Thoughts on New Signings

[Canteen Worker]

Shane Rodney, Tony Williams and Chris Bailey are our three main new signings. Sure there are some young guys coming through like Jared Hargreaves.

Losing Bell, Beaver, Bryant and Willo as well as a few of the second tier like Jack Halfasanga and Nick Caramello Koala puts us in an interesting position.

I am interested in opinions as to which of the new players will impress and also how we will fare in terms of depth and the strength of our second tier?

 

[The Wheel]

Haven't seen them play yet so I am not sure.

 

[CC_Eagle]

TBA.

 

[Guest]

Will get back to you in a couple of months CW.

We are going to miss beaver's experience and Bailey is going to have to play very well to cover his loss.

I would like to see Williams come off the bench against the storm and with his first hit up give a big don't argue to Smith, Cronk hits his head of Williams hip and is knocked out trying to tackle him and then he tramples all over Slater to score a try. 

 

[ManlyBacker]

These are the most important signings of the year. I'm taking them one at a time for the moment, not getting too far ahead of myself. Whatever is good for Manly is where I sit and where ever Des puts them will do me so long as they are part of the team. I would be happy if they all stayed under the radar.

 

[DSM5]

The team seems to be particularly well balanced.  There's quite a few spots where more than one player will be fighting to get it.  All good.  I spoke to Toovs at Hoyts the other night and he said that the God of Injuries was very good to us in 08 and if we could have another run like that, we'd be in good shape for a crack at B2B.  Williams is huge, and Bailey is not small either.  All the guys looked very fit, especially Ox.  Our backline is just brimful with talent and the forwards certainly did the job in 08.  All looking good.   

 

[Ryan]

Bailey - Toughest one to start. I'd say he was bought as a specialist 5/8, UNTIL Killer started, well, killing it. I really don't think Des can move Lyon to the centres, with him playing so well at 5/8. I would go as far as to say, he ended up being one of the premier 5/8's in the competition. Then, G Stewart excelled at Lock. I like him both sides of the ruck. Therefore, I think it will come down to Tony Williams, Glenn Hall, Chris Bailey & JW Hargraves to fight it out for the last backrow position, and of that group, I see a few more fitting in the position than Bailey himself.

T Williams - Will he play centre in place of Bell? Will he play in the backrow, and have to fight it out for the positon. I'd like to see a backline of:-
01. Brett Stewart
02. Michael Robertson
03. Steve Matai
04. David Williams
05. Michael Bani
06. Jamie Lyon
07. Matt Orford
with a backrow of:-
11. Anthony Watmough
12. Tony Williams
13. Glenn Stewart
I have read that he's training the house down, and is becoming more fit. What will the injury do, or what effect will it have on this year? Who knows. I think he will be a very good buy though - as he's very diverse (can play wing / centre / backrow or lock).

Shane Rodney - at his best, when in his premiership year, I would ALMOST say he was of Dallas Johnson type quality. But totally injury prone. Do I have faith in Manly's medical team - HELL YEAH ! Potentially, he is a great player, but that to me is the operative word - POTENTIALLY.

The above being said, do I have a track record of being able to pick a players quality? Nope.

 

[The Wheel]

That is what was needed a YART!

 

[Pepi]

I like your side Ryan. Although i don't think Hall has put a foot wrong in the last 2 seasons with us, id like to see him retain his 2nd row spot.

 

[DSM5]

Agreed Pepi.  Hall's shown determination in playing for peanuts to prove his quality.  He's a go forward, no-nonsense bruising type and an excellent clubman.  We have a really strong starting 13, and about six or seven players that can make up a really strong bench.  The bench is a really puzzling one.  L'Strange and King are there but two others, Williams, Bailey for mine but it's a dilemma.  A good dilemma nevertheless.   

 

[The Wheel]

Injuries, rep commitments will be make the dilemma easy to solve

 

[willstyles]

If he isn't in the centres, then I like Tony Williams off the bench rather than starting in the backrow. Impact forward, baby!

I like Dave Williams in the centres, and I know he wants to play there, but my gut feeling is that Des will go with Bailey in the halves, Killer in the centres. He likes to stick to his plans and this is a plan he had long, long ago.

Rodney, I'm told, is on a heavily staggered contract. Very little in season one, about 100k in season two, and then seasons 3 and 4 he gets a normal wage for a player of his quality. But I am lead to believe that his place at the club for seasons 3 and 4 are based on whether he recovers from injuries. Like you say Ryan, when he is injury-free, he is a quality player. It doesn't mean a great deal, but he did make the Country team pre-injury. He's an excellent depth player who could turn into a very shrewd purchase.

Either way, we're going to have some very handy blokes who won't even get a look-in at a fullstrength first grade side.

 

[Ryan]

I spoke to Grant Mayer on the phone (when we were organising the upgrade to Brooky Oval petition), and he said to me very passionately that one of his main goals, was to have what would be known as the best bench in the NRL. If you look at our for for next year, that could potentially contain any of:-

Heath Le'Strange (selected as French International)
Tony Williams (Tongan? I think International)
Jason King (regular City / Country prop)
Adam Cuthbertson (A player I have ALWAYS rates - especially when on the wing)
Glenn Hall - (IMO, will play City / Country this year - agree with all above - he's awesome)
JW Hargaves - potentially very good
George Rose - potentially very good as well - similar, but less fit than Cuthbertson
Shane Rodney (City / Country, GF winner)
Chris Bailey - VERY diverse, very able. (One downfall is his rotten brother !)

I mean, WoW ! We will still have a very solid squad around SOO time. Neumann is great, Bani can step up. I'd actually like Foran get a shot at 5/8 if Lyon is selected, and Bailey injured or something.

Looken good for back to back peeps.

 

[ERNIE FOR NO7]

I was very impressed with Bailey before I had heard Manly had signed him. I like the lines he runs and he has good hands.

I think he will be one of the best signings for whole NRL. I think he should get first crack at 5/8. I believe Lyon is far better at centre.

 

[deadlyeagle]

heres a question could Bailey play centre?

And i agree that we will have on of the  strongest benches in the NRL.
Just think

T Williams
Cuthbo
King

IS a massive bench with the addition of versatility in

T Williams
Le Strange

 

[The Wheel]

Not quick enough IMO for centre

 

[Rex]

Killer without doubt is currently our top 5/8th.  He is also our top centre.  Making no predictions.  But if Bailey can be a game-reading, ball-playing, kicking 5/8th with the size, defence and running ability of a good forward, then what would that do to the team balance with Killer in the centres?

If he can perform at 5/8th he may just push Killer into the centres like Alan Thompson did to Bozo.

 

[Ryan]

Killer without doubt is currently our top 5/8th.  He is also our top centre.  Making no predictions.  But if Bailey can be a game-reading, ball-playing, kicking 5/8th with the size, defence and running ability of a good forward, then what would that do to the team balance with Killer in the centres?

If he can perform at 5/8th he may just push Killer into the centres like Alan Thompson did to Bozo.

I just get these visions of Lyon running up the middle of the field, to put a huge bomb up in a major semi final, to run through, catch the ball himself, out leaping Wade McKinnon, swivel 180 degrees, as he was falling to push, not pass the ball, to Matt Orford, who runs over the try line to score a great try.

Pushing him out wide....we may not get that mate.

 

[DSM5]

I spoke to Toovs who indicated that Bailey will play 5/8, pushing Lyon back to centre where he plays his best footie.  Williams in the forwards.

 

[Central Coast Eagle]

The good thing about having both Lyon and Bailey in the side is that they will both be able to switch positions when the right situation arises. Lyon will be able to inject himself when he sees the need like Stewart does from the back.