[Resurrected] David Williams

[brad]

Yep I'll never forget him and matai joking around before the 08 gf and then it was all kick ass. All rest assured he is doing brilliantly with his new captain risky adds.

 

[Killer03]

In his pomp (around 08) was a very solid winger, must say I am surprised by a previous post that he has 66 tries....doesn't seem like he played that long to score so many.

Always loved Wolfman, but he is well and truly past his best. Doesn't mean I don't love what he did for us. Sure 2013 he didn't have his best game in the GF, but it's a team game, he didn't single handedly lose the match. Yep didn't play well no doubt. I prefer to remember him in the weeks before game or in the 08 GF.

 

[HoldenV8]

It's a big list of Manly legends or near legends, not just players, I can't bear to watch leave the way they did.

Fatty, Crusher, Rowdy, Tooves, even Des.....just to name a few.

 

[JenEagle]

He was terrible in the 2013 GF but was brilliant in the 08 final series and GF. All in all he was a fantastic winger over many seasons for us. The 4th highest try scoring winger for Manly is a phenomenal achievement particularly given the quality of some of our wingers over the years.

 

[HoldenV8]

In fairness to the Wolfman with regards to the 2013 GF...how many other wingers would have stopped Tupou from scoring that try?

Not many. Unfortunately though, it seemed to play havoc with his confidence.

I think what did Wolf in was the betting. From then on he was basically used in first grade as a last resort. I mean, talent aside Tooves even used Turbo Tommy on the wing before he called on the Wolfman last year (Tommy debuted in Rd.5, Wolfy didn't play first grade until Rd.7, and only then because Tom got injured against Penrith). Williams had fallen behind Jorge, Peta, Blair and Tommy (the U/20's fullback) in the wing pecking order and to be honest, if not for Gutho's knee injury he was behind him too. He'd fallen from the top 3 to not even being in the top 5 choices. His days were numbered no matter what he played like last year.

I get the feeling that one of the main reasons he wasn't sacked at the end of 2014 after his suspension for betting was that the club probably figured that while he was under contract and still being paid, they might as well play him in NSW Cup (probably something legal too). I don't think anyone ever thought that we'd have so many injuries that he would actually play in the NRL side.

 

[Chip and Chase]

must say I am surprised by a previous post that he has 66 tries....doesn't seem like he played that long to score so many.

103 games. Gives him a better strike rate than all those wingers above him on the try scoring list.

 

[HoldenV8]

In terms of actually playing and scoring on the wing (rather than the number scored overall no matter what position), the Manly wingers list reads (30 tries or more):

Tom Mooney - 83 tries, 163 games (50.92%)
David Williams - 66 tries, 103 games (64.07%)
Michael Robertson - 59 tries, 120 games (49.16%)
Craig Hancock - 55 tries, 126 games (43.65%)
Nick Yakich - 52 tries, 74 games (70.27%)
Jorge Taufua - 50 tries, 82 games (60.97%)
Scott Donald - 48 tries, 68 games (70.58%)
John Hopoate - 46 tries, 88 games (52.27%)
Ken Irvine - 41 tries, 60 games (68.33%)
Johnny Bliss - 41 tries, 71 games (57.74%)
John Ribot - 33 tries, 53 games (62.26%)
Stuart Davis - 33 tries, 86 games (38.37%)
Kerry Boustead - 30 tries, 66 games (45.45%)

Mooney scored the most tries on the Manly flank while Scott Donald has the highest strike rate for those with 30 or more tries.

Just for note, if you put that lot into a 100 metre foot race, I would say the top 3 would be Irvine, Bliss and Yakich. Not sure who'd run last though, probably Hoppa or Jorge lol.

 

[HoldenV8]

According to the stats I've been able to find, the leading try scorers in each position for Manly since 1947 have been:

Fullback - Brett Stewart, 162 tries, 221 games (73.30%)
Wing - Tom Mooney, 83 tries, 163 games (50.92%)
Centre - *
Five-Eighth - Cliff Lyons, 61 tries, 217 games (28.11%)
Halfback - Des Hasler, 48 tries, 145 games (33.10%)
Prop - Brent Kite, 11 tries, 183 games (6.01%)
Hooker - Matt Ballin, 21 tries, 214 games (9.81%)
Second Row - Steve Menzies, 108 tries, 173 games (62.42%)
Lock - Glenn Stewart, 19 tries, 131 games (14.50%)

Note: I've left centre blank as I don't know how many of his 219 games for the club Bob Fulton played there and how many he played at 5/8. I suspect he scored most of his 129 tries in the centres and and that the total is more than Steve Matai's 89, but the truth is I'm not 100% sure. However I'm fairly confident that Bozo didn't score more tries at 5/8 than Cliffy.

 

[Rex]

The percentages for Yakich (1960-66) and Donald (2003-5) are especially impressive because they played in very average Manly sides.

As HoldenV8 points out, Snake tops them all for strike rate.

 

[HoldenV8]

I still think that if not for missing most of 2009 and 2010, Snake would be up there chasing Ken Irvine's record. He was at his try scoring peak from 2007-2011 and anywhere around 20 in each season wouldn't have been surprising.

 

[mave]

Wolfie....above average first grader made to look even better on the end of a world class back line.

 

[bones]

Wolfie....above average first grader made to look even better on the end of a world class back line.

Great player until he broke his neck. Did extremely well to come back as good as he did from that, but was never the same player again.

 

[Chip and Chase]

In terms of actually playing and scoring on the wing (rather than the number scored overall no matter what position), the Manly wingers list reads (30 tries or more):

Tom Mooney - 83 tries, 163 games (50.92%)
David Williams - 66 tries, 103 games (64.07%)
Michael Robertson - 59 tries, 120 games (49.16%)
Craig Hancock - 55 tries, 126 games (43.65%)
Nick Yakich - 52 tries, 74 games (70.27%)
Jorge Taufua - 50 tries, 82 games (60.97%)
Scott Donald - 48 tries, 68 games (70.58%)
John Hopoate - 46 tries, 88 games (52.27%)
Ken Irvine - 41 tries, 60 games (68.33%)
Johnny Bliss - 41 tries, 71 games (57.74%)
John Ribot - 33 tries, 53 games (62.26%)
Stuart Davis - 33 tries, 86 games (38.37%)
Kerry Boustead - 30 tries, 66 games (45.45%)

Mooney scored the most tries on the Manly flank while Scott Donald has the highest strike rate for those with 30 or more tries.

Just for note, if you put that lot into a 100 metre foot race, I would say the top 3 would be Irvine, Bliss and Yakich. Not sure who'd run last though, probably Hoppa or Jorge lol.

@HoldenV8 where do you get your stats from mate ?? You always seem to have a handy supply and I'm a bit of a stat freak too

 

[sheridanstand78]

wolfy is a brave and resilient player who has overcome many serious and potential career threatening injuries but it is true that the 2013 grand final destroyed his confidence and he has never quite been the same player since.

I think for the 9s game, younger and faster players are needed and I think the Wolfman has lot that yard of pace

 

[Snake]

Part of being a champion is consistency and durability. Williams had neither and although I like him, he is not a Manly great, just a good winger in his day. If he wasn't such a character, he wouldn't even have this thread; just ask Michael Robertson.

 

[Shoe1]

He is a manly great

 

[Loobs]

Part of being a champion is consistency and durability. Williams had neither and although I like him, he is not a Manly great, just a good winger in his day. If he wasn't such a character, he wouldn't even have this thread; just ask Michael Robertson.

Agree with all of that.

 

[HoldenV8]

@HoldenV8 where do you get your stats from mate ?? You always seem to have a handy supply and I'm a bit of a stat freak too

Its complicated. REAL complicated 😛

Rugby League Project.

Do a Google search for Rugby League Tables.....that site is also very useful.

 

[Rex]

Its complicated. REAL complicated 😛

Rugby League Project.

Do a Google search for Rugby League Tables.....that site is also very useful.

That's brilliant HoldenV8. Thanks

 

[Chip and Chase]

Its complicated. REAL complicated 😛

Rugby League Project.

Do a Google search for Rugby League Tables.....that site is also very useful.

Cheers, I use those two. Thought you might have had another secret source.