A quality hooker

[Ryan]

Cheers for your thoughts. A lot to unravel there. I was focusing more on the recruitment side initially but understand a few of your other points.

What are your thoughts on releasing Kapow and Walker? There’s $1m freed up (understanding that it could already be allocated) to reposition the squad. At the end of the day it means 2 new bodies are joining our top 30.

In response to some of your key points, I think the Fainu situation really hurt us. If he had his incident a little earlier - there’s zero chance we lose Api.
Why they’ve persisted so long, who knows.
I agree with you about Cust - he is much more talented than Croker will ever be. It was just his in game maturity I think that Des wasn’t a fan of.
Croker is very dependable. He does make mistakes but he does what he’s told.

I think we are building to:
1) Tom
2) Garrick
3) Koula
4) Toipolotu
5) Saab
6) Schuster
7) DCE
8) Paseka
9) Fainu
10) Aloiai
11) Tuilagi
12) Olaka’atu
13) Jurbo

14) Davey
15) Bullemor
16) Paseka
17) Lawton/Croker

That’s a fine looking 17.

You have Paseka in there twice, but I'll assume you mean Sipley. But what do we do? These are my ideas:

01. Tom Trbojevic (easy pick)
02. Jason Saab (looked great next to Koula in the trial)
03. Tolutau Koula (looked great next to Saab in the trial)
04.
05. Reuben Garrick (Huge points getter)
06. Kaeo Weekes (we need to blood him, could be anything)
07. DCE (last year, with Humphrey's developing - do NOT extend DCE)
08. Jake Trbojevic (less ball playing, more defending / making metres)
09.
10. Josh Aloiai (Hit hard in defense)
11. Kelma Tuilagi (great partner for Haumole)
12. Haumole Olakau'atu (continues beast mode)
13. Josh Schuster (roaming lock, gets hands on ball asap, loses 10kg's)

14. Jamie Humphreys (learn, learn, learn)
15. Taniela Paseka (focus on fitness / mobility)
16. Sean Keppie (keep improving to beastmode)
17. Ethan Bullemor (can play both in the middle and wide)

Our off season recruitment need to focus on a blue chip centre, and a blue chip hooker.

Hooker being the priority. The off contract Hookers are:
Jayden Berrell, Manase Fainu, Temple Kalepo, Freddy Lussick, Jayden Nikorima, Mitch Rein, Tom Starling, Jake Turpin.
I'd go for:
1. Manase Fainu, then;
2. Tom Starling.

Centre wise, there are a heap of players available. But make sure they are proven. They can defend. They can attack. They don't get dominated physically.

Anyways, just my feel to speed the team up, become more direct, but remain physical.

Lastly, I possibly consider a coaching director to help Des with the modern nuances of the game today. Des is a great coach, I'm just not sure he's up with the times. His ideas seem out dated and reactive. We need to be proactive and innovative.

 

[deanm]

You have Paseka in there twice, but I'll assume you mean Sipley. But what do we do? These are my ideas:

01. Tom Trbojevic (easy pick)
02. Jason Saab (looked great next to Koula in the trial)
03. Tolutau Koula (looked great next to Saab in the trial)
04.
05. Reuben Garrick (Huge points getter)
06. Kaeo Weekes (we need to blood him, could be anything)
07. DCE (last year, with Humphrey's developing - do NOT extend DCE)
08. Jake Trbojevic (less ball playing, more defending / making metres)
09.
10. Josh Aloiai (Hit hard in defense)
11. Kelma Tuilagi (great partner for Haumole)
12. Haumole Olakau'atu (continues beast mode)
13. Josh Schuster (roaming lock, gets hands on ball asap, loses 10kg's)

14. Jamie Humphreys (learn, learn, learn)
15. Taniela Paseka (focus on fitness / mobility)
16. Sean Keppie (keep improving to beastmode)
17. Ethan Bullemor (can play both in the middle and wide)

Our off season recruitment need to focus on a blue chip centre, and a blue chip hooker.

Hooker being the priority. The off contract Hookers are:
Jayden Berrell, Manase Fainu, Temple Kalepo, Freddy Lussick, Jayden Nikorima, Mitch Rein, Tom Starling, Jake Turpin.
I'd go for:
1. Manase Fainu, then;
2. Tom Starling.

Centre wise, there are a heap of players available. But make sure they are proven. They can defend. They can attack. They don't get dominated physically.

Anyways, just my feel to speed the team up, become more direct, but remain physical.

Lastly, I possibly consider a coaching director to help Des with the modern nuances of the game today. Des is a great coach, I'm just not sure he's up with the times. His ideas seem out dated and reactive. We need to be proactive and innovative.

Starling extended at Raiders until end of 2024.

 

[Shoe1]

You have Paseka in there twice, but I'll assume you mean Sipley. But what do we do? These are my ideas:

01. Tom Trbojevic (easy pick)
02. Jason Saab (looked great next to Koula in the trial)
03. Tolutau Koula (looked great next to Saab in the trial)
04.
05. Reuben Garrick (Huge points getter)
06. Kaeo Weekes (we need to blood him, could be anything)
07. DCE (last year, with Humphrey's developing - do NOT extend DCE)
08. Jake Trbojevic (less ball playing, more defending / making metres)
09.
10. Josh Aloiai (Hit hard in defense)
11. Kelma Tuilagi (great partner for Haumole)
12. Haumole Olakau'atu (continues beast mode)
13. Josh Schuster (roaming lock, gets hands on ball asap, loses 10kg's)

14. Jamie Humphreys (learn, learn, learn)
15. Taniela Paseka (focus on fitness / mobility)
16. Sean Keppie (keep improving to beastmode)
17. Ethan Bullemor (can play both in the middle and wide)

Our off season recruitment need to focus on a blue chip centre, and a blue chip hooker.

Hooker being the priority. The off contract Hookers are:
Jayden Berrell, Manase Fainu, Temple Kalepo, Freddy Lussick, Jayden Nikorima, Mitch Rein, Tom Starling, Jake Turpin.
I'd go for:
1. Manase Fainu, then;
2. Tom Starling.

Centre wise, there are a heap of players available. But make sure they are proven. They can defend. They can attack. They don't get dominated physically.

Anyways, just my feel to speed the team up, become more direct, but remain physical.

Lastly, I possibly consider a coaching director to help Des with the modern nuances of the game today. Des is a great coach, I'm just not sure he's up with the times. His ideas seem out dated and reactive. We need to be proactive and innovative.

I like it, except for starling. He is a good runner, but harbour bridge passes in the trial v manly set up a bunch of hospital passes.

 

[Terry Zarsoff]

Maybe Verrills will return at some point. He seems to spend more time injured than not. Bee Sting Face Jr. and the Goosters might tire of him and he turns into a cheap and handy pickup.

Or is there still some sort of bad blood between the Ferrills’ clan and Manly?

 

[Shoe1]

Maybe Verrills will return at some point. He seems to spend more time injured than not. Bee Sting Face Jr. and the Goosters might tire of him and he turns into a cheap and handy pickup.

Or is there still some sort of bad blood between the Ferrills’ clan and Manly?

Barrett casualty. Along with hynes.

Lost opportunities, cust boarded with the verrills as a young teen, now neither boy is at manly.

 

[hozza]

Not much in the way of Hookers off contract. Anyone know if there are any promising hookers in the UK?

 

[Ryan]

Starling extended at Raiders until end of 2024.

Damn

 

[Ryan]

I think Pasekas big enough to play 2 positions 😂

I actually meant Tuitavake. The lad in our top 30 now. I feel like Sipley is old school. I know he bends the line. But the game just seems to require more mobile longer min forwards these days. He would have the smallest motor of all the big boys.

Mitch Rein could do a job for us. So could Granville from the Cows. All temporary of course until our Jnr makes it through.

The fact is, if Manase had played this entire time, we probably would have challenged for a Premiership. Just a shame how it’s all panned out.

With Koula, Weekes and Tui all there, I think the club would be reluctant to go to market for a centre.

Agree about Hooker being a huge concern. I love Croker dedication and heart - but the talent has never been there and he’s injury prone.

Anyway, I’ve actually liked our recruitment recently. Take away the Fainu situation (which has been a tough one for the club to navigate) I think they are making well thought out recruitment steps. Add in Taupau and Walkers expensive salaries to go this year - and I believe we are well positioned recruitment wise.

Great post mate and we'll thought out. It's a shame Tuilagi is a bit of the lumbering forward Taupau, Jake, and our other props are. Jeez I'd love some intensity and uptempo explosion in the forwards like the rest of the league are trending towards.

That said, and excuse my spelling hehe, that Tuitavake really fits the mould I think we should be looking for. Today's game would have really suit players like Malangi Styles (remember him?), and players like him.

I think we actually agree on a hell of a lot mate.

 

[Ryan]

I like it, except for starling. He is a good runner, but harbour bridge passes in the trial v manly set up a bunch of hospital passes.

Aaah, good point if true. I didn't see that in the trial. We need sharp.crisp.padsing from dummy half.

 

[Terry Zarsoff]

Barrett casualty. Along with hynes.

Lost opportunities, cust boarded with the verrills as a young teen, now neither boy is at manly.

Yes I know, however the Cust deal in the UK looks structured with the option for him to return to Brookvale.

A bit like Astro Boy more than a decade ago.

 

[Shoe1]

Yes I know, however the Cust deal in the UK looks structured with the option for him to return to Brookvale.

A bit like Astro Boy more than a decade ago.

Agree, but we could use him now. He straightens the attack very well.

 

[mave]

we have a hooker, his name is Walker, but he is planted on the bench..

We have an even better hooker.
His name is DCE.

We pay him gazillions to run around like a headless chook, and continually kick the ball away on the 2nd and 3rd tackle.

 

[maxta]

You have Paseka in there twice, but I'll assume you mean Sipley. But what do we do? These are my ideas:

01. Tom Trbojevic (easy pick)
02. Jason Saab (looked great next to Koula in the trial)
03. Tolutau Koula (looked great next to Saab in the trial)
04.
05. Reuben Garrick (Huge points getter)
06. Kaeo Weekes (we need to blood him, could be anything)
07. DCE (last year, with Humphrey's developing - do NOT extend DCE)
08. Jake Trbojevic (less ball playing, more defending / making metres)
09.
10. Josh Aloiai (Hit hard in defense)
11. Kelma Tuilagi (great partner for Haumole)
12. Haumole Olakau'atu (continues beast mode)
13. Josh Schuster (roaming lock, gets hands on ball asap, loses 10kg's)

14. Jamie Humphreys (learn, learn, learn)
15. Taniela Paseka (focus on fitness / mobility)
16. Sean Keppie (keep improving to beastmode)
17. Ethan Bullemor (can play both in the middle and wide)

Our off season recruitment need to focus on a blue chip centre, and a blue chip hooker.

Hooker being the priority. The off contract Hookers are:
Jayden Berrell, Manase Fainu, Temple Kalepo, Freddy Lussick, Jayden Nikorima, Mitch Rein, Tom Starling, Jake Turpin.
I'd go for:
1. Manase Fainu, then;
2. Tom Starling.

Centre wise, there are a heap of players available. But make sure they are proven. They can defend. They can attack. They don't get dominated physically.

Anyways, just my feel to speed the team up, become more direct, but remain physical.

Lastly, I possibly consider a coaching director to help Des with the modern nuances of the game today. Des is a great coach, I'm just not sure he's up with the times. His ideas seem out dated and reactive. We need to be proactive and innovative.

Great post mate - enjoyed it and some super ideas and fact in there....2 thumbs up 🤙

 

[eagleron]

I think waiting 2 years is not the way. Let’s blood our good young players. Plenty of teams have 19 and 20 year olds doing well. Now is the time, and can be out there with experienced players, before they get dropped or fired.

Sadly it's not the Hasler way

 

[40 nil]

Hopefully in 2023, we'll have a powerful one two punch in Manase & Gordie 👊