I dont get to watch much toyota cup and although i see a few sunshine coast games  it is difficult for me to comment BUT
it seems strange to me that we have the best lower grade record of any club over the last 2 years
-were minor premiers in the toyota cup last year
-leading toyota cup this year till the mass send off against cowboys (and still only 2 wins off the top)
-won the QRL title last year and are flying home with a late run this year
yet we seem to have absolutely no depth to call on,particularly in the forwards.we seem to have a top 17 and then any replacements get a 5 minute run.With the exception of  foran and JWH for a few games last year  we have seen a couple of games from whare and hopoate and the embarrasing site of buerher not getting a run at all.
watching the titans the last few weeks with a few big young forwards like bodene thompson and that huge unit ryan??,the tigers with fifita and dwyer,the production line of young blokes from the broncos and storm and now the emergence of some real young talent at the roosters it has really rammed the point home to me - what is going on at manly.
the answer must be that we have 2 very good sides playing the lower grades with no real budding super stars which can easily happen.
It is unfortunate because
-our forward pack must be the oldest in the comp on an average age basis with most players form tapering off
-we dont seem to have obvious up and comers  in the forwards that have the confidence of the coach
- AND we also seem to have a tight salary cap situation
crusher is one of the great recruiters and the big man has  a real challenge ahead.lets hope he keeps his fine record intact because the club needs it badly over the next few years.
it seems strange to me that we have the best lower grade record of any club over the last 2 years
-were minor premiers in the toyota cup last year
-leading toyota cup this year till the mass send off against cowboys (and still only 2 wins off the top)
-won the QRL title last year and are flying home with a late run this year
yet we seem to have absolutely no depth to call on,particularly in the forwards.we seem to have a top 17 and then any replacements get a 5 minute run.With the exception of  foran and JWH for a few games last year  we have seen a couple of games from whare and hopoate and the embarrasing site of buerher not getting a run at all.
watching the titans the last few weeks with a few big young forwards like bodene thompson and that huge unit ryan??,the tigers with fifita and dwyer,the production line of young blokes from the broncos and storm and now the emergence of some real young talent at the roosters it has really rammed the point home to me - what is going on at manly.
the answer must be that we have 2 very good sides playing the lower grades with no real budding super stars which can easily happen.
It is unfortunate because
-our forward pack must be the oldest in the comp on an average age basis with most players form tapering off
-we dont seem to have obvious up and comers  in the forwards that have the confidence of the coach
- AND we also seem to have a tight salary cap situation
crusher is one of the great recruiters and the big man has  a real challenge ahead.lets hope he keeps his fine record intact because the club needs it badly over the next few years.