since. He is on a 4 year deal and in our top 30. Do our recruiters and coach not see eye to eye?

He also made his first grade debut at the Roosters last year & by all accounts made some strong runs & scored a try or 2 (I haven't seen the game).

 

[Ron E. Gibbs]

Exactly. No thanks to the hoppas.

Koula is the future. We need to find his partner. Maybe ben turbo? Think we need to sign a marquee one.

Had similar thoughts myself, KaZa. Koula is going to be one hell of a player, and Burbo's best position may well be at centre. Would love to see the two of them playing together in the centres in the lower grades.

 

[pjayz]

Exactly. No thanks to the hoppas.

Koula is the future. We need to find his partner. Maybe ben turbo? Think we need to sign a marquee one.

I think Burbo is well and truly destined for the backrow. Koula and Tui would be the next in line to have a crack.

 

[Heckenberg]

On never thought of skivvi as being fast tbh.

He wasn’t that fast but he had the ability to create time for himself. Same as Lyon.

 

[Ned]

Is Suli heading down a similar path to Tony Williams?

Much like Trex, I feel Sulisaurus will be soon going extinct!

 

[winnyason]

Foxsports reporting that Hopoate is unlikely to be resigned by the bulldogs. Whilst I know Hopate is a swear word around here these days, he would not be the worst signing (assuming its not heaps of money).

He could start centre, and be very solid/reliable and provide much better fullback coverage for Turbo's 2022 injuries.

Dollar figure biggest issue imo he worth no more than 450k in current market and his form

 

[winnyason]

Exactly. No thanks to the hoppas.

Koula is the future. We need to find his partner. Maybe ben turbo? Think we need to sign a marquee one.

Yeah Koula seems a no brainer in centres long-term

 

[Woodsie]

Parker is a tough 1, as I find it hard to rip into a bloke who rips in 100% every week and he is 1 of few who does.Unfortunately the slowest centre in the NRL and effects his and Manly's attack big time, though let's flip the coin and talk defence...this bloke is up with the best defensive centres in the game....I personally am not inspired to see him there, but he has been our most solid centre the past 2 years so its a tough call.

Well said ... Also the Thing to remember with Parker is that I don't believe anybody at the club has seen him as a first string centre ... he would have been thought of as a backup for Walker and Suli ... and his contract would reflect that .... I would bet his contract is not near the $500k a starting centre would command ..

It has just been the fickle fate of fortune that has seen him get so much game time ... and thank goodness we have him ... I love the ranga bugger ..

 

[frank stokes]

Well said ... Also the Thing to remember with Parker is that I don't believe anybody at the club has seen him as a first string centre ... he would have been thought of as a backup for Walker and Suli ... and his contract would reflect that .... I would bet his contract is not near the $500k a starting centre would command ..

It has just been the fickle fate of fortune that has seen him get so much game time ... and thank goodness we have him ... I love the ranga bugger ..

I have a soft spot for him too cause you can see that he tries his guts out...

...just wish he had a few more skills... keep waiting for him to compete for a high-ball on the tryline but I get the impression his legs are made of lead....

 

[Mac Man]

Gee I miss Matai and what he stood for. What a fabulous player. Terribly underrated as an attacker. Not sure we used his attacking talent as well as we could have ... but we had so much attacking talent we probably didn't need it. And yes wow - what a defender! Igor and Matai the two very best defenders of any era - any club.

Steve was one a many reasons the other fans hated us. He was a player they all wish played for them. The Hitman

 

[40 years an eagle]

Seem very flat also , which could be down to the middle not gaining enough momentum so the attacking shape is almost level to the ruck, also the fact Des likes a flat structure where the centres are "up" compared to say Rabbits who are always deep to give time to hit the ball at pace and get away clean passes without getting sliced in 2 by the defenders jamming in.


What's the thoughts on where we are and the best way going forward ??

We have no choice but to be flat in attack coz our centres don't have any pace and no strike edge second-rowers. Opponents only need to mark-up to stifle us. Speed allows the line to set up deep and this begets options and also poses questions to the defense.

Walker has lost his speed and now hammy problems will make it worse. Move him and Suli on at season end.

We need pace in the centres...Koula is our future and we need one other centre...maybe Tippy toes?

 

[manlyfan76]

What is the new centre "type"?
No good going after yesterday's centre. I think they need pace first, strength a close second. Ball playing not so much.

 

[Peter C]

The Dogs are not re-signing him,that tells you everything you need to know

Hoppa's best season was 2011, played out of his skin to convince Parra to throw $850k a year at him despite taking a two year sabbatical, and has gone backwards ever since

 

[The better Robbo]

I have a feeling the see him as a centre as well. Have you heard rumours that he is a lax trainer?

I haven't but doesn't seem to be in favour at the moment. I think Des is racist, he doesn't select our Islander boys but persists with Croker Parker etc
Jokes by the way if anyone is offended