Any concerns about the Manly 2020 squad ?

[SeaEagleRock8]

Fainu looking doubtful

'Doubtful'??
Mate he is already banned by the NRL. And there is zero chance of that situation changing unless the current charges are downgraded.
Chances of a sufficient downgrade will depend on medical experts.
However these (reported) comments of Justice Rothman don't fill me with optimism - “a couple of millimetres either way and it could have been (fatal)”... “As close to murder as you can get" ... “But for a little grace, it could be a homicide charge”. Still possible, but I rate his chances several levels below 'doubtful'.

Ergo, I believe our squad lacks a number 9. Which happens to be one of the most (if not the most) important positions in current NRL.

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

I would confidently put my house on missing the 8 unless Fainu gets off and plays next year or we sign Levi.

Hey Snake, gamble responsibly!
The rest of our squad is so strong I would still expect us to make the 8, but I agree, we need a Levi, or some experienced 9.
Before that church dance I thought we were good things to win the 2020 comp. Now I think we may not but we still have a powerful lineup.

 

[The better Robbo]

This Fainu situation has totally spoiled the off-season.

I was confident heading into next year but with no 9, we are cannon fodder. Anyone that thinks you can compete with NSW Cup standard halves playing FG week in, week out, in a new position is absolutely insane.

The 9 makes more tackles than any other player on the field...it's a specialist position and outside of the dominant half in a team, probably the most crucial position of all.

We are ****ed.

This is not me being hypersensitive or negative, it is just reality. I would confidently put my house on missing the 8 unless Fainu gets off and plays next year or we sign Levi.

Even then, Levi will take some time to gel with the rest of the squad and I doubt we would make the Top 4. With Fainu I could see us challenging for the premiership.

Agree we certainly can't go into the season relying on Cust and Croker to play hooker. What if we have an injury in the halves? 100% we need to buy an experienced hooker and an actual hooker not a makeshift. Then you have cust and croker as back up half and hooker options. If we sign the right guy, and by that I mean Levi then I can still see us being top 4. Fainu leaves a big hole but I still think if we can get the right replacement then we will be ok
P.S Still hopeful of Fainu being able to play

 

[Spartan Eagle]

Agree with @Snake that without Fainu we are royally screwed. It's a crucial position which Fainu claimed as his own and was lethal in attack. The only thing that gives me confidence is that we have Des at the helm with a **** load of talent around the park. Injury free we are still a threat. But we are already on the back foot which sucks..

 

[Bring back the.... Biff?]

Agree with @Snake that without Fainu we are royally screwed. It's a crucial position which Fainu claimed as his own and was lethal in attack. The only thing that gives me confidence is that we have Des at the helm with a **** load of talent around the park. Injury free we are still a threat. But we are already on the back foot which sucks..

Hard to disagree fainu was amazing and when he came on the real manly came alive.... such a shame. We need a specialist 9 Levi under dessy will be great. With cust or croker off the bench

 

[maxta]

'Doubtful'??
Mate he is already banned by the NRL. And there is zero chance of that situation changing unless the current charges are downgraded.
Chances of a sufficient downgrade will depend on medical experts.
However these (reported) comments of Justice Rothman don't fill me with optimism - “a couple of millimetres either way and it could have been (fatal)”... “As close to murder as you can get" ... “But for a little grace, it could be a homicide charge”. Still possible, but I rate his chances several levels below 'doubtful'.

Ergo, I believe our squad lacks a number 9. Which happens to be one of the most (if not the most) important positions in current NRL.

Sorry for my choice of words....I should have stated he was several levels below doubtful but was hoping the average punter like myself would get my point...

 

[globaleagle]

I reckon greenborg saw how powerful our roster was, got scared about Manly winning in 2020, and went to the dance dressed as Manase.

Then he got an ally or two, lets call them Phool and Wormler to say it was manase.

The defence rests, your ponger.

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

Sorry for my choice of words....I should have stated he was several levels below doubtful but was hoping the average punter like myself would get my point...

Sorry if that was splitting hairs. Probably just a reaction to many posters here who seem to think Fainu could be back at any tick of the clock.

 

[mickqld]

No decent no. 9, lack speed in the backline, and very doubtful our best , Turbo x 2, will make it through a full season. I'd say similar season to this.

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

No decent no. 9, lack speed in the backline, and very doubtful our best , Turbo x 2, will make it through a full season. I'd say similar season to this.

Even less if Turbo gets injured ( again).

 

[manly al]

Guess that one consideration would be if Fainu would have played the full eighty if he was available for next season . Probably not , so still would have required a reasonable sub to provide the 9 duties then . No question however that for three quarters of an average match or so , Manase would have still been the man if he was available . Maybe this P N G lad can be a surprise packet . Most likely as anticipated also , the club is still waiting on the next court outcome for Manase ,. Not too concerned with the back line pace , Elliot and young Hoppa included , Walker and D C E combo was going well at season "s end , strong looking forward line up again .Levi still seems to be the best option if Manase is out .

 

[Woodsie]

Not concerned about the hooker spot .... the modern game is a fast paced 17 a side game .... as long as whoever plays #9 is a strong central defender ... any other minor shortcomings in his game can be countered by tactics and game patterns ....

Whilst hooker is an important role ... it is not rocket surgery .... many of the basic skills required are already possessed by players such as Cust and Croker .... what is imperative in my opinion though is attitude .... a good hooker needs to want to own the ruck ....

I am confident that between the players we alraedy have ... or the addition of a blow-in .... we will be more than competive with the other 12 blokes on the field ......

 

[40 nil]

No decent no. 9, lack speed in the backline, and very doubtful our best , Turbo x 2, will make it through a full season. I'd say similar season to this.

No Fainu is a major problem, but the Roosters were successful using Radley as dummy half for the first part of 2019. I think Cust has the potential to be a better hooker than half. If either Musgrove or Funa are called up, we would have a faster backline. Hopefully, Turbo will turn the corner & have an injury free season. We have some gun forwards coming through and players will continue to improve under Des's coaching. If things go our way, there is no reason why we can't be genuine premiership contenders in 2020.

 

[globaleagle]

Not concerned about the hooker spot .... the modern game is a fast paced 17 a side game .... as long as whoever plays #9 is a strong central defender ... any other minor shortcomings in his game can be countered by tactics and game patterns ....

Whilst hooker is an important role ... it is not rocket surgery .... many of the basic skills required are already possessed by players such as Cust and Croker .... what is imperative in my opinion though is attitude .... a good hooker needs to want to own the ruck ....

I am confident that between the players we alraedy have ... or the addition of a blow-in .... we will be more than competive with the other 12 blokes on the field ......

Gotta be the easiest position hasn't it?
Just quickly pass the ball to the actual ball players and when the fat forwards look a bit tired, go for a run, and occasionally kick the hell outta the footy to keep everyone guessing.

Look at me, I'm an 'immortal'. Todd better get buying a diamond ring a ding ding.

 

[maxta]

Sorry if that was splitting hairs. Probably just a reaction to many posters here who seem to think Fainu could be back at any tick of the clock.

All good mate
I would take a Fainu return for 2020 as my Xmas gift.... no doubt the odds of return are remote.
At this stage with contenders, I reckon Levi could be a suprise packet playing behind the go forward of the dominant Manly pack and his explosiveness fits in best with the game plan...

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

Not concerned about the hooker spot .... the modern game is a fast paced 17 a side game .... as long as whoever plays #9 is a strong central defender ... any other minor shortcomings in his game can be countered by tactics and game patterns ....

Whilst hooker is an important role ... it is not rocket surgery .... many of the basic skills required are already possessed by players such as Cust and Croker .... what is imperative in my opinion though is attitude .... a good hooker needs to want to own the ruck ....

I am confident that between the players we alraedy have ... or the addition of a blow-in .... we will be more than competive with the other 12 blokes on the field ......

Whilst I sort of agree with you let’s acknowledge that the really good sides have a really good hooker, not one that’s never played in the position before.

I noted well that the Goosters were so concerned about Verrill’s in the GF that they bought Jake Friend back from injury to sit in the bench “ just in case”.

And let’s face it love him or loath him , the Drizzle would be an average side without Smith.

Cust or Croker “ might” do a job but no where as near as good as an experienced 9.

We made our bed letting Api go, but with possible cap relief of $350k that should be enough to fill a gap either waiting for Fainu or building up the above two into that role.

Levi would appear to be the only one really on offer.

If we get that cap relief ( Fainu WON’T be playing next year) then I reckon we should jump.

 

[Woodsie]

Whilst I sort of agree with you let’s acknowledge that the really good sides have a really good hooker, not one that’s never played in the position before.

I noted well that the Goosters were so concerned about Verrill’s in the GF that they bought Jake Friend back from injury to sit in the bench “ just in case”.

And let’s face it love him or loath him , the Drizzle would be an average side without Smith.

Cust or Croker “ might” do a job but no where as near as good as an experienced 9.

We made our bed letting Api go, but with possible cap relief of $350k that should be enough to fill a gap either waiting for Fainu or building up the above two into that role.

Levi would appear to be the only one really on offer.

If we get that cap relief ( Fainu WON’T be playing next year) then I reckon we should jump.

Fully agree with you Mark, a gun hooker is better than a good hooker ... but I just don't think an entire team will fall off the planet ... Turbo will still be Turbo etc .....

Of course my 1st option would be an experienced rake like Levi ... but many (most?) ... hookers today are ex halfs ... even Fainu was playing half in the 20's .... blokes like Toovey, Monners made the adjustment very quickly ....

I am not worried about Crokers or Cust's attack ... those patterns and skills will be honed over the preseason .... it is their defense that will be the test ..... and I will back them in to pass the test ....

 

[BOZO]

We have proven last season to prevail and win without a number of key players out of our regular starting line up

We have proven we are not a one man team .

We have a proven coach with a good squad to improvise and capitalize in the long off season which is a lot better than having a key player out for the season with an injury 5 minutes into the game in round one .

Why are we sinking into the pessimistic quick sands in our minds ?

Why do we have short memories ?

Lets focus on optimism and belief and the ability of our great coach who brought the best out of our players including the ones that many had as NRL pretenders .

Just like last season Des will lift his players to greater heights

The no names will once again play big games for us and take us into the finals for another bite of the cherry

The addition of Edwin Ipape to our squad is very exciting . I believe he will make a divine number nine .

Adversity can be a blessing in disguise as challenging times can bring great opportunities for those that believe and can see past the darkness of doom and gloom

Take it away Wilson ....

 

[Tragic Eagle]

Dummy half is a critical position. You need only look at the difference in our attack last year when Fainu came on in place of Api. Sadly Fainu wont be playing for at least the first half of the season and possibly most of it. We need a specialist hooker who is quick, throws a great pass and is a good defender. Otherwise we become predictable in attack and easy to shut down with little or no offloads and second phase play. Its a specialist position and it is a big ask to expect Cust or Croker to fill the spot. IMO to be a top 4 contender we need a specialist dummy half with the wild card from PNG as a impact bench dummy half if he is up to it.

 

[maxta]

Is it possible Levi to start with the PNG flyer if proven in trials, coming off the bench....would be 1 heck of a quick pairing that would scare opposition middle thirds, but there is always that balance of stability that Matt Ballin type gives.....and also very important - that guidance and leadership to control that ruck tempo and defend reliably....maybe if they get the opportunity they just might get it done ??