Pre-Game Manly V Dragons [Round 7, 2025]

[Dion Johnson]

Brown, Sipley, Tevaga, Waddell all need to go if we are serious about improving. They’re slow and liabilities in defence. Waddell is also a liability in attack.

Navale > Brown
Croker/Simpkin > Tevaga
Patolo > Sipley
Anyone > Waddell

I don’t know how Waddell got a three year deal, it’s astonishing a washed up journeyman on a three year gig, saying that I don’t think he is the major concern with the current pack, TKO good for 30-35 minutes, Bully needs to play 50 minutes and should start, no good him coming on at the 20 minute mark when the games gone, Aloiai has been good the last two games.

The major concern is the form of Jake over the last three games, he has been way off the pace and should have significant minutes on the pine and his role looked at.

Replacing the punch that Tent had up the middle has been very difficult for this lot..

 

[Son of Manly Beach]

Dragons have our measure most the time and playing at home won’t help. I can remember plenty of times being at Brookie and watching saints roll over us easily

 

[mave]

Dragons have our measure most the time and playing at home won’t help. I can remember plenty of times being at Brookie and watching saints roll over us easily

I remember beating these pretenders 61-0 back in the early/mid nineties (1994???).

Cliffy and Tooves were just toying with them, Cliffy especially.

I still have every newspaper article from the following day about the game.

 

[Waz13]

40 ain’t gonna happen without Tom.

Raiders game.

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

Dragons have our measure most the time and playing at home won’t help. I can remember plenty of times being at Brookie and watching saints roll over us easily

Potentially this could be

1) a line in the sand to turn things around
2) the end of the road and the start to a very long year.

Toss a coin I guess

 

[Darknstormy]

Potentially this could be

1) a line in the sand to turn things around
2) the end of the road and the start to a very long year.

Toss a coin I guess

same thing different year mate…the Groundhog Day loop

 

[manly al]

Showed a heap of courage at Brookie last season and with a depleted bench to manage a great win
Saints maybe a bit better this season and Manly "s confidence level and playing style will definitely have to improve to be competitive
Lehi had a good day last season in that match and somehow is going to have to be more effectively used if he is at one again
Probably much will depend on D C E and Brooksy having strong games and hopefully no more totally negative kicks just to find touch and take the pressure of the opposition
Again , not going to happen for Manly unless they can pick up their game in quite a few areas

 

[globaleagle]

well...we were told after the storm loss that the mistakes were an 'easy fix', then after the sharks game it was a good effort with pride everywhere.

I guess we just need those two things morphed into a win!

Oh and not listen to after match pressers, lol.

 

[Sea Eagle 4 Life]

The NRL have done us no favours with the short turn-around, combined with having to fly back from the other side of the country, thus reducing recovery time accordingly.
But, its a fair draw ha ha ha.

 

[mave]

The NRL have done us no favours with the short turn-around, combined with having to fly back from the other side of the country, thus reducing recovery time accordingly.
But, its a fair draw ha ha ha.

Good thing we spent all off season learning how to deal with adversity and chaos!

 

[The Eagle Has Landed]

Which Manly side will turn up? Who knows, If we don't beat them at home at a packed Brooky you can most probably kiss our season goodbye.
We'll drop out of the top 8 and probably won't make it back.
I don't know about you but this team installs no confidence to themselves and the fans.
MIGOTY if we lose this game then we face The Riff, lose and play them into a team of world beaters again.
Not a very positive post but that's how I feel at the moment.
Try and change my mind.

 

[Rosko]

I was hoping you would change my mind... 😒

 

[Nike]

Nope, Flanno's gonna put a coaching clinic on Siebs.

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

The likely scenario is

Next game , no way
The game after , we play the Panthers back into form.

Losing against “ lesser teams “ and playing “ under performing teams “ back into form is something we’ve excelled at for the last decade.

2 more losses and we’ll around 13th / 14th snd from there almost impossible to get back.

 

[Eagle 1]

Which Manly side will turn up? Who knows, If we don't beat them at home at a packed Brooky you can most probably kiss our season goodbye.
We'll drop out of the top 8 and probably won't make it back.
I don't know about you but this team installs no confidence to themselves and the fans.
MIGOTY if we lose this game then we face The Riff, lose and play them into a team of world beaters again.
Not a very positive post but that's how I feel at the moment.
Try and change my mind.

It's at Brookie and we have Saab and Froggy back for this game, although some may argue that Froggy isn't a great in for us. Talau will be better for the run as well. They usually fold when the blowtorch is applied, yeah, think we've got this one.

 

[Phobia]

I don't expect we can win, despite our clearly stronger roster, purely because of the stupid NRL scheduling. We're going to be gassed by the time they run out.

Who's idea was it to play a Saturday Perth team on the Thursday? The NRL are stupid for this.

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

How can we be favourites ??

****ing stupid bookies

 

[Thewestisbest]

I think we will win this one if Haumole plays, Saab and Croker come in. Sipley is sent packing to reserves. Tevaga plays as a middle off the bench with Brown and Bully. Simpkin is retained on the bench. Talau remains in the side in Clayton's place.

 

[Thewestisbest]

How can we be favourites ??

****ing stupid bookies

Because on paper at home we bloody well should be.

 

[Eagle 1]

Dragons have our measure most the time and playing at home won’t help. I can remember plenty of times being at Brookie and watching saints roll over us easily

Usually it's at Woolongong where we get hammered, but that curse has now gone.