2025 recruitment & retention

[double hoops]

What to make of confirmation today Joey Walsh upgraded to top 30?

It's a little odd, esp when club also says this teen he has a lot of learning to do in the next 12 months transitioning from union, will progress his game in 12-24 months.

 

[BOZO]

What to make of confirmation today Joey Walsh upgraded to top 30?

It's a little odd, club even says he has a lot of learning to do in the next 12 months transitioning from union, will progress his game in 12-24 months.

He might be a quick learner feathered friend

 

[Stewbojevic]

What to make of confirmation today Joey Walsh upgraded to top 30?

It's a little odd, esp when club also says this teen he has a lot of learning to do in the next 12 months transitioning from union, will progress his game in 12-24 months.

The top 30 is based on the salary I think. So we obviously had to pay overs to get him

 

[Rosko]

What to make of confirmation today Joey Walsh upgraded to top 30?

It's a little odd, esp when club also says this teen he has a lot of learning to do in the next 12 months transitioning from union, will progress his game in 12-24 months.

Who puts an 18 yo who cannot and will not play first grade in their top 30? Utterly wasting a valuable spot. Only our brains trust...

 

[BOZO]

Who puts an 18 yo who cannot and will not play first grade in their top 30? Utterly wasting a valuable spot. Only our brains trust...

If they are good enough they are old enough Feathered friend

Many 18 year old have ripened early and ripped into NRL level

 

[rosco]

Who puts an 18 yo who cannot and will not play first grade in their top 30? Utterly wasting a valuable spot. Only our brains trust...

Not many seasons where a club uses 30 players. Plus clubs can call on players on supplementary list earlier so can't see an issue with Walsh being in top 30. As mentioned probably based on the value of his contract.
I assume Hoppa has been upgraded to a top 30 spot.

 

[Carl]

Lehi was 18 this time last year. I know, he wasn't top 30 but he wouldn't have been out of place given how things turned out. Perhaps Walsh is viewed in a similar light.

 

[master blaster]

Ian Martin will always be a favourite of mine.A no nonsense, No frills 5/8 that never got the accolades he deserved but he just went about his job. He was a major cog in our successful teams back then

 

[jbb/james]

What to make of confirmation today Joey Walsh upgraded to top 30?

It's a little odd, esp when club also says this teen he has a lot of learning to do in the next 12 months transitioning from union, will progress his game in 12-24 months.

Latu fainu was the same, was in our cap for yonks on decent coin even though he was never going to really play

 

[BOZO]

Ian Martin will always be a favourite of mine.A no nonsense, No frills 5/8 that never got the accolades he deserved but he just went about his job. He was a major cog in our successful teams back then

The Manly Premiership Winner Ian Martin was a favourite of mine too feathered friend
and it breaks my Manly heart knowing that he is in a dementia state of mind

 

[BOZO]

Latu fainu was the same, was in our cap for yonks on decent coin even though he was never going to really play

Latu fainu was on descent coin because many rated him a star of the future
He and his Brother were the Try Scoring Stars in the Tigers 36 to 26 upset win over us

6Tries5​

Wests Tigers tries achieved by:​

• Apisai Koroisau 25'
• Heath Mason 29'
• Alex Seyfarth 46'
• Latu Fainu 52'
• Solomona Faataape 57'
• Samuela Fainu 79'

Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles tries achieved by:​

• Jason Saab 6'
• Lehi Hopoate 10'
• Tom Trbojevic 22'
• Tom Trbojevic 61'
• Tom Trbojevic 69'

 

[master blaster]

The Manly Premiership Winner Ian Martin was a favourite of mine too feathered friend
and it breaks my Manly heart knowing that he is in a dementia state of mind

That is very sad

 

[BOZO]

That is very sad

 

[master blaster]

Looks like Volkman is going to Squeels, another one career on the skids

 

[Bearfax]

Id agree with all of that.

I've absolutely been frustrated at times over the years re lack of. End of sets. Composure. Short kicking game. The chicken circles. The all or nothing. Avoiding the organiser role the team needed.

But he is elite.

My biggest disappointment, I think without any questions of a doubt, he could have been our best ever sea eagles 6 or 7.

Club lack of professionalism, coaches coming and going didn't have the security to challenge enough, 8 year contract, as you say would see over night improvement or different style for Qld than at Manly.

Will be symmetry to see hang up the boots with a premiership all the same.

Has never stopped giving it his all.

I appreciate your frustrations DH. Just a few points to note.

Very few criticised DCE prior to 2015. He won awards, was a rep player and assisted Manly to reach a couple of GFs. But then he had a top side around him. He didn't need to take on so much responsibility as he has had to over the past decade. Makes a big difference when you are the only top tier player regularly on the field. The only other one is Turbo but in many of those years he barely played half a season because of injuries. Manly have not had a consistent and capable five eighth during that time, so the responsibilities of the organizer and play maker, kicker, close in defender has all fallen on him. No one would criticise his efforts in 2021 when Turbo was fully fit and there was that Foran/Schuster combination creating huge space for the outside backs, or 2017 when Manly had Blake Green. Not surprisingly Manly made two of the rare appearances in the finals those years. DCE stared partly because he didn't have to take on so much.

The only other comparable half we've had was Toovey, and he was top class. But he also had a top side around him for much of his career. Makes a difference. And as for criticism, I recall probably our best five eighth Cliff Lyons, copped a heap from several quarters when Manly weren't performing well. It happens.

I actually rate DCE and Toovey at the same level as the two best we've ever had. However even Thurston, who I had highly, had his less effective years, and if you check they were when he didn't have a strong side around him

 

[BOZO]

I actually rate DCE and Toovey at the same level as the two best we've ever had.

Premiership Winners like DCE and Toovey will always remain Manly Premiership Winning Immortals
There is no Greater Manly Honor than that

 

[double hoops]

I appreciate your frustrations DH. Just a few points to note.

Very few criticised DCE prior to 2015. He won awards, was a rep player and assisted Manly to reach a couple of GFs. But then he had a top side around him. He didn't need to take on so much responsibility as he has had to over the past decade. Makes a big difference when you are the only top tier player regularly on the field. The only other one is Turbo but in many of those years he barely played half a season because of injuries. Manly have not had a consistent and capable five eighth during that time, so the responsibilities of the organizer and play maker, kicker, close in defender has all fallen on him. No one would criticise his efforts in 2021 when Turbo was fully fit and there was that Foran/Schuster combination creating huge space for the outside backs, or 2017 when Manly had Blake Green. Not surprisingly Manly made two of the rare appearances in the finals those years. DCE stared partly because he didn't have to take on so much.

The only other comparable half we've had was Toovey, and he was top class. But he also had a top side around him for much of his career. Makes a difference. And as for criticism, I recall probably our best five eighth Cliff Lyons, copped a heap from several quarters when Manly weren't performing well. It happens.

I actually rate DCE and Toovey at the same level as the two best we've ever had. However even Thurston, who I had highly, had his less effective years, and if you check they were when he didn't have a strong side around him

Yeah agree with most there too.

Tis why if DCE and Penn are the two constants, I see our mediocrity being more on account to Penn the clubs funding and substandard way it was run and standards set.

DCE headless chook moments, as frustrating as those moments and games lost were. On reflection I see a half back a sole attacking play maker doing his all to win games in an average team.

But equally i support jbb/James view that DCE and our teams approach needed too and still needs to be more methodical, a more high percentage mind set to be more successful.

Cliffy still superior for mine and in fairness to DCE Nappa had a far more superior forward pack that enabled being on the front foot and time and space.

Again head office.

We wouldn't have been better without DCE. But just may be DCE could have developed his game more and been an even better player without Penns Manly during the last decade.

The club even botched his signing to need to go 8 years and pay over a mill in the first place.

The was a watershed moment of metocrity. It was Scott Penn removing a coach that made a grand final and saying those ironic words ITS A RESULT DRIVEN BUSINESS. But a business without funding for garden chairs

 

[eaglebuzz]

Taukeiaho looks like an absolute monster in the training pics. I hope he has a great couple of years with us.

 

[Heckenberg]

Yeah agree with most there too.

Tis why if DCE and Penn are the two constants, I see our mediocrity being more on account to Penn the clubs funding and substandard way it was run and standards set.

DCE headless chook moments, as frustrating as those moments and games lost were. On reflection I see a half back a sole attacking play maker doing his all to win games in an average team.

But equally i support jbb/James view that DCE and our teams approach needed too and still needs to be more methodical, a more high percentage mind set to be more successful.

Cliffy still superior for mine and in fairness to DCE Nappa had a far more superior forward pack that enabled being on the front foot and time and space.

Again head office.

We wouldn't have been better without DCE. But just may be DCE could have developed his game more and been an even better player without Penns Manly during the last decade.

The club even botched his signing to need to go 8 years and pay over a mill in the first place.

The was a watershed moment of metocrity. It was Scott Penn removing a coach that made a grand final and saying those ironic words ITS A RESULT DRIVEN BUSINESS. But a business without funding for garden chairs

I think the club absolutely **** the bed with the Foran and dce re-signings which probably ham strung us a bit for money for a while meaning we struggled to surround Dce with any talent. So often he was our sole attacking threat as we had nobody else to steer the ship on the other side of the field. It was fairly easy for sides to suffocate Dce and break down our play which is why he so often forced Dce to overplay his hand. Dce is a great player and leader he just had **** all to work with for a long time there particularly with turbos injuries. Bringing in mestrov to steer the ship has been really positive in my opinion as penn is a businessman not a footy brain. He should fund the operations of the side and stick in his lane.

 

[double hoops]

I think the club absolutely ** the bed with the Foran and dce re-signings which probably ham strung us a bit for money for a while meaning we struggled to surround Dce with any talent. So often he was our sole attacking threat as we had nobody else to steer the ship on the other side of the field. It was fairly easy for sides to suffocate Dce and break down our play which is why he so often forced Dce to overplay his hand. Dce is a great player and leader he just had ** all to work with for a long time there particularly with turbos injuries. Bringing in mestrov to steer the ship has been really positive in my opinion as penn is a businessman not a footy brain. He should fund the operations of the side and stick in his lane.

Absolutely.

And that's all on Penn.

Owner and decision maker, focused on results.

If you have a clean out but those who you hire are ordinary make poor decisions, which cripples business of cash.

It all leads right back to Scotty Penn And his results driven business statement.

And make no mistake. We are on the improve, Mestrov has done some great stuff.

But if Scotty wants my praise. It will be when I hear Manly is flush for funds again, in the same way Landry has the Bulldogs rolling in the stuff.

That's the last piece needed to make Manly great again.

We are close. But not close enough.