maxta
First Grader
Last night watched a replay of Manly /Roosters round 2 before the season was postponed and keen to hear opinions based on the first 2 games....hard to start judging till round s 4-5, but could still see a few differences that looked good and defensively mixed options and also individual performances.
Certainly played to game plans in 1 and 2.
Felt game 1 in restrictive conditions still needed to play more footy, but in saying that if we won a dour struggle would have been happy enough.
Game 2 quite the opposite in promoting the footy with good shifts and plenty of support around the footy.
Both games lacked quality kicks to end sets and imperative this improves, which likely will in coming games.
Also the up and in defence can expose the wingers, especially already playing with a compressed defensive line and Suli in particular was caught out 3 times by Roosters, who luckily only took advantage for 1 try due to desperate cover defence.
Game 1 was hard to evaluate, as it was wet and windy, setup for a grind....and against the Master stranglers - Melbourne Storm.
Thought is was a rugged performance and were well in the game for around 60 minutes.
The biggest difference in this game apart from the control of Smith, was a far better kicking game from Storm.
Game 2 in far better conditions allowed Manly to play with more width than I seen from them after 20 rounds in 2019 and Walker was throwing a few key long balls even on early tackle counts which caught Roosters out 4-5 times, resulting in 2 linebreaks.
Also had big AFB and Kapow, not predictably where they wedge inside close to the ruck at A defenders, but also targeted the small halves Keary and Flanigan on the edges, bending the line and burning their energy for attack....liked it and once Walker and Turbo sniff around here in support, could become a real attacking weapon.
The game Tom T played was absolutely on point where I'm highly surprised if Snake Stewart has not been in his ear both positionally and about involvement....both attack and defence was an A+ Masterclass....add the effort plays and you have the icing on the cake.
Other standouts were Walker - again passing game has improved immensely imo and also the new 9 Levi was very sharp, with crisp passing and has the danger element to engage the closest defender and promote space for his runners...was excellent in only game 2.
Honourable mention to some great plays by Thompson, Garrick and Parker at various times and Boyle, the bloke I felt was not there often in 2019, done some good things and played to his size.
Please expand Feathered Friends - thoughts on players...good, bad, improved....only 2 games to chat about but the only 2 Manly games in almost 6 months now !!
Certainly played to game plans in 1 and 2.
Felt game 1 in restrictive conditions still needed to play more footy, but in saying that if we won a dour struggle would have been happy enough.
Game 2 quite the opposite in promoting the footy with good shifts and plenty of support around the footy.
Both games lacked quality kicks to end sets and imperative this improves, which likely will in coming games.
Also the up and in defence can expose the wingers, especially already playing with a compressed defensive line and Suli in particular was caught out 3 times by Roosters, who luckily only took advantage for 1 try due to desperate cover defence.
Game 1 was hard to evaluate, as it was wet and windy, setup for a grind....and against the Master stranglers - Melbourne Storm.
Thought is was a rugged performance and were well in the game for around 60 minutes.
The biggest difference in this game apart from the control of Smith, was a far better kicking game from Storm.
Game 2 in far better conditions allowed Manly to play with more width than I seen from them after 20 rounds in 2019 and Walker was throwing a few key long balls even on early tackle counts which caught Roosters out 4-5 times, resulting in 2 linebreaks.
Also had big AFB and Kapow, not predictably where they wedge inside close to the ruck at A defenders, but also targeted the small halves Keary and Flanigan on the edges, bending the line and burning their energy for attack....liked it and once Walker and Turbo sniff around here in support, could become a real attacking weapon.
The game Tom T played was absolutely on point where I'm highly surprised if Snake Stewart has not been in his ear both positionally and about involvement....both attack and defence was an A+ Masterclass....add the effort plays and you have the icing on the cake.
Other standouts were Walker - again passing game has improved immensely imo and also the new 9 Levi was very sharp, with crisp passing and has the danger element to engage the closest defender and promote space for his runners...was excellent in only game 2.
Honourable mention to some great plays by Thompson, Garrick and Parker at various times and Boyle, the bloke I felt was not there often in 2019, done some good things and played to his size.
Please expand Feathered Friends - thoughts on players...good, bad, improved....only 2 games to chat about but the only 2 Manly games in almost 6 months now !!
)
