2026 halves plan

[manly al]

Watched a little of Jake Arthur yesterday. What struck me was how tall he was for a halfback. If he keeps filling out his body then lock would be his position.

That "s the way it could be heading and only watch highlights with his play but does not seem to lack general speed once he winds up a bit .
Maybe will not develop into a Yeo type 13 but could have the credentials to do a reasonable job there
Have Navale who looks like coming on well and may get a shot at 13 or a bench role in the top grade this season and more suited at present then Arthur at this stage anyway

 

[UltimateNIT]

If I had to rank my preferred options for a DCE replacement:

#1 Galvin – The closest like-for-like replacement in terms of running game and pass selection. Would need to develop his long kicking game, but he has the potential to fill the role well.

#2 Reynolds/Fogarty – Both are experienced halves who could provide stability. Offering a two-year deal to see out their careers would likely be the best option for immediate success.

#3 Invest in Youth – Focus on retaining and developing young talent, blooding them early for a long-term succession plan. This would likely mean a couple of lean years but could set us up for sustained success down the track.

 

[Cherryjohn]

Definitely the forgotten man in all the halfback talk.
Jake is younger than Humphreys and already has 29 NRL games under his belt, including playing in finals games.
Use DCE's 750k to bolster our forwards?

He’s also played in a Grand Final and scored a try in that GF. We could do a lot worse than JA

 

[47MVEagle]

I didn't get to the end of your diatribe... and then I woke up.
So back to the topic: our replacement half speculation.
How about we try to get Latu Fainu back? He's behind Lui and Gavin at Wests, and was an interchange lock today.
He has a better chance to play First Grade in 2026 in the halves at Manly than at Wests.
Thoughts?

Big NO from me, I don't want any of that family or their grub manager anywhere near Manly again.

Can you imagine if Tartak got a foothold at the club again? I'm sure as soon as Manase is released Tartak would be spruiking him to us.

 

[manly al]

Looking more unlikely for Fogarty to take up any Manly offer .
Know that Arthur has played the occasional game at 6 for Manly but not sure if he would be the answer there however would be more suited then Turbo .
Talau had that bit of a brief stint there just after mid season last year but would be more then a bit of a left field option, particularly with an effective kicking game .
Sandon Smith still apparently under contract at the Roosters for next season .
Big ask for Walsh to be ready but hope that he can get a good grounding at least for the remainder of 25

 

[manly al]

Looking more unlikely for Fogarty to take up any Manly offer .
Know that Arthur has played the occasional game at 6 for Manly but not sure if he would be the answer there however would be more suited then Turbo .
Talau had that bit of a brief stint there just after mid season last year but would be more then a bit of a left field option, particularly with an effective kicking game .
Sandon Smith still apparently under contract at the Roosters for next season .
Big ask for Walsh to be ready but hope that he can get a good grounding at least for the remainder of 25

Some of those suggestions naturally would be based on the proviso of Brooks reverting to 7 for 26

 

[Top End Eagle]

I'd love for you to further elaborate here.

I hear "woke" get thrown around all the time and by definition.....

Woke," originating in African American English, initially meant being aware of and actively attentive to important facts and issues, especially those related to racial and social justice. However, its meaning has evolved and can now be used disparagingly by some to describe individuals or movements perceived as overly politically correct or left-leaning.

So can I ask, do you feel 'The Manly Way' has been leaning too far into the topics of racial and social justice?

Is the content too political for you? Has the imagery from hill runs and training sessions given left vibes?

Is there a particular episode you would like to highlight as being politically correct, politically charged, racially motivated or about social justice?

Sorry but my pet peeve is people just throwing 'woke' at things they dont like.

For mine we live in an age of content, and it is club content, designed to engage fans. Nothing more or less.

But if people want to call it fluff, or propaganda, or meaningless, or nonsense, or cringe or whatever......fine.

But it is no way in any current definition of the word 'woke'.

You wasted all that time mate trying to defend something I said and you couldn't comprehend.

I think it's 'woke' because it pushes words like 'learnings'. The word is lessons, it's the correct grammatical way 'a lesson' should be referred to. As in something you learned from the past, therefore the correct terminology is lesson Muppet. I'll continue if enough people comment but that's just the very start.

Using dumbed down terms gets you dumbed down players and obviously supporters.

It's the drop in expectation that many leading sociologists have pointed to for over twenty years.

Melbourne doesn't do that.

Fire back champ. Show everyone how culturally and socially aware you are. Signify that so people here can pat you on an imaginary back.

 

[Bird of Prey]

Wishing and hoping with Jake Arthur wouldn’t be my choice.

 

[Top End Eagle]

We’re singing from the same sheet of music.

We know he can also play dummy half/hooker and probably (as others have mentioned) has the makings of a very capable lock forward.

He is certainly not a show pony when it comes to the defensive work.

Where do you get that sheet of music the players all sign? Can you get Haas on that paper please!!!!

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

I think it's 'woke' because it pushes words like 'learnings'. The word is lessons, it's the correct grammatical way 'a lesson' should be referred to. As in something you learned from the past, therefore the correct terminology is lesson Muppet. I'll continue if enough people comment but that's just the very start.

Using dumbed down terms gets you dumbed down players and obviously supporters

Nice try! Yes we demand the King's English. All those 2025 players talking about versing each other are ... are... woke!
Lol

 

[Terry Zarsoff]

Where do you get that sheet of music the players all sign? Can you get Haas on that paper please!!!!

It’s in the post.

 

[Disco]

You wasted all that time mate trying to defend something I said and you couldn't comprehend.

I think it's 'woke' because it pushes words like 'learnings'. The word is lessons, it's the correct grammatical way 'a lesson' should be referred to. As in something you learned from the past, therefore the correct terminology is lesson Muppet. I'll continue if enough people comment but that's just the very start.

Using dumbed down terms gets you dumbed down players and obviously supporters.

It's the drop in expectation that many leading sociologists have pointed to for over twenty years.

Melbourne doesn't do that.

Fire back champ. Show everyone how culturally and socially aware you are. Signify that so people here can pat you on an imaginary back.

"Champ" lolz, hit a nerve.

Ive no issue with you taking issue around the terminology used. If using learnings over lessons upsets you then fire away.

But incorrect terminology or as you put it a dumbing down of players and supporters doesnt make something "woke".

As far as me, Im not making any cultural or social stand, I just cringe every time someone fires 'woke' in an absurd context

 

[Top End Eagle]

Nice try! Yes we demand the King's English. All those 2025 players talking about versing each other are ... are... woke!
Lol

I am an English teacher. Do you have, you don't, any idea, how much time I have spent telling school footy teams I've coached 'verse' is not a verb?!!!!

I'm saying the production and portrayal of the YouTube clips were scrubbed of anything portraying actual masculine interaction, or a real indication of the type of language actually used in a rugby league environment.

And I'm sorry for those of you who have never experienced that. That's why you're great fans and want PVL to do everything to attract new fans to the game....

So yeah it's a politically correct, heavily edited, snapshot of the club that I don't think offers anything to a fan like me that sees all the bull**** mindfulness crap expressed in the fake 'campfire chats' rubbish as detrimental to a hard nosef performance.

If you've never actually sat around a campfire, just admit it. It looks nothing like 35 players twenty metres from the fire finding made up hardships in their life while receiving 180k-1.2 million for playing a game most, and many do for free every Saturday.

So duck of @Disco you woke soft human.

 

[Top End Eagle]

"Champ" lolz, hit a nerve.

Ive no issue with you taking issue around the terminology used. If using learnings over lessons upsets you then fire away.

But incorrect terminology or as you put it a dumbing down of players and supporters doesnt make something "woke".

As far as me, Im not making any cultural or social stand, I just cringe every time someone fires 'woke' in an absurd context

 

[Top End Eagle]

Sorry 'champ' hit a nerve with you.

I'd hoped you'd won something in your life, it probably hit a nerve cause you hadn't.

Is snowflake better? Just let the rest of the forum know how sympathetic to the African American feelings about the word 'woke,' upsets you a little more and maybe they will all come to your birthday party this time.

You're picking a fight you won't win champ

 

[Disco]

Sorry 'champ' hit a nerve with you.

I'd hoped you'd won something in your life, it probably hit a nerve cause you hadn't.

Is snowflake better? Just let the rest of the forum know how sympathetic to the African American feelings about the word 'woke,' upsets you a little more and maybe they will all come to your birthday party this time.

You're picking a fight you won't win champ

Nobody wins fights on the internet.

Aplogies to all popping into this thread to discuss 2026 halves, my bad on taking us off on a tangent.

I've no problem with you not liking the image the club is portraying, the Manly Way, incorrect grammer, Men talking about their feelings or sitting toofar from campfires or any perceived lack of masculinity.

I'm also happy for you to call me snowflake or champ or sympathetic to whatever. Have at me, its all good.

My point stands though, 'woke' was not used in the correct context IMO.

But hey....one persons learnings is anothers lessons so lets live and let live.

I'm ducking out on this chat so Tp End Eagle feel free to have the last word....or insult if it floats your boat 😊

 

[Top End Eagle]

Nobody wins fights on the internet.

Aplogies to all popping into this thread to discuss 2026 halves, my bad on taking us off on a tangent.

I've no problem with you not liking the image the club is portraying, the Manly Way, incorrect grammer, Men talking about their feelings or sitting toofar from campfires or any perceived lack of masculinity.

I'm also happy for you to call me snowflake or champ or sympathetic to whatever. Have at me, its all good.

My point stands though, 'woke' was not used in the correct context IMO.

But hey....one persons learnings is anothers lessons so lets live and let live.

I'm ducking out on this chat so Tp End Eagle feel free to have the last word....or insult if it floats your boat 😊

Nobody wins fights on the internet.

Aplogies to all popping into this thread to discuss 2026 halves, my bad on taking us off on a tangent.

I've no problem with you not liking the image the club is portraying, the Manly Way, incorrect grammer, Men talking about their feelings or sitting toofar from campfires or any perceived lack of masculinity.

I'm also happy for you to call me snowflake or champ or sympathetic to whatever. Have at me, its all good.

My point stands though, 'woke' was not used in the correct context IMO.

But hey....one persons learnings is anothers lessons so lets live and let live.

I'm ducking out on this chat so Tp End Eagle feel free to have the last word....or insult if it floats your boat 😊

Grammar how you do anything is how you do everything. I'd like a harder nosed team, one that will keep Croker in the reserves upon his return. I fear I'm not supporting one like that, but cheers Disco, I've no dramas with a real supporter like you, just don't like being told I'm not using the nowadays sparing words I submit here incorrectly.

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

actual masculine interaction

Oh, you mean like this forum? Point taken

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

But genuine thanks for providing a momentary diversion from oh captain my captain's flying media circus.

 

[Disco]

But genuine thanks for providing a momentary diversion from oh captain my captain's flying media circus.

Is anyone else like me weirdly indifferent to DCE moving on?

Friends, colleagues, family etc keep asking knowing I'm a Manly fan and I feel like I should be outraged at someone...maybe DCE or the club or the Roosters. Perhaps I should be sad bordering on distraught.....but...yeah, Im not that bothered.

And I'm not sure why.

Ideally I'd have wanted him another season or two, but he's off, and I'm okay with it. Was going to happen in the near future anyeay so why not now?

Hope he kills it this year and we win a premiership, then next year, new beginnings.