Recent content by 1978

  1. 1

    next year's spine

    Would love to see 9. Simpkins (then Brooks off bench) 7. Fogerty 6. Tom 1. Koula Would need a lot of work over off-season, but that spine is far more attacking than anything we have now.
  2. 1

    2026 recruitment & retention

    Are the mighty Eagles doing a Penrith and bringing ex-Manly players back to our club? We've signed Feledy and are after Luke Garner. Which other ex-Manly players could return? Lawton could return to replace Tevanga, particularly if Cowboys pay chunk of his wage to move him on. Similar skill...
  3. 1

    Our hooker for 2026

    Would love to see Brooks tried at hooker in 2026, even if just for a short stint during matches. He whacks people in defence for his size, is quick off mark and would give us a threatening running game out of hooker for the first time since Api / Manese. Tom to 6. Lehi at 1. Other benefit of...
  4. 1

    Too much speed?

    Good point Double Hoops, but Saab is the comp's fastest winger and big at 105kg, yet lacks power. To'o at Penrith is much slower than Saab and 97kgs, yet far more powerful in yardage. Clearly, power does not always equal speed and weight! Body shape, height and eagerness for collision are...
  5. 1

    Too much speed?

    Having watched too much football over the past month, I was struck by the importance of powerful, yardage wingers who play like an extra prop in a team's 25. Think Daniel Tupou at the Roosters, the best winger in the game IMO. He takes the tough second carry in their 25, consistently bends the...
  6. 1

    YART time

    1. Turbo 2. Garrick 3. Koula 4. Talau 5. Saab 6. Brooks 7. DCE 8. Jake 9. Croker 10. Paseka 11. Haumole 12. Tevaga (hooker cover) 13. Brown 14. Lehi (back cover) 15. Bullemor 16. Alolai 17. Taukei’ago 18. Burbo
  7. 1

    Bullemor for 13 in 2025

    As much as I admire Jake, there's a legitimate debate to be had on whether Bullemor should be our starting lock in 2025. His punch and speed in middle for longer periods would add a new dimension to our play (compared to Jake's go forward). In that world, Jake starts at prop and has a second...
  8. 1

    Finals tactics

    The best coaches treat finals like a new mini-season and have a few things up their sleeve. Here are three things Manly could do to disrupt opponents in finals. Not saying they will happen or are permanent changes - just short bursts of innovation in our play to surprise opponents in tight...
  9. 1

    Bench

    At full-strength, I don't seek how Hopoate can be left off bench, for a few reasons: 1. He has been among best players each week 2. He is versatile 3. All teams should have a specialist back on bench for backline cover due to HIAs Thus, my full-strength team for finals looks like: 1. Tom 2...
  10. 1

    Fitness

    Kudos to our new fitness team ... we look noticeably fitter and faster than this time last year. There seemed to be more energy and power in our runs, and less gassing toward the end of halves.
  11. 1

    Simple rule change to improve the sport: suggestion

    My simple rule change is the team that scores the try kicks off, rather than receives the ball. That would stop teams monopolising possession and killing games after the first 20 mins. I'd also like to see a 7-set tackle awarded to teams that get the ball back from a short drop-out, short...
  12. 1

    Hooker

    Hooker is the glaring weakness in our squad composition. After Croker, we have a rookie (GCKT) and a converted halfback (Humphries) who hadn't played much reserve grade. Heaven help us if Croker is injured. I was surprised we let Lawton go ... he gave us good cover in hooker/ second row/...
  13. 1

    How we will win the comp in 2024

    Non-system errors killed us in 2023. That is, individual player errors rather than errors in defensive structure or tactics. Think Tuilagi's missed tackles, Keppie's clumsy hands, Harper rushing out of the line, Weekes dropping high balls, Jake's never-ending six agains and penalties. I don't...
  14. 1

    NRL 360

    I've watched NRL 360 since it began and am interested in the views of others on the program this year. I find it almost unbearable to watch these days and rarely make it through a full episode. Putting personalities aside, my concerns are: 1. The show is ridiculously repetitive. The panel must...
  15. 1

    There is no such thing as a rebuild at Manly

    I'm tired of the negativity about losing Fifita / Tuitavake / possibly Fainus/ Myers and so on. Like everyone else on this forum, I love seeing Manly juniors make their way to first grade. But we need a premiership NOW. It's been 10 years since our last GF appearance, 12 years since our last...
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