Can Taukeiaho & Tevaga add that "Brown" impact ?

[maxta]

The off season signings of the 2 experienced forwards Taukeiaho and Jazz Tevaga had had mixed reviews.
Can these players add what Brown gave Manly in 2024 with that impact off the bench, in fact will they even make the top 17 ?
I believe they have been signed to play significant roles, especially if injury free, but there are a few reasons and I will start with more moneyball signings, also to influence the squad and most importantly to add zest and competitiveness to what is often a solid but passive pack.
Having so much experience, they both offer seasons of NRL experience, which can hopefully help the youngsters who are littered through our Manly side to learn the tough side of discipline and application at this level.
As far as ability is judged and to be perfectly honest about a prediction on how they perform, I feel Tevaga may suprise in relation to the energy he brings and Taukeiaho has every ability we want in relation to bending the line, a late offload and decent agility for a big man....but I am concerned with his more recent injuries, age and lack of game time...
Interested to hear thoughts of what these 2 signings will bring to Manly both on and off the field ?

 

[eaglebuzz]

I think they will both improve the squad, and expect them both to be regular members of the 17.

Taukeiaho is the one who I think could really add something, not just on the field but also in the influence he can have on the rest of the squad.

 

[Rocky]

For the coin we have spent both are good signings - they will be hungry and while some on here think Tevaga is as slow as a wet week, I always thought he looks very dangerous with ball in hand.

 

[Uber Eagle 72]

Hopefully they will have a positive impact upon some of the younger forwards coming through.

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

Injury free , big addition to the squad

If relatively injury free, good addition

If constantly injured , a waste of $$$$

They’re not young so the chances of 1…slim. 2 is the best we can hope for.

 

[Eagle eye]

Chris Patolo says hi


I still think Manly should've gone hard after Jack Williams.

 

[Disco]

I'm measured on both....time will tell but both on 1 year contracts on smaller money and should be judged accordingly.

One thing though on Jazz is he does put himself about.

The below is from Rugby League Eye Test (if you dont follow them do youself a favour. Great statistical analysis)

The Eye Test's advanced stat leaders for NRL season 2024 - The Rugby League Eye Test

The home and away segment of the competition is over, which means we can take a look at who were the advanced statistical leaders for the 2024 National Rugby League season. I’m using regular season numbers only because I’d like to normalise putting finals stats into a completely different...

www.rugbyleagueeyetest.com

Shows Jazz has the 3rd highest involvement rate in the league.....so say what you want but he puts in.

 

[Ryan]

Nathan Brown made impact in his first few games for us, but as the grind kicked in, he became less effective and regularly started to get smashed - which I put down to age / player type / weight etc. I think we'll see a solid start, with both fading and/or getting injured like Brown.

 

[Rocky]

Nathan Brown made impact in his first few games for us, but as the grind kicked in, he became less effective and regularly started to get smashed - which I put down to age / player type / weight etc. I think we'll see a solid start, with both fading and/or getting injured like Brown.

Think you are spot on with your assessment on Brown.

Can see the same thing happening with Taukeiaho but Tevaga should be able to be consistent at his age.

 

[maxta]

Nathan Brown made impact in his first few games for us, but as the grind kicked in, he became less effective and regularly started to get smashed - which I put down to age / player type / weight etc. I think we'll see a solid start, with both fading and/or getting injured like Brown.

I reckon that's a fair summary Ryan - in fact 1 game against Melbourne he got repeatedly ragdolled and off 2 kickoffs gave 1 penalty away (with the ball) after being driven back and then spilt the ball off the next kickoff....but here's the kicker with Brown, he then stuck his hand up for the next hitup and though were not massive metres and barely bent the line, it's the attitude of 'Let's go to War" that seem to inspire his team mates and I like seeing this effect, as 1 of the worst area's of the Manly game in recent years is a soft and passive physicallity in the middle.
So even though he at times looks like a middle weight up against the heavyweights, its his presence that rubs off on the team and the crowd and Manly as a team seem to lift on the back of this imo.

 

[Woodsie]

Think you are spot on with your assessment on Brown.

Can see the same thing happening with Taukeiaho but Tevaga should be able to be consistent at his age.

I am hoping that if numbnuts like us can recognise this ... the horde of high performance trainers have also ... with 3 of them, plus Sipley and Bully ... it should be easier to manage the workload.

 

[Rocky]

I am hoping that if numbnuts like us can recognise this ... the horde of high performance trainers have also ... with 3 of them, plus Sipley and Bully ... it should be easier to manage the workload.

Yes - the reality is that Brown should never start a game as it dilutes his impact and causes fatigue later in the season. Obviously, injuries to others dictated this last year.

Hopefully, he can be part of an ageing but impactful bench with the other guys you have mentioned.

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

Yes - the reality is that Brown should never start a game as it dilutes his impact and causes fatigue later in the season. Obviously, injuries to others dictated this last year.

Hopefully, he can be part of an ageing but impactful bench with the other guys you have mentioned.

Hopefully by the end of the season Navale (for example) can be punching out decent minutes at NRL level - that will be a massive help for the impact guys.

 

[Kalvin]

Nathan Brown made impact in his first few games for us, but as the grind kicked in, he became less effective and regularly started to get smashed - which I put down to age / player type / weight etc. I think we'll see a solid start, with both fading and/or getting injured like Brown.

Fair points but I also think he is a #13 & we use him as a #10 (which he isn't built for physically speaking)

Which makes me ponder which position the 2 new recruits will play?

 

[manlyfan76]

They are both way better than keppie.

 

[castle eagle]

stuff that! i hope they can add a bit of a B.K. influence

 

[maxta]

stuff that! i hope they can add a bit of a B.K. influence

Would love that castle eagle....but unfortunately can't stretch it to BK - that bloke turned Manly around on his shoulders to help set up that golden era along with Stewart bros, Lyon and Choc Watmough....BK arguably the most influencial of them all....not the Best (that's Snake) ....but the most influential

 

[LeonardCohen]

I'm not a fan of either player. Taukeiaho was a once a very good footballer but that was more than a few years ago; his last couple of seasons at the Chooks were pretty underwhelming. Thus, his challenge is not to find his 2022 form, it's to find his 2019-2020 form...that's a long time ago now.

As for Tevaga, he'll bring a bit of energy amongst a few brain explosions. He's just OK.

I'm not excited but these signings weren't really ever intended to excite fans; they're adding depth and experience. It is what it is.

 

[jbb/james]

i said before last season i would use brown for maybe 4 spurts mini seasons, then spell him for a couple, another off the bench and then back. I still feel the same

brown was left without runners far too often and felt the brunt of the gang tackle experience last season

Jazz baby will big a be bonus in this area. its just basicly knowing your role as an elite sportsman and applying it

havnt watched big T for years so who knows

we just need players to get us going forward consistently and I think all the veterens can but on way less minutes so the void still needs to be filled from within

in saying that the team could do with a shake up and leaving paseka, burbo out and going with brown jazz, Big t , aioli jake, waddell, and a smokey. waddell did way better than his minutes suggest and i think his inclusion on the bench allows jake to switch roles better if we are tp persist in this ploy

with crisp service waddell could easily be a decent mobile middle on a regular basis. we just need to transition from a team that relies heavily on the bench to turn momentum into a team that allows the bench to tighten the screws . or is it that we are just better handling most teams when there big middles take a spell

 

[manlyfan76]

So is Jazz going to be known as Geoff?
Jazz tavunga -
Jazzy Jeff -
Geoff.