Albert hopoate cleared by specialist

[Smokin Joe]

Have a look around. NRL has kids on fire all over the place. AFL is being dominated by really young kids at Lions Suns etc. 12 out of 22 in a soccer game the other night were under 22.
It’s a different world now.
Not sure if many of you have seen the kid. He’s as strong as an ox and a sensational player.
So he’s done his ACL ? He has to play sometime. None of these kids popping up everywhere have been playing either during Covid. Those two young cowboy pups looked sensational. I know for a fact hes fit strong and ready to go.

if he goes without playing a game and we end up with the same backline next year as a result it will be a disgrace.The 2 to 6 we have now will not win a comp. I’d bet a lot of money on that.Anyone who thinks they will ain’t watching every week.

Bottom line is without Tom we are going nowhere at the pointy end of season and he’s looking dodgier by the minute. Our only hope is to unearth a bright young star . Nothing to lose in my books ( except Albert if he’s kept out of side by average footballers). Parker Garrick Tafua Funa etc are not going to get us a comp. If we lose Albert ,Shuster has better be super man next year because we will struggle again out wide.

Roosters full of seasoned vets against Broncos full of kiddies,not so sure of this different world you talk about....general standard of footy this year is not flash(apart from a couple of sides),maybe part of it is everyone looking for the next big thing.....

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

Roosters full of seasoned vets against Broncos full of kiddies,not so sure of this different world you talk about....general standard of footy this year is not flash(apart from a couple of sides),maybe part of it is everyone looking for the next big thing.....

The trick with introducing talented youngsters is the same now as it has always been. The best way is to bring a young talent into a settled, experienced, and preferably in-form team. I'll be highly surprised if both Hoppa and Schuster don't debut this season, quite possibly in Rounds that Des has already pencilled in.

 

[Tragic Eagle]

The trick with introducing talented youngsters is the same now as it has always been. The best way is to bring a young talent into a settled, experienced, and preferably in-form team. I'll be highly surprised if both Hoppa and Schuster don't debut this season, quite possibly in Rounds that Des has already pencilled in.

I hope so.

 

[Smokin Joe]

The trick with introducing talented youngsters is the same now as it has always been. The best way is to bring a young talent into a settled, experienced, and preferably in-form team. I'll be highly surprised if both Hoppa and Schuster don't debut this season, quite possibly in Rounds that Des has already pencilled in.

It has always been that way,the issue is throwing youngsters into a side struggling and expecting them to turn the tide.The young guys mentioned in particular did well but will not change the tide and it was a desperate ploy from Green under fire.They are still a way away from being close to a polished item.(Fidow is light years away from being a solid at best fullback,a good run here and there does not make a fullback)
If we have no chance of making the finals then blood them or if we are in the 8 or 4 and a loss will make no difference then give them some time....Don't feel it is panic stations yet and need to chuck them in and don't think the club shold be held to ransom by a kid threatening to leave if they don't get chucked into the starting line up.(Not suggesting that that is the case here with our guys like Hoppa and Schuster even though some fear it may be the case)

 

[maxta]

There are definitely 2 sides to the tail, the old chestnut of bringing players into a strong, settled side is the textbook way to do so, as coming into a scrambled side and looking at a rookie to be the saviour, can be mass expectation and not always ideal.
Also the flip side is to have your strongest team on the park, as an example the Cows who are going ordinary could have far more inexperienced outside backs, but decided to give Fidow as he has more upside, given him a go and he has been arguably their best player regardless of the poor form....I think young Best at Newcastle has plenty of NRL hardened players with experience, but got the jump due to more upside and has done well...and there are plenty more.
I don't think there is a 100% answer of what is correct, but Des has the authority and ability to pick and choose players he works with - Everyday....I agree with SER8 that they will likely get a shot at some stage and my selfish excitement of wanting to see some talented Seaeagles youth cut opposition to shreds will come in good time....

 

[susan]

It has always been that way,the issue is throwing youngsters into a side struggling and expecting them to turn the tide.The young guys mentioned in particular did well but will not change the tide and it was a desperate ploy from Green under fire.They are still a way away from being close to a polished item.(Fidow is light years away from being a solid at best fullback,a good run here and there does not make a fullback)
If we have no chance of making the finals then blood them or if we are in the 8 or 4 and a loss will make no difference then give them some time....Don't feel it is panic stations yet and need to chuck them in and don't think the club shold be held to ransom by a kid threatening to leave if they don't get chucked into the starting line up.(Not suggesting that that is the case here with our guys like Hoppa and Schuster even though some fear it may be the case)

He’s not holding them to ransom. That’s media bull**** and not even close to real story.

Turning the tide?There is no tide to turn. We won’t win either way.If anyone thinks this current team wins the comp they are kidding themselves. The only tiny remote chance is finding some strike and yes, it almost certainly won’t work this year, but the current team 100 percent won’t win and giving these blokes a chance brings our future forward.My thoughts on our chances changed totally with the new rules and Fainu. A rough hope at odds went to zero.

Delay and next year we can’t win either and we have the youth discussion again late in the year and the goal moves to 2022. It’s a decade since we won a comp!

Pretending our current backline wins a GF serves little purpose.Unless people live in a cave they must notice that speed is king now and we have the slowest backline out there. .Fainu going down made any thoughts of covering for a pedestrian uncreative three quarter line a pipe dream.

At the moment with the blokes we run out whether we compete with the top sides at the pointy end of the year depends on one thing and one thing only - Tom. We were not scoring many points anyway with him. Just getting a few games on guts.Our points differential is **** as a result.You cannot build a side relying one one guy who gets injured often to get the job done.

Keep the status quo and you win the odd big game like last week but you don’t win the big prize.
It’s time to change up for the future or the future will walk out the door of a club who does not have the cash to replace them.

Anyway it’s old school thinking. Can hardly think of a young guy this year who hasnt stepped up to the mark with a decent performance and Hoppa and Shuster are as good as the best of the young brigade.
Im a huge Des fan but the game has changed.in terms of youth and speed .I’d love to see whst a great coach like him could do with these blokes.Put them on the park.

 

[susan]

Roosters full of seasoned vets against Broncos full of kiddies,not so sure of this different world you talk about....general standard of footy this year is not flash(apart from a couple of sides),maybe part of it is everyone looking for the next big thing.....

Standard not good? The previous few years under Greenturd have been the most boring wrestle ,block play ,kick to corner borefests in decades. Most people I know thought the game was heading towards robotic rugby union rubbish. The posts on here from many guys back that up.I went from watching five or six games a week to two at most

.Close games don’t equal good standard. Just means the games could be locked up with negative tactics/ wrestle / giving away penalties on the line etc.

The new rules have brought in fatigue/ reduced the wrestle and the block play is close to dead.Just because the better teams on the day get rewarded with blowout wins does not mean the standard is worse. Just means good play is rewarded as it should be. There are five or six sides who can win this comp if they make the top four.Thats more than has been the case for years.Throw in the difficulty of Covid and I think the standard is great given the circumstances.

 

[Smokin Joe]

He’s not holding them to ransom. That’s media bull**** and not even close to real story.

Turning the tide?There is no tide to turn. We won’t win either way.If anyone thinks this current team wins the comp they are kidding themselves. The only tiny remote chance is finding some strike and yes, it almost certainly won’t work this year, but the current team 100 percent won’t win and giving these blokes a chance brings our future forward.My thoughts on our chances changed totally with the new rules and Fainu. A rough hope at odds went to zero.

Delay and next year we can’t win either and we have the youth discussion again late in the year and the goal moves to 2022. It’s a decade since we won a comp!

Pretending our current backline wins a GF serves little purpose.Unless people live in a cave they must notice that speed is king now and we have the slowest backline out there. .Fainu going down made any thoughts of covering for a pedestrian uncreative three quarter line a pipe dream.

At the moment with the blokes we run out whether we compete with the top sides at the pointy end of the year depends on one thing and one thing only - Tom. We were not scoring many points anyway with him. Just getting a few games on guts.Our points differential is **** as a result.You cannot build a side relying one one guy who gets injured often to get the job done.

Keep the status quo and you win the odd big game like last week but you don’t win the big prize.
It’s time to change up for the future or the future will walk out the door of a club who does not have the cash to replace them.

Anyway it’s old school thinking. Can hardly think of a young guy this year who hasnt stepped up to the mark with a decent performance and Hoppa and Shuster are as good as the best of the young brigade.
Im a huge Des fan but the game has changed.in terms of youth and speed .I’d love to see whst a great coach like him could do with these blokes.Put them on the park.

Did not say he was holding the club to ransom,please show where I did....Put Hopoate in because it won't make any difference this year or next,this year he will make little difference and if you do he will sign elsewhere for more next year.....(people should realise that we can't keep 2 high priced fullbacks on that sort of money,maybe des wants to stick with players who will look to stay for longer,interesting that Schuster has signed on til 22 but Hopoate no news,maybe says something?,I have little faith he will be here long term)
The "tide" I was referring to was the Cowboys,I don't think we have a tide that needs turning(you do and that is your opinion)
No offence but you thinking we can't win this year or do well is your opinion,others think differently,so therefore Des is looking to this year not next,he is probably not thinking we are re-building.
We have blooded Olakau'atu,Keppie,Cust,Funa,Garrick the last 2 years(as well as making Fainu our starting 9 problems with him aside),doesn't seem to suggest we are old school and not looking to making changes with younger players,just because there are 2 that people really want maybe blinds people to reality?

 

[Smokin Joe]

Standard not good? The previous few years under Greenturd have been the most boring wrestle ,block play ,kick to corner borefests in decades. Most people I know thought the game was heading towards robotic rugby union rubbish. The posts on here from many guys back that up.I went from watching five or six games a week to two at most

.Close games don’t equal good standard. Just means the games could be locked up with negative tactics/ wrestle / giving away penalties on the line etc.

The new rules have brought in fatigue/ reduced the wrestle and the block play is close to dead.Just because the better teams on the day get rewarded with blowout wins does not mean the standard is worse. Just means good play is rewarded as it should be. There are five or six sides who can win this comp if they make the top four.Thats more than has been the case for years.Throw in the difficulty of Covid and I think the standard is great given the circumstances.

The standard I am referring to is skill level,majority of sides don't seem to have any idea how to create tries,relying on tired guys to create gaps in the defence does not increase skill level of players.So many sides have no idea how to create attacking opportunities,was so good to see an old timer like Marshall do so well last night,just needed more depth in the forwards to help him

 

[Woodsie]

Im a huge Des fan but the game has changed.in terms of youth and speed .I’d love to see whst a great coach like him could do with these blokes.Put them on the park.

You are seeing what a great coach like Dessie would do with them .... he is bringing them along slowly ....

 

[maxta]

There's only 1 decision maker who will alter any Manly teams chosen, or give rookies a run - the mad professor himself....
Personally would add Hoppa out wide (somewhere in the 1-5), as I reckon he already has the ability...thing is - Des is around the entire squad basically every day and has his reasons for keeping this team as is....maybe he knows a few issues concerning him in relation to the step up.
It's ok to have opinions on selections and anything really, because I think everyone wants the same result...Manly to dominate the NRL....none more so than Des himself, so as much as I have opinions on players who I believe would make the team stronger, have the belief the bloke in charge is steering this ship in the right direction.

 

[40 nil]

We've spent so much time in this forum speculating about Hopoate & Schuster without really knowing what is happening in the squad. Maybe we should request the Sea Eagles media manager to ask Des a question something like "If there are further injuries in the backs, would you consider bringing Hopoate or Schuster into the team?"

 

[Tragic Eagle]

You are seeing what a great coach like Dessie would do with them .... he is bringing them along slowly ....

How is sitting them on the side line bringing them on slowly?

 

[Woodsie]

How is sitting them on the side line bringing them on slowly?

Very very slowly ....

My comment was in response to someone saying he would love to see what a great coach like Des would do with them .... and I said we are seeing what a great coach like Des would do with them .... he has them ... and he must believe it is not yet time to release the Kracken ..

 

[globaleagle]

Very very slowly ....

My comment was in response to someone saying he would love to see what a great coach like Des would do with them .... and I said we are seeing what a great coach like Des would do with them .... he has them ... and he must believe it is not yet time to release the Kracken ..

Today Seattle unveiled the name and log of their new hockey team.

I give you the Seattle Kracken!

The Kracken is a fabulous Scandinavian sea monster and the plural is either Kraken (pop) or Krakens (idiots).

 

[mickqld]

What has Hoppa been cleared for ?
Running, training, full body contact, playing or signing with that loser dog coach.

 

[Smokin Joe]

How is sitting them on the side line bringing them on slowly?

Just my thoughts...I think Des was looking to give them time in reggies this year to bring them along and continue their development(probably blooding them at some point if circumstances allowed),that is obviously not happening.The decision to bring them into the top side is now a contentious issue and why everyone is debating it.Would love to have seen them have had anywhere from 6-10 games in reggies this year to be able to evaluate them more,but.....
We lose a game or 2 and people want them in the side,we win a game or 2 and all is good.
There are probably so many players champing at the bit to play this year and frustrated to not be able to do so,I am sure Saddler,Sipley,Gauca,Metcalf,Miski etc....want to be out there

 

[Bearfax]

it would have been great to see Hoppa and Schuster in the Reggies and ideally that would have been the way to go. But that door has closed and we cant even be sure it will open again in 2021.

To me if the side was playing top four like, I would hold them back and give them a little more time. But the back line we have is workmanlike, solid most of the time defensively, but not doing the job a backline is meant to do, that being finishing off the hard work of the forwards.

Early on with Turbo causing havoc, the backline was getting space and scoring most of the tries. In fact before Turbo was injured 13 of the 16 tries scored were by the threequarters and full back, with Walker and DCE each scoring a try each, meaning only one try was scored by the forwards. Since Walker and Turbo have been missing only two of the 11 tries scored since then have been by the three quarters and full back. The forwards have scored 5 tries , DCE 2 and Cust 1.

Its not therefore surprising that we have been losing games. If the forwards dont dominate, we have no alternative penetration. Defence only wins games if the attack can at least compete with the opposition. Holding off on Schuster and Hoppa will ensure the Sea Eagles continue to survive by arm wrestles and hard yardage made by the forwards, as well as scoring the tries. Time for risking youth.

 

[The better Robbo]

it would have been great to see Hoppa and Schuster in the Reggies and ideally that would have been the way to go. But that door has closed and we cant even be sure it will open again in 2021.

To me if the side was playing top four like, I would hold them back and give them a little more time. But the back line we have is workmanlike, solid most of the time defensively, but not doing the job a backline is meant to do, that being finishing off the hard work of the forwards.

Early on with Turbo causing havoc, the backline was getting space and scoring most of the tries. In fact before Turbo was injured 13 of the 16 tries scored were by the threequarters and full back, with Walker and DCE each scoring a try each, meaning only one try was scored by the forwards. Since Walker and Turbo have been missing only two of the 11 tries scored since then have been by the three quarters and full back. The forwards have scored 5 tries , DCE 2 and Cust 1.

Its not therefore surprising that we have been losing games. If the forwards dont dominate, we have no alternative penetration. Defence only wins games if the attack can at least compete with the opposition. Holding off on Schuster and Hoppa will ensure the Sea Eagles continue to survive by arm wrestles and hard yardage made by the forwards, as well as scoring the tries. Time for risking youth.

Very interesting facts with and without Turbo/ Walker.

 

[Smokin Joe]

So we scored 16 tries in the first 6 games and then 11 in the last 4?We are scoring more tries per game without Turbo?(just more in the forwards),Sounds like a side that has adapted without its' main strike weapons.....