DCE to announce retierment

[Mal Cochrane]

Well said , & the haters will continue to hate

I dont think there was any hate there Mark, nor was it intended, just my opinion. The poster did say he can see how I would come to that opinion, however he had another view on it, which is fine with me. I do think though it was more Tommy that got Manly further up the ladder or off the bottom of the ladder than DCE or any other player.

I think he can do some amazing things. I also think he cant control games consistently over 26 rounds. He's a clutch player, not a consistent organiser, and Manly or any team will suffer with no organiser.

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

I dont think there was any hate there Mark, nor was it intended, just my opinion. The poster did say he can see how I would come to that opinion, however he had another view on it, which is fine with me. I do think though it was more Tommy that got Manly further up the ladder or off the bottom of the ladder than DCE or any other player.

I think he can do some amazing things. I also think he cant control games consistently over 26 rounds. He's a clutch player, not a consistent organiser, and Manly or any team will suffer with no organiser.

My haters comment was general in nature , those that have almost always hated him will continue to find fault.

He’s not perfect , but very few are.

 

[silvereagle]

Club probably can not do much more continency and replacement wise if D C E does make that call to finish this season .

I think a few of us supporters will probably have some continency issues should DCE retire this year!!!!

 

[Rosko]

Mods - can we please correct the title of the thread?
If our halfback for 15 seasons is retiring... let's not discuss his retierment.

 

[globaleagle]

Mods - can we please correct the title of the thread?
If our halfback for 15 seasons is retiring... let's not discuss his retierment.

I could, but that'd ruin my joke from page two so.....🤷‍♂️

 

[Dion Johnson]

Hard to replace a player like DCE but it is equally exciting to welcome a very promising younger player in Joey Walsh who is set to step into his shoes.

Joey Walsh has already shown tremendous potential and dedication, according to the club and DCE who is confident that Joey will bring fresh energy and skill to the team, continuing the legacy of excellence.

The transition marks the end of an era but also the thrilling beginning of a new chapter for the club.

 

[Ralphie]

Awesome news if true. Then we need to get rid of Croker.

 

[Bearfax]

Gosh lets hope Joey Walsh lives up to his reputation and potential. Its a big gap to fill.

 

[Tragic Eagle]

What the fuss? It’s either the end of 25 or 26. Either way life goes on and we need a new 7 and we need to be grooming him now. I expect Walsh is in the top 30 for that very reason.

 

[Niallcc]

Only a few people would know if he is retiring this year or next.
I doubt he has told a mate first so they can spread the rumour about, the ones that would know would be his family, manager and Mastrov and he would have told them wait and see how I go up to origin, if I'm still feeling up to it I will play on in 2026 otherwise this year is it.

The way he has being playing it seems he could go around two more seasons but I would prefer him to go at the end of 2025 then play in 2026 if isn't up to it, nothing worse than being remembered as that player that went a season to long.

One thing that would see him decide this year is it would be the team winning a premiership with him leaving the game with a second premiership.

I had hoped he would stick around till 2026. That’s when the premiership window probably closes for this decade I think (ending our proud record of at least one per decade if it closes). And, of course, robbed in 2013.

 

[The Wheel]

A lot of talk about Walsh but don’t discount Brooks to half back and Large to 5/8

 

[silvereagle]

I had hoped he would stick around till 2026. That’s when the premiership window probably closes for this decade I think (ending our proud record of at least one per decade if it closes). And, of course, robbed in 2013.

Actually I think that's when our premiership window opens (26). Hopefully a new / younger spine and one or two more mobile forwards. Backline should hold almost as is with likely Turbo at centre and Lehi at FB. Whole different side and a real serious Premiership contender for a few years. Plenty of time to keep our GF / decade record intact.

 

[manly al]

Brooks 's defence at 6 last season was well up to par so could well have no difficulties maintaining that as a 7 .
Just get the impression though that with a bit more room to move and with Manly current mode of play , better to continue on as a 6 even if D C E does pull the pin this season .
Large could well be ready to step up to a i st grade level either as a 6 or centre by mid - late next season or so and with Brooks still a year to go in this contract .
And all indications are that Walsh is being fast tracked to slot into a top level 7 role before not too long .
Then the quandary of also accommodating the likes of the younger brigade of Koula , Lehi , Saab well into the future .
But , first things first and trying to get the most out of the present backline grouping and combinations

 

[BOZO]

A lot of talk about Walsh but don’t discount Brooks to half back and Large to 5/8

The club has Banked on Brooks as our Next Grand final Winning half leading the Way
Some how I cant not see Manlys Grand final future Winning stocks Rising
Brooks does not handle Pressure very well . He likes to Lay Low ( As per article below )
I see Brooks as Craig Field mark 2


Brooks Manly Move Quote
“He (Sea Eagles coach Anthony Seibold) talked about taking a back seat because I copped it a lot over there. I’m looking forward to laying low here,
“Coming here, a lot of the pressure is off me so I can just focus on footy. I think I’m playing my best footy when I’m enjoying it, so that’s what I think will happen here.”

 

[Phobia]

Come 2027, I can easily see us using Brooks like Des is using Foran this season, and how Bennett used Benji in 2021:

1. Hopoate
4. Turbo
6. Large
7. Walsh
9. Large / Muagututia

14. Brooks

He gave a lot of impact to the PM's XIII side off the bench recently. With Turbo in the centres, would allow a lot of spine experience into the team, without jeopardizing the roles of the young guys.

 

[bob dylan]

How can anyone replace DCE.

I am not always a fan of his, but he is an absolute legend of the club.

I'd say the best 7 we have had in 50 years.

 

[Ohgeez]

A lot of talk about Walsh but don’t discount Brooks to half back and Large to 5/8

We’ve seen enough of Brooks playing halfback at Tigers & even the game this season without DCE against south’s where he was the dominant half. He’s a very good 5/8 but isn’t cut out to lead a team at all, when he keeps it simple & play what’s in front of him is when we see him at his best

 

[Phobia]

We’ve seen enough of Brooks playing halfback at Tigers & even the game this season without DCE against south’s where he was the dominant half. He’s a very good 5/8 but isn’t cut out to lead a team at all, when he keeps it simple & play what’s in front of him is when we see him at his best

Collective amnesia about him taking charge vs Newcastle and Canberra yet again... The problem with Brooks at 7, was the Tigers, not Brooks. South's game was a coaching failure to try and utilise Brooks better.

 

[Ron E. Gibbs]

How can anyone replace DCE.

I'd say the best 7 we have had in 50 years.

Yeah, but that's only because he's been our halfback for 42 of those 50 years…

I kid, I kid. But really, I'm excited for the future. Change is not always a bad thing, and Cherry can't play on forever. It's time for somebody else to step up and show us what they can do.

DCE has been a club stalwart and deserves a rugby league "fairytale" to finish his career. He also deserves to call time on that career whenever he feels he's ready. I'd love to see him go out with another premiership, but if he doesn't, he doesn't. He's got nothing left to prove to anybody, and the rest of his life to enjoy as a relatively young and healthy man.

 

[lsz]

I am amazed that in what is arguably the hardest position in the NRL people seem to not see what we are going to be missing.

I understand there are frustrations with him but honestly if you think a kid, no matter how talented, can replace him I would like to have some of what ever you are on.

Lets have a look at the players who you might consider ahead of him ($ are zero tackle so who really knows...) and I am sure I have missed someone!

Nathan Cleary (1.2m)
Jahrome Hughes (900k)
Maybe Mitchell Moses (1.2m)
DCE (1m)
Then after him you would put
Ben Hunt (550...it is the broncs)
Jarome Luai (1.2M)
Nicho Hynes (1m)
Sam Walker (1m)

By way of further context Jackson Hastings is on 700k. I would argue there is a fair difference between the two platers