I think the issue here is sporting fans riding there own team and players like no other.
It is not a criticism, in fact it is quite natural but our players are never as good or as bad as we make them out to be.
With the emotional attachment we have to manly we amplify every try and line break and every missed tackle and error.
Where as when we watch other teams we objectively view a player like Davey as a solid squad forward. We look at ours like Waddel and Boyle and lambast them for not being good enough.
On my comment on Thompson and Sironen. I do disagree with you and I do not think you are being honest. Rather I think you are blinded by the hurt of how the team is struggling atm.
Im very confident that if you asked fans from 14 other teams would they take Sirro, Joel or Davey then Davey would be pick 3 99% of the time.
In Thompson and Sirro you have approx 350 first grade appearences and 6 city/country games. With Davey you have 7 appearences at 28. Now this is not to say he is a bad player but it is indicative of his upside. For reference Olakau'Atu is 6 years younger and has 6 appearences.
Again I want to reiterate that I'm not bagging Davey here. Personally I find the proposed signing as a little underwheling as Id prefer either a prospect to develop or some experience but will get behind him.
Just find it baffling that people are going to overhype him and say he is better than Sirro and Thommo
Just a couple of things,
I did not say better than and I don't think anyone else has or hyped him,I said as good as and after watching his performance last night I feel vindicated in my judgement.He did not miss a tackle or fall off one,his positioning and hustle were top notch,he offered himself as a decoy all night and his running ability was that good that he could have received the pass instead of just looking to run through the line,he carted it up the middle and did not get pushed back even when multiple guys were in the tackle and he showed an ability to offload.Everything I saw was as good as what our guys have shown.
I am being honest about it and I have seen a few games and he stood out and it was not because he was debuting at 28.
I don't believe that lumping everyone on here as wearing Manly coloured glasses when we critique our players is fair,some may,but I watch a player as a player and do not apply bias when judging them,I am more optimistic than probably 90% of what I see posted here.
I am not blinded by the hurt from our team,I am very optimistic and positive about our side and look to the positives over the negatives,but I will call a spade a spade and that is how I see our backrowers,not from losses or injuries or game plan etc..It is good that coaches do not select people or sign them because of what fans want,I don't get how the percentage of fans would prefer someone else over Davey has to do with anything?
I saw enough last night to think that he will get better and it showed why Arthur selected him over Lane.I hope we have signed him because I think we may have gotten a steal(Shane Rodney with a bit more ability).
You are right that it is not a glamorous signing but we have many guys to get re-signed over the next 12 months like Paseka,Schuster,Funa,Olakau'atu,Hopoate,doubt there will be too many big names,maybe one or a couple of mid-tier players
Up the Sea Eagles....
