Any concerns about the Manly 2020 squad ?

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maxta

First Grader
Premium Member
The obvious concern is dummy half with Api gone and Fainu looking doubtful.
The 5/8 situation with Walker will be fine and only improve, but is still an area to be watched.
The forward pack and depth has everything to compete with the best.
The backs look decent and there are numerous rookie options to add to the equation out wide, though as far as proven performer, the experienced outside backs are fairly thin.
Only key injuries could prevent another serious assault from this Manly side, who are definitely on the up with this current squad and may well add another key addition prior to the start of the season.
 
The Fainu issue threatens to derail our season before it begins, I hope he is cleared of the charges or moved on as the team has a big hole now and that is going to make it really difficult to achieve a finals berth let alone win the comp, I hope the club have a viable alternative on the table as Fainu is likely to be out until the court decides things, I had real hopes of top four, I think as things stand making the 8 will be an achievement.
 
At the moment the team is fine (not considering 9), however we don't have a "game winner" in 2 - 5 positions or a big impact bench player to slot in when AFB and Taupau are resting.

The latter situation can change with coaching and attitude, but I don't see anyone but TT winning games with solo efforts.
 
At the moment the team is fine (not considering 9), however we don't have a "game winner" in 2 - 5 positions or a big impact bench player to slot in when AFB and Taupau are resting.

The latter situation can change with coaching and attitude, but I don't see anyone but TT winning games with solo efforts.
Did you watch Moses Suli during the final against Souths? Dylan Walker? DCE?
 
Did you watch Moses Suli during the final against Souths? Dylan Walker? DCE?

At the risk of being pedantic, Walker and DCE are not 2- 5.
I agree that Suli started to show promise at the end of the season, however it will probably take him until round 10 to get fit again after the break.
I would love to be proven wrong as he has the goods, just like Krygios, but yet to put it on the park week after week.
 
Fainu obviously the biggest out for a big season, other concerns are turbos durability, strike power in the centres, Suli showed glimpses of consistency and hopefully keeps improving, Parker needs a few more strings to his bow but both are solid enough. Hopefully DCE recaptures his running game as I thought he was fairly average in the back half of the year and people said he was carrying some mystery injury. Walker can hopefully keep improving next to him but both need to be more of a threat with ball in hand. Hopefully another prop steps up (keppie?) as Boyle and Sipley don’t excite me at this point. Tafua’s lack of urgency and concentration lapses continue to worry me a little.

We have a great squad, it really is a shame that Fainu appears out as we are well and truly In our window if the squad fires
 
Definitely hooker! All other positions are well covered with plenty if exciting depth. Our lack of hooking options is my only concern. Come on down LEVI
 
What do we have ...
We have one year experience under a great coach with a taste of finals footy
We have more depth then last season
We have a 9 issue but we also have options to cover
We have a coach who has over achieved last season and can only build on that next season with an overall stronger squad of players

The NRL Season is a long season and adversity will strike any club at any time

The winners will find a way to over come adversity and prevail and the losers will find an excuse and succumb to failure "a" la Trent Barrett

The moral of the story*

Sht happens to every one and the crucial thing is .....

it is not what happens to you it is how you fcken deal with it

 
Fainu obviously the biggest out for a big season, other concerns are turbos durability, strike power in the centres, Suli showed glimpses of consistency and hopefully keeps improving, Parker needs a few more strings to his bow but both are solid enough. Hopefully DCE recaptures his running game as I thought he was fairly average in the back half of the year and people said he was carrying some mystery injury. Walker can hopefully keep improving next to him but both need to be more of a threat with ball in hand. Hopefully another prop steps up (keppie?) as Boyle and Sipley don’t excite me at this point. Tafua’s lack of urgency and concentration lapses continue to worry me a little.

We have a great squad, it really is a shame that Fainu appears out as we are well and truly In our window if the squad fires

DCE's back half of the year injury was no mystery. He came back too early from his ankle injury in his desire to captain Qld in Origin and unfortunately it hampered his running game for the rest of the year. He was nowhere near 100% fit before Origin, but declared himself as such. Even he admitted that it was a mistake.

Obviously our biggest issue in 2020 is going to be hooker. We put our eggs in the Fainu basket when we released Api. Unfortunately his legal issues has broken more than a few yolk's. It looks likely that the job will now go to Lachlan Croker with Cade Cust as his main backup. As to how either handles the job remains to be seen. Croker is a better passer and defender, Cust has a better running game. It will be interesting to see how Des has them working because right now I doubt that Fainu will be playing next year at all.

The forwards are otherwise OK, fitness and injury not withstanding. With Sips back on deck and the emergence of Keppie, plus Boyle, Jetski and Waddell, I think we are good there. I don't expect T-Rex to be much more than an injury or Origin time replacement.

Turbo's fitness will be the key in the backs. Elliot is OK, serviceable some may say, but he's not a game breaker like Tom is. The more Tom is in the #1 jumper, the better. Garrick has pace on the wing, but his defence still needs a lot of work. Suli is developing into a game breaker while I thought Brad Parker came into his own this year and towards the back end of the season started to show up a lot better in attack. Which then leaves Jorge.....not quick by any stretch of the imagination, but can score from close range and hits like a sledgehammer in defence. As joeboy said though, he's prone to lapses of concentration and a lack of urgency at times.

Provided they can stay healthy, I think DCE and Walks can continue to grow as a halves pair. But with Walks being more a runner than a passer or organiser, DCE is going to have to step up when it comes to organising the attack. He can't just be a running half. However, I do expect to see more improvement from Walks as a 5/8. He definitely did a better job of it this year than in 2016 and there is no reason he can't continue to improve in the role.

If Fainu was a definite starter I'd have said top 4 easily provided they keep up the type of form we had this year. But with him likely to be MIA, I'd say we're more 5-8 than 1-4 right now, at least for the minor premiership. I still think if all goes well we can definitely be premiers in 2020.
 
DCE's back half of the year injury was no mystery. He came back too early from his ankle injury in his desire to captain Qld in Origin and unfortunately it hampered his running game for the rest of the year. He was nowhere near 100% fit before Origin, but declared himself as such. Even he admitted that it was a mistake.

Obviously our biggest issue in 2020 is going to be hooker. We put our eggs in the Fainu basket when we released Api. Unfortunately his legal issues has broken more than a few yolk's. It looks likely that the job will now go to Lachlan Croker with Cade Cust as his main backup. As to how either handles the job remains to be seen. Croker is a better passer and defender, Cust has a better running game. It will be interesting to see how Des has them working because right now I doubt that Fainu will be playing next year at all.

The forwards are otherwise OK, fitness and injury not withstanding. With Sips back on deck and the emergence of Keppie, plus Boyle, Jetski and Waddell, I think we are good there. I don't expect T-Rex to be much more than an injury or Origin time replacement.

Turbo's fitness will be the key in the backs. Elliot is OK, serviceable some may say, but he's not a game breaker like Tom is. The more Tom is in the #1 jumper, the better. Garrick has pace on the wing, but his defence still needs a lot of work. Suli is developing into a game breaker while I thought Brad Parker came into his own this year and towards the back end of the season started to show up a lot better in attack. Which then leaves Jorge.....not quick by any stretch of the imagination, but can score from close range and hits like a sledgehammer in defence. As joeboy said though, he's prone to lapses of concentration and a lack of urgency at times.

Provided they can stay healthy, I think DCE and Walks can continue to grow as a halves pair. But with Walks being more a runner than a passer or organiser, DCE is going to have to step up when it comes to organising the attack. He can't just be a running half. However, I do expect to see more improvement from Walks as a 5/8. He definitely did a better job of it this year than in 2016 and there is no reason he can't continue to improve in the role.

If Fainu was a definite starter I'd have said top 4 easily provided they keep up the type of form we had this year. But with him likely to be MIA, I'd say we're more 5-8 than 1-4 right now, at least for the minor premiership. I still think if all goes well we can definitely be premiers in 2020.

Ladder positions are another thread all together , let’s see if we sign a 9 first but otherwise can’t disagree too much.

Our backs 2/3/4/5 aren’t world beaters but unless you are the Goosters you simply can’t have a star studded 1-17.
 
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Ladder positions area other thread all together , let’s see if we sign a 9 first but otherwise can’t disagree too much.

Our backs 2/3/4/5 aren’t world beaters but unless you are the Goosters you simply can’t have a star studded 1-17.
I think our 2,3,4,5 are right up there & showed that during 2019. We will be fine & will also overcome the Fainu let down. I hope Croker is given a chance as Hooker.....I have a feeling he will be a surprise. He’ll play a Cam Smith type role with his kicking game & organisation of the ruck. Fainu getting exonerated would be a huge bonus but if not I’m not overly concerned & think top 4 is where we will be!
 
Injuries are our concern. Not to concerned about the 9 as i have faith in the power's to have it sorted. The young fella from Png may very well fill the void and better now then midway through next season . All systems go.
 
Very excited about our front row rotation next year. The starting combo of AFB and Marty are up there with the best in the league. Sipley and Keppie off the bench will lessen the drop off we suffered last year after rotating the front row. Having these four fit for most of the season will go a long way to finishing at the pointy end of the table.
 
I think our 2,3,4,5 are right up there & showed that during 2019. We will be fine & will also overcome the Fainu let down. I hope Croker is given a chance as Hooker.....I have a feeling he will be a surprise. He’ll play a Cam Smith type role with his kicking game & organisation of the ruck. Fainu getting exonerated would be a huge bonus but if not I’m not overly concerned & think top 4 is where we will be!

Although neither are hookers, the possibility of Croker and Cust reminds me a bit of Ballin and L'Estrange. Matty was the better passer and defender, Heath was more the ball player and runner.

Either way its a big ask. Fainu's legal troubles have left us in a bit of a pickle.
 
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.
 

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