A common theme - Defence !!

[maxta]

Maybe only 2 weeks in but the Best teams- Roosters, Penrith, Raiders, Storm....they have pride in stopping points.
Yes the game is now ultra quick, but defence is based on trust, execution, quick reloading and most importantly good old fashioned guts....the ONLY way back for Manly regardless of Tom T or signing a Superstar from another planet- is to improve this number 1 area in the game - DEFENCE

 

[susan]

No enforcers Maxta Not a single hitter in the team.Jake seems to have lost that for some reason.He was almost the best two years ago in terms of hard hitting technique

Some solid defenders in the pack and a few like JetSki that are hit or miss. Backline defence is way too slow on the left and indecisive on the right.Jorge gone now.

To get that aggressive mindset you need toughnuts like Bromwich Cheese JWH Radley Papali Fisher Harris etc

We just don’t have the cements , chocs, gifts etc that drove great Manly packs
Can’t see anyone like that coming through either. Plenty of young talent but not much mongrel

 

[Dion Johnson]

No enforcers Maxta Not a single hitter in the team.Jake seems to have lost that for some reason.

Some solid defenders in the pack and a few like JetSki that are hit or miss. Backline defence is way too slow on the left and indecisive on the right.

To get that aggressive mindset you need toughnuts like Bromwich Cheese JWH Radley Papali Fisher Harris etc

We just don’t have the cements , chocs, gifts etc that drove great Manly packs
Can’t see anyone like that coming through either. Plenty of young talent but not much mongrel

Agree Jake doesn’t hit like he did two seasons back..

Keppie had a few good hits yesterday, definitely need some toughness in the edge forwards. Hopefully Guaca recovers well to stiffen that up....

 

[susan]

Yep Guaca and Keppie most likely. Just don’t know if Keppie good enough in other facets to be a long term first grader.

 

[The better Robbo]

No enforcers Maxta Not a single hitter in the team.Jake seems to have lost that for some reason.He was almost the best two years ago in terms of hard hitting technique

Some solid defenders in the pack and a few like JetSki that are hit or miss. Backline defence is way too slow on the left and indecisive on the right.Jorge gone now.

To get that aggressive mindset you need toughnuts like Bromwich Cheese JWH Radley Papali Fisher Harris etc

We just don’t have the cements , chocs, gifts etc that drove great Manly packs
Can’t see anyone like that coming through either. Plenty of young talent but not much mongrel

I think Keppie and Aloiai showed they can be enforcers. Jake back to his best and Olakau-atu in the backrow with Davey then all of a sudden we have plenty of hitters and enforcers. That's not our issue.

 

[RedEagle]

I reckon the biggest issue with our defence is actually our lack of attack. Sounds ridiculous, but we don’t get any joy up the other end when we get an opportunity. Frustration and pushed passes set in. We lose field position. The opposition grows a leg when they keep turning us away. They score, grab momentum and we are on the back foot for most of the game. The modern game (apart from this weekend’s wet weather) requires approx 5 tries to win a match. Melbourne conceded 20+ points in 6 of their last 7 games last season and won the competition.

 

[Scorpio]

No enforcers Maxta Not a single hitter in the team.Jake seems to have lost that for some reason.He was almost the best two years ago in terms of hard hitting technique

Some solid defenders in the pack and a few like JetSki that are hit or miss. Backline defence is way too slow on the left and indecisive on the right.Jorge gone now.

To get that aggressive mindset you need toughnuts like Bromwich Cheese JWH Radley Papali Fisher Harris etc

We just don’t have the cements , chocs, gifts etc that drove great Manly packs
Can’t see anyone like that coming through either. Plenty of young talent but not much mongrel

Didn't Jake have a shoulder reconstruction before last year? That might explain some of it...

But yes we need an enforcer and I'm not sure who it will be or should be.

 

[silver]

Most of our tries out wide are leaked because our wingers stupidly and repeatedly charge and leave their man unmarked. Quick passing or one block play is all you need and it’s a try every time. If they don’t charge in and hold their line, then the opposition winger doesn’t score. Our defensive coaches are f@cling useless and blind.

 

[maxta]

No enforcers Maxta Not a single hitter in the team.Jake seems to have lost that for some reason.He was almost the best two years ago in terms of hard hitting technique

Some solid defenders in the pack and a few like JetSki that are hit or miss. Backline defence is way too slow on the left and indecisive on the right.Jorge gone now.

To get that aggressive mindset you need toughnuts like Bromwich Cheese JWH Radley Papali Fisher Harris etc

We just don’t have the cements , chocs, gifts etc that drove great Manly packs
Can’t see anyone like that coming through either. Plenty of young talent but not much mongrel

Definately the contacts are very soft and I recall Jake would make many chainsaw type shots cutting them in half and Keppie used to show far more aggro off the bench...recall 1 shot against Souths where Jake smashed a kick returner who spilt the ball for Fainu to scoop up and score...

 

[Ron E. Gibbs]

I reckon the biggest issue with our defence is actually our lack of attack. Sounds ridiculous, but we don’t get any joy up the other end when we get an opportunity. Frustration and pushed passes set in. We lose field position. The opposition grows a leg when they keep turning us away. They score, grab momentum and we are on the back foot for most of the game. The modern game (apart from this weekend’s wet weather) requires approx 5 tries to win a match. Melbourne conceded 20+ points in 6 of their last 7 games last season and won the competition.

This is a very good point - the big issue with our defence over the last three or four seasons is simply that we ask ourselves to do too much of it. Because our attack (especially without Tom) is so anaemic and we keep coughing up the ball, we spend all our time tackling, which soon turns into not tackling. And what happens when a team scores a try against you? They get the ball back so they can do it all over again. Fatigue sets in, heads drop, and it's game over.

Rugby league is much more fun to play when you're scoring tries. I keep hoping our boys can rediscover that feeling, but to do that they're going to have to start holding onto the ball, working for repeat sets and taking opportunities when they're presented. Souths gave us plenty of chances and we just weren't good enough to take them.

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

In the last 5 or 6 years the only periods I can recall our attack looking reasonably potent have been...

• When Tom is present and firing
• a few years back Walker and Uate were threatening on our right edge
• A couple years ago when Fainu was stepping up and we still had Api

 

[sheridanstand78]

Our defence has lost its resilience and aggression.

You only have to go back to round 6 last year which I think is our last really good defensive performance against Canberra.

That day the guys rolled their sleeves up after we lost Tom and Dylan to effectively season ending injuries and they repelled the previous seasons grand finalists time and time again. It was done on well drilled up and in defence.

I watch Manly at the moment and their is no cohesion or confidence when it comes to defending. The Vermin tries again came from not dealing with grubber kicks, our wingers coming in and being cut out and a soft try from dummy half which killed our momentum.

There needs to be a focus on getting the basics right, we need to be well drilled, we need to deal with kicks as we concede far too many tries and importantly where we really must improve is getting our own attacking game in order. creating pressure, getting resets and tiring out our opponent. Field position is everything in the modern game and we are always battling to get that now.

Its not necessarily about big hits its about coordination and cohesion and things can improve. What will undoubtedly help is having the same team on the field every week cause the injuries continue to dog us!

 

[pjayz]

I reckon the biggest issue with our defence is actually our lack of attack. Sounds ridiculous, but we don’t get any joy up the other end when we get an opportunity. Frustration and pushed passes set in. We lose field position. The opposition grows a leg when they keep turning us away. They score, grab momentum and we are on the back foot for most of the game. The modern game (apart from this weekend’s wet weather) requires approx 5 tries to win a match. Melbourne conceded 20+ points in 6 of their last 7 games last season and won the competition.

That is certainly a big part of it. If we can't capitalise on opportunities or create momentum through repeated effective attacking plays, then the rest of our game suffers.

We need answers at both ends. If DCE and Foran can get it together and start controlling our sets better then I believe our defence and general attitude and energy will lift.

 

[Tragic Eagle]

It is extremely difficult for the engine room to maintain energy when the captain and half back stifles the attack and gives away possession. I have been a long term DCE fan but I am now convinced he is a major contributing factor to our poor use of the football. IMO He must be removed from the first receiver role. The chorus I'm hearing for him to play 9 isn't a bad idea unless he over plays his hand at dummy half.

 

[The Royal Soup]

People rating JetSki please..... he is as overrated as they come and has missed 10 tackles in two games

 

[Ron E. Gibbs]

People rating JetSki please..... he is as overrated as they come and has missed 10 tackles in two games

That'd make him one of our best defenders, wouldn't it?

 

[jbb/james]

I reckon the biggest issue with our defence is actually our lack of attack. Sounds ridiculous, but we don’t get any joy up the other end when we get an opportunity. Frustration and pushed passes set in. We lose field position. The opposition grows a leg when they keep turning us away. They score, grab momentum and we are on the back foot for most of the game. The modern game (apart from this weekend’s wet weather) requires approx 5 tries to win a match. Melbourne conceded 20+ points in 6 of their last 7 games last season and won the competition.

Absa****inglutely. Early mark for you @RedEagle . Top of the class

 

[Spartan Eagle]

Gone are the days when teams feared coming to the fortress. We had solid and agressive defence all over the park. Now we might as well have red carpet and a ticket tape parade for all visitors. And @Wombat64 lube mobile parked near the members stand for all our supporters.

 

[Simonmyers11]

I reckon the biggest issue with our defence is actually our lack of attack. Sounds ridiculous, but we don’t get any joy up the other end when we get an opportunity. Frustration and pushed passes set in. We lose field position. The opposition grows a leg when they keep turning us away. They score, grab momentum and we are on the back foot for most of the game. The modern game (apart from this weekend’s wet weather) requires approx 5 tries to win a match. Melbourne conceded 20+ points in 6 of their last 7 games last season and won the competition.

Im with you on this. I think we have enough enforcers, our edge defence lacks judgement at times and is slow but we honestly don't score enough points to keep us in matches. In the past, we may have let a try in, but go up the other end and snag one back which can keep you in the match and within range. Has a carry on effect, the boys fire up and when you are within striking distance all the players naturally go to another level. Anyone that has played the game know this. When we hardly score more than one or two tries a game, when we start getting too far behind, we know it will be a miracle to come back.

Yes, edge defence needs work, but how long has it been since we looked threatening with the ball.

 

[Eagle thru 'n' thru]

After R2 6-Again restarts info.