Its very dangerous territory for Manly if they get the Pac Islanders and Mormon faction seriously offside. Schuster is also a Pac islander. As mentioned Fainu another. Thing is these kids are outstanding talent and play well together. They were brought into the club by it seems young Fulton's group so they were encouraged to play for Manly with a promise. Somehow that promise is consistently being blocked in some form of bottle neck at the top. Has been happening for many years now.
Maybe Barrett has learned his lesson learning from and supporting a far more innovative coach in Cleary (another exiled Manly junior). I dont know what's happening at Manly and to Des. But his selection policy and neglect of his back line...also seen at the Dogs...and this inflexible attitude regarding up and comers, must stop.
Manly are setting up a dangerous pattern that may affect it for many many years to come. Everything was set up for a brave new world when Des arrived. Outstanding juniors, a top core of players, returned Manly tradition. I know injuries have cruelled us but Des is acting like Barrett...panicking, digging his heals in. He was great in the past, but its a brave new world requiring fresh players and ideas. You cant just expect the Trbojevic clan to be the only answer. There must be on ongoing flow of new talent. For example I know many want Foran to come but that symptomatic of the problem...looking for the past to save the future.
The game is for the young, for progressive ideas. What worked in yesteryear should stay in yesteryear. Manly needs to look to the future and where the game is heading, not trying to recast what it was. That never works
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