I don't think you can ever have a concrete style as a coach, I think you've got to look at your squad - which will change year in year out - and adapt to do what's best for those particular players, because that will be something completely different to all the other teams.
So for our hooking dilemma you have to look at it and weigh up strengths and weaknesses and find a balance. I genuinely believe that the best thing for Manly is having Hodges on the bench, but at the same time to say Matty Ballin is past it is unfair and a bit daft. He's never been a livewire from dummy-half, he tackles like a demon and provides quality balls out. He's still doing that, and don't forget he is Manly through and through - people want commitment this year and he will be the most committed on the field without a doubt. He still has a massive part to play at Manly for the remainder of his contract.
BUT - we can't ignore the fact Hodges is a real talent. I can see him being a real asset to us in years to come, and he brings that spark off the bench. He asks entirely new questions of a defence and our slow attack could benefit from him greatly this year.
It does disappoint me that Tooves seems to be very ignorant of that for whatever reason. It disappoints me more that it is because he is unwilling to adapt something new that could be a positive change, because of a stubbornness about his preferred tactics. Sometimes when things clearly aren't working - and they're not - you need to be honest and make a change.
