[Resurrected] DCE is the worst halfback in the NRL

[yokahontas]

is Api's crap passing the problem?

Fainu comes on and DCE suddenly has time and space and looks top notch again.

Been saying it for years. Love Api’s attitude, and his heart (especially in defence) but he’s not a first-grade hooker. Maybe in the L’Estrange interchange role that worked really well for us in past teams, but he’s got some glaring deficiencies that aren’t good for a starting hooker.

It just occurred to me as well - if there’s anything that’s frustrated me with the opening two games, it’s been that Elgey hasn’t been used enough as an alternate kicking option on the last. It may be partly due to his confidence, and finding his feet in a new team, but I reckon Api has something to do with it as well - for the most part, he’s only looking for DCE to pass to, and he has a very definite and obvious preferred passing side. Someone made the point elsewhere that Fainu doesn’t telegraph which way he’s going to pass - it really stands out, because Api telegraphs it badly. It’s almost like he has to take an extra step to reset if he’s going to pass to his ‘wrong’ side.

 

[The better Robbo]

Been saying it for years. Love Api’s attitude, and his heart (especially in defence) but he’s not a first-grade hooker. Maybe in the L’Estrange interchange role that worked really well for us in past teams, but he’s got some glaring deficiencies that aren’t good for a starting hooker.

It just occurred to me as well - if there’s anything that’s frustrated me with the opening two games, it’s been that Elgey hasn’t been used enough as an alternate kicking option on the last. It may be partly due to his confidence, and finding his feet in a new team, but I reckon Api has something to do with it as well - for the most part, he’s only looking for DCE to pass to, and he has a very definite and obvious preferred passing side. Someone made the point elsewhere that Fainu doesn’t telegraph which way he’s going to pass - it really stands out, because Api telegraphs it badly. It’s almost like he has to take an extra step to reset if he’s going to pass to his ‘wrong’ side.

Agree. Fainu seems to call the shots when he's out there, he'll pass to Elgey even if Elgey is quiet and not calling for it. Fainu seems to take the right option most of the time, whether it be a short side play a long pass to chez or a scoot. He creates time and space and he is the best young player ive seen since Cameron smith at controlling the game from hooker. He also gets in at half back at times which also takes pressure off chez.

 

[The Who]

DCE is a great player but is getting paid way too much; not his fault but the club dumbass who negotiated the lifelong deal. Because of this DCE is being paid the equivalent of all our other backline players, which means we can't recruit proven First Graders (again, another "thank you Mr Walker" you numbnut!).
I'm wondering if Elgey is any better than Croker. He doesn't appear to be to me, as yet.

 

[brad]

DCE is a great player but is getting paid way too much; not his fault but the club dumbass who negotiated the lifelong deal. Because of this DCE is being paid the equivalent of all our other backline players, which means we can't recruit proven First Graders (again, another "thank you Mr Walker" you numbnut!).
I'm wondering if Elgey is any better than Croker. He doesn't appear to be to me, as yet.

So how does saints go with signing Hunt . He's on the same or more and there squad should be top 4 .

 

[The Who]

So how does saints go with signing Hunt . He's on the same or more and there squad should be top 4 .

Agreed. Then there's Cronk with Easts. Pearce with Newcastle. Johnston with Cronulla . . .
All on big money yet their squads look far stronger than ours.
On another note: I read that Frankenstein had a belter of a match for the 'Riff yesterday. Even scored a try.
Anybody know how many tries he scored for Manly in two seasons?

 

[swoop]

Every opposition knows the game plan, shut down DCE and you win.

 

[anthonyb1965]

I take it "order66" is "strongertogether" from last year who started a very similar "DCE is sht" thread!

DCE is in the top 5 halfbacks in the NRL but it is really hard to fathom where this headless chicken stuff comes from. I hadn't taken much notice of Api's service for a long while now (actually thought he had fixed his passing) and after watching last night's replay, his dummy half passing is still terrible. DCE will hopefully come out and kick 2 40/20's setup 2 tries and score one himself next week.

DCE is certainly not the problem with our team.

 

[brad]

Agreed. Then there's Cronk with Easts. Pearce with Newcastle. Johnston with Cronulla . . .
All on big money yet their squads look far stronger than ours.
On another note: I read that Frankenstein had a belter of a match for the 'Riff yesterday. Even scored a try.
Anybody know how many tries he scored for Manly in two seasons?

Don't know if he scored any for us , maybe 1 . He was probably due for a big game .

 

[Tomay]

People expecting a halfback to magically make a terrible team win are kidding themselves. A halfback can only work with the time and service they are provided by their forwards, breaks and passing from the dummy half.

As an example of bad halfback play, the titans replacement makeshift halves have had a few opportunities on the back of good forward play and breaks in the first few rounds but have looked woeful in capitalising on these opportunities. In the past, it was the same story for the Bulldogs who failed to capitalise on their better than average forward pack.

 

[Jigzkiller]

He is a myth if people think he is a great player.

 

[sheridanstand78]

Keary showed last night a master class in what a half needs to do to manage a game. We see that once in a blue moon from DCE. He has not improved since 2014 in my opinion and only showed consistent form in 17 with a stable halves partner. DCE tries very hard. I cant fault him in that regard but he does not consistently ice games or take control of them like was needed last night. We need to bring in a decent half to compliment him, is it worth a punt on bringing in Cade Cust or Metcalfe? I hope we see this sooner rather than later.

 

[Order66]

There were plenty of times when DCE made Thurston look like a Muppet. If the forwards don't win the yardage and the ruck, and the hooker gives crap service, the halfback can't do a lot.

Ye in 2011-2014...

 

[Gordon]

When Api was on he was passing the ball to DCE every play, and then DCE passes it to a forward, every play, this gives to opposition defence time to move up and it slow down our attack. If DCE was able to create gaps for the forwards to run through this would be a good thing but the reality is he can't. In the 2nd half I saw Jake say something to DCE and I saw DCE take a step back and the ball was getting passed directly to a running forward and we started moving forward and the game changed. DCE is only good when he has space to move in, Api was only put at hooker because there was no-one else to do the job, Api in the halves would make us a much better side. If we have to have DCE play have him a couple off the ruck and in defence have our 2 best defenders either side of him. Hopefully Des is on to it. Manly can be a much better side than what it has shown, it just needs to be managed right. I definatly wouldn't have DCE as captain.

 

[brad]

Agree. Fainu seems to call the shots when he's out there, he'll pass to Elgey even if Elgey is quiet and not calling for it. Fainu seems to take the right option most of the time, whether it be a short side play a long pass to chez or a scoot. He creates time and space and he is the best young player ive seen since Cameron smith at controlling the game from hooker. He also gets in at half back at times which also takes pressure off chez.

Robbo spot on about Merrin mate . Just on fox sports Facebook about this . The mail on Aitken may happen as well hopefully.

 

[Order66]

Robbo spot on about Merrin mate . Just on fox sports Facebook about this . The mail on Aitken may happen as well hopefully.

Yea? Aitken? That would be better then the blokes we have. SuLee is going better than all of us thought so he could replace walker.. aitken and elliot or hoppa

 

[EOL now nesting on the GC]

You could buy 2 good centers for DCE money and put a talented rookie in the halves.

Please tell us who? Where is this golden conveyor belt of players that will come here? Was just thinking the other day we can't seem to attract top players anymore. The last would have been Jamie Lyon. That was a long time ago.
Not one signing after Lyon has been a top shelf game breaker. There has been players sure like DW and Marty but when the came to us they were either inconsistent or had baggage.

 

[EOL now nesting on the GC]

Have been locked in heated discussion on here many times before about Api's passing. For me the hooker is the oil that makes everything run. If it's not right then it doesn't matter if you have a Ferrari V12 or a 2 litre datsun.
Way back in Barrett and Api's first year I was always banging on about his service for dummy half. Gone is our ability as a team to sweep forward with momentum. It seems 75% of passes from dummy half are either slow or behind the receiver which kills and momentum.
Last night with Api off we started to play so much better. Fluid fast plays which put the chooks on the back foot.
Keep Api on the bench as utility. He can cover dummy half or halves if needed in a game.

 

[HappilyManly]

Have been locked in heated discussion on here many times before about Api's passing. For me the hooker is the oil that makes everything run. If it's not right then it doesn't matter if you have a Ferrari V12 or a 2 litre datsun.
Way back in Barrett and Api's first year I was always banging on about his service for dummy half. Gone is our ability as a team to sweep forward with momentum. It seems 75% of passes from dummy half are either slow or behind the receiver which kills and momentum.
Last night with Api off we started to play so much better. Fluid fast plays which put the chooks on the back foot.
Keep Api on the bench as utility. He can cover dummy half or halves if needed in a game.

Api should start first 20 mins and finish the last 20 mins of second half.

Nase doesn't tackle as well yet.

Worked well in 2008 with Matty and Stranger

 

[Sue]

Fainu is twice as good as Lestrange and will be five times as good in the future.With Api at hooker /not kicking and a dodgy five eight we have looked like headless chooks, have zero impact in the red zone and rarely score from long range.The result 13th and 15th.
He missed some games last year but the win loss ratio was just as poor before that.

Are we going to flush a third season on something that simply doesn’t work just because the bloke in question has courage and tackles well. As a poster said above. It all starts at the 9 and when you need a butterfly net to catch the first pass the whole machine just stutters.

 

[Chip and Chase]

On another note: I read that Frankenstein had a belter of a match for the 'Riff yesterday. Even scored a try.
Anybody know how many tries he scored for Manly in two seasons?

3 tries

I take it "order66" is "strongertogether" from last year who started a very similar "DCE is sht" thread!

One in the same. Also has had a couple of other nom de plumes since.