Conditioning... credit where it's due

[1978]

There was flak last year about our supposed lack of conditioning.

Well, we look bigger, fitter and faster to a man this year.

I can't recall the last time Manly's NRL squad was injury free in round six. Or being able to name a team and not have several positional changes one hour before kick-off.

Well done strength and conditioning team.

 

[brad]

Yes mate its a massive turnaround from the last couple of years. Whatever there doing its working thus far.

 

[conanu]

I agree, The fitness looked rubbish the first 2 rounds, I guess that was blowing out the cobwebs. Glad I was wrong.

 

[HoldenV8]

I don't think our fitness was all that bad in the opening 2 rounds. We defended for long periods against doesn't-matta, largely through our own mistakes and a referee who couldn't have been more biased if he was Shame Hayne. And against Souffs I think it was more a case of dropping our bundle twice, the first when Green got sin-binned and the second when Jorge dropped a mid-field bomb. That was more attitude than fitness.

You don't suddenly become fit in just a week and we ran out the game in Townsville quite easily in warm conditions. Against the Dogs it was more a case of knowing we had it won and (sorry, have to quote Gasnier here), everyone suddenly became halfbacks and a few errors crept in. And on Friday night we went toe to toe with the Chooks and didn't look out on our feet at any stage.

 

[Harvies elbow]

You can't defend like we have been without being fit enough.
Looks good.

 

[The Wheel]

No 5 day turnarounds helps as well

 

[Ned]

Jorge dropped a mid-field bomb.

I don't know about that one, because I saw Tom push Jorge to fullback and he was having a spell on the wing when that happened. I don't know if he copped a knock and was trying to walk it out or was just gassed but he definitely moved Jorge back because he couldn't get back there.

 

[Ryan]

I agree. I was an avid critic of Ferris, but the way these boys are defending, we are like a trojan horse !

 

[Loobs]

Last year was a write off. All those short turnarounds required a different approach to maintain freshness which didn't end up working because regardless of what they did, the injuries just piled up. Judging Ferris off that is a tad harsh.

At least we've seen this year with a less severe injury toll we are up. We can handle a prop being out. We hopefully have the depth through the halves with Hastings. We have flexibility in the backline, although if Tom were ever to go down we'd be ****ed.

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

I agree. I was an avid critic of Ferris, but the way these boys are defending, we are like a trojan horse !

I have no idea what that means.. but it sounds positive!