PRE-GAME DISCUSSION: Manly v Rabbits [Round 2, 2021]

[Wombat64]

Souths will score within the first 5 minutes, the 2nd at the 15th minute. We will go down in the first half 10 or 12 points down without scoring a point. Souffs will come out and score immediately and then run away with the game. Manly scoring a consolation try at the 79:59 minute. Final score 76-4

Latrell Mitchell will score 4 tries.....

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

Latrell Mitchell will score 4 tries.....

Well isn’t that something to look forward to ??

 

[Ron E. Gibbs]

When teams score against us, which they do with alarming regularity, they tend to score in bunches. Can't see Souths being any exception, especially when the refs start blowing "Six more!" in their favour. We seem powerless to stop anyone once they get a roll on. I reckon we'll hang in there for a while, but once the floodgates open it won't be pretty.

Or we'll dig deep, find something that's been missing for the last year or so, remember how to tackle and control the ball, and tough out a famous win.

One of these scenarios seems more likely than the other, but until the full-time siren sounds, there's always hope… right?

 

[delz]

It will be wet and Reynolds kicking game will kill us!

The weather might help keep the score down but can't see anything else but back-to-back losses!

How sad as a Manly supporter for 50 years that I would admit defeat before a game has even started. Signs of where we are at the moment just a team making up the numbers.

 

[Rafferty]

We are so guilty of trying to the slow the game down, it’s there for all to see, I know once a common tactic employed by all clubs, but it’s not the case anymore, teams that have worked on the speed of their game via appropriate training and conditioning will or are reaping the dividends. i have read over the off season that a few teams have up the anti at training and now train at game day intensity, I’m not sure what we’ve been doing but, it doesn’t look competitive, our approach seems either wrong or at odds with what other clubs are doing.(eg 1 trial game, as opposed to 3 by some clubs with strong rosters on the field)
I realise the rule changes aren’t exactly in our favour, in terms of speed and endurance, maybe we need shift a couple of sessions from the weights over to speed and endurance, the game is not going to slow down so we must adapt, true 80 min players are worth their weight in gold. Our fitness or lack of it was exposed last weekend, I know the boys have said how hard they have worked in the pre season, but if that work has been uneven in the sense of power and strength over speed and endurance then there lies some of the problem, Des has always had a penchant for size, which in times gone by was great, but the pendulum has swung, Des stacked the Dogs forward pack with monsters and it didn’t work, i‘ll go so far as to say theres a few of our boys playing to heavy to be effective in terms of endurance and the modern game, jet ski is a perfect example, take a look at his physic and playing weight in 2019, I thought his game against south’s that year in the semi final loss was on the money and his playing weight today is not helping, boyle is another who has been over done, your big boys need to be naturally big, AFB makes me cry, bulking smaller men won’t help with speed and endurance, anyway my point is we need to work on speeding up our game or things will not improve regardless of who takes the field.

 

[patorick2010]

All we can ask for after last weekend's reality check is improvement.

In terms of attitude and intensity.

Bit of pride in the jersey as well.

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

When teams score against us, which they do with alarming regularity, they tend to score in bunches. Can't see Souths being any exception, especially when the refs start blowing "Six more!" in their favour. We seem powerless to stop anyone once they get a roll on. I reckon we'll hang in there for a while, but once the floodgates open it won't be pretty.

Or we'll dig deep, find something that's been missing for the last year or so, remember how to tackle and control the ball, and tough out a famous win.

One of these scenarios seems more likely than the other, but until the full-time siren sounds, there's always hope… right?

Attitude is the biggest factor ( IMO), when a team scores against us , the heads droop. They score again, they drop. They score again and we start walking not running.

Once a team gets to 18-0 you just know it’s a cricket score coming.

And Saturday won’t be any different although the rain may make it less of a cricket score and more like just a pasting!!

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

All we can ask for after last weekend's reality check is improvement.

In terms of attitude and intensity.

Bit of pride in the jersey as well.

Not at rock bottom yet mate , thats the point that the soul searching begins.

As to when the players feel they are there I don’t know but it’s sure as **** not round 1.

 

[davohan123]

Late mail: The Sea Eagles are sweating on the fitness of Kieran Foran after he suffered a knock to the knee which saw him leave the field early last weekend. I am expecting him to be ruled out, which will see Josh Schuster come in at five-eighth to play his second NRL game. Cade Cust comes onto the bench and I expect to see he and Lachlan Croker split time at hooker during the game.

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[Mark from Brisbane]

Late mail: The Sea Eagles are sweating on the fitness of Kieran Foran after he suffered a knock to the knee which saw him leave the field early last weekend. I am expecting him to be ruled out, which will see Josh Schuster come in at five-eighth to play his second NRL game. Cade Cust comes onto the bench and I expect to see he and Lachlan Croker split time at hooker during the game.

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Ha , took ONE game !!

Love ya work Foran but luckily we got a massive TPA for you.

Sorry if this offends anyone , I’m not anti the Foz but I do think his body is probably beyond the NRL these days.

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

By the way , just entered my footy tips , didn’t take long , 90% going for South’s .

 

[Ryan]

Just so people know, Boyle was dropped due to a foot injury, not form. So basically Des has changed one player by choice - Funa our, Cust in.

 

[pjayz]

Late mail: The Sea Eagles are sweating on the fitness of Kieran Foran after he suffered a knock to the knee which saw him leave the field early last weekend. I am expecting him to be ruled out, which will see Josh Schuster come in at five-eighth to play his second NRL game. Cade Cust comes onto the bench and I expect to see he and Lachlan Croker split time at hooker during the game.

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What is the bet he puts Cust or Crocker in the halves and not Schuster? Or Morgan Harper comes in at fullback and he puts Walker in at 5/8.

If he does either of these things (provided Foran is out) then the 'lost the plot' verdict is settled. Come on Des, if Foran is out - Schuster straight in at 5/8. Pretty please with sprinkles on top?

He doesn't need to be MOM, just get him in and give him the experience.

 

[Bring back the.... Biff?]

Oh the sweet sweet rain! Shame dce sucks the hardest in the rain. It will slow souffs down no doubt. Souths by 30

 

[40 nil]

What is the bet he puts Cust or Crocker in the halves and not Schuster? Or Morgan Harper comes in at fullback and he puts Walker in at 5/8.

I think Des likes Walker at fullback & will want to maintain continuity till Turbo returns. Also, he saw what Cust can do at dummy half last weekend & will want him to build on that, esp. as we have no specialist dummy half options (apart from Birt) till mid season. I'm expecting that if the Foz is out, the Shoe will be in.

 

[TimmyQ]

Momentum is obviously paramount in today's game (no PHD needed there). Souths are the ultimate momentum team. If we let them get on a roll we are in for a shellacking. We have to stifle their playmakers - particularly Walker.

When in attack, if repeat sets aren't an option because we are too far out, then kick for touch and slow the game down. Otherwise, DCE and Foran need to get their short kicking game on song and we need a strong kick-chase.

Repeat sets boyz, repeat sets.

And getting repeat sets has been a massive issue with us for years... We play with very little patience or structure when attacking the oppositions 20 and more often than not throw a ball to a bloke not expecting it, send a pass over the sideline or put up an ineffective kick that just gives the opposition the ball back. We haven't prioritised repeat sets in ages and if we have, the players certainly haven't executed that plan or just plain ignored it. The irony is Schuster has that repeat set kicking mindset but he doesn't get a game. Lack of patience vs building pressure. The good teams get that aspect of the game right. That's a training/coaching issue for mine.

 

[pjayz]

I think Des likes Walker at fullback & will want to maintain continuity till Turbo returns. Also, he saw what Cust can do at dummy half last weekend & will want him to build on that, esp. as we have no specialist dummy half options (apart from Birt) till mid season. I'm expecting that if the Foz is out, the Shoe will be in.

Mate, I certainly hope so, although I don't rate Walker at Fullback and think he should replace Parker with Morgan to fullback. If Foran is out, what Des does next will reveal where his head is at.

 

[TimmyQ]

Why put pressure on Walks playing fullback when clearly an excellent centre and comfortable there.. Harper was good when he played FB and he's not under the same sort of scrutiny from us or the media to perform in that role. He's still easing his way into 1st grade and hopeful of nabbing a regular gig ffs. Reynolds will terrorise Walker with lofted slippery swirling bombs all afternoon and after he bungles a few his confidence will be shot. Walks is being almost set up to fail being the 'Mr FixIt' 5/8, fullback when he should be left where he performs best. It's not fair on him nor us as fans quite frankly.

 

[Jigzkiller]

Late mail: The Sea Eagles are sweating on the fitness of Kieran Foran after he suffered a knock to the knee which saw him leave the field early last weekend. I am expecting him to be ruled out, which will see Josh Schuster come in at five-eighth to play his second NRL game. Cade Cust comes onto the bench and I expect to see he and Lachlan Croker split time at hooker during the game.

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Knock me down with a feather great recruiting team. Foran 1 game lol

 

[Scorpio]

How is Schuster meant to thrive when the entire team has no attacking game plan that is evident?

The licence to "play what's in front of you" usually works at clubs where everyone knows their roles and someone is directing the team around the park. But we are not getting any fluency or direction at the moment, aren't completing our sets or defending well, and don't build pressure.

Sure we could/should throw Schuster in at #6 for experience and hope that a bit of individual brilliance might work... but I don't think it will solve any of our problems.

Also I would like to be a fly on the wall when the coach and team discuss tactics...