DCE to announce retierment

[lsz]

For what it is worth Justin Horro (a good mate of DCE) said that he knows "for a fact" DCE will not finish up this year

 

[Disco]

For what it is worth Justin Horro (a good mate of DCE) said that he knows "for a fact" DCE will not finish up this year

I mean, I like this, but at the same time, anything can happen.

I do think he'll go again though

 

[lsz]

I mean, I like this, but at the same time, anything can happen.

I do think he'll go again though

Agree 100%

 

[Cliffy's Jockstrap]

I also agree 100%. DCE's durability is truly amazing and halves who are being troubled by niggling injuries (like Cleary's kicking leg problem last year) badly need to ask DCE about his training regimen. Frankly we need him to go around again in 2026 and I am very confident he will.

 

[stoodamire]

If we win the comp this year, I think he retires.

 

[Under the Sticks]

My words from another thread.

I liked how in Episode 4 they quoted DCE saying it was “Now or Never” for him Jake and Trbo as leaders. This is how we were hoping they would feel in terms of focus and sacrifice.

Based on DCEs own legacy words I would bet on him finishing in ‘26 unless they tank or win the GF in 25. If they get close enough in 25 he will hold on for one last crack.

Interesting to note that both DCE and Jake got married in the off season so they would want 2 years post wedding salary before retirement I reckon in terms of balancing life changing events.

 

[Highflier]

We need to let Walsh and Large develop at their own pace and not over hype them.

Neither have played a game for us yet and both are what 18?

We have this habit of building players up to completely unrealistic expectations then when they come in and play some solid games we tear them down because they haven't set up 6 tries and made 4 line breaks.

Lets stay measured, both have a long way to go

You are right , but that is the silver tails way , ultimate hype then bitter disappointment when they don’t score those 4 try’s , save those 5 try’s against and kick winning field goals 😂

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

I’m sure DCE would love nothing more than to go out on a GF win, doubt that’ll happen this year but with us improving it certainly could in 2026.

So I’d be sure he’ll do two more years

 

[Rafferty]

We just don’t have the middle (including 9) to compete with the heavyweights.

If we free up space with DCE’s retirement, we could buy a couple of middles but then struggle to put it together in attack and end up in the same place we are now.

I’d rather have DCE and an average middle, than a strong middle with a rookie half that can’t direct the team around or ice the 5th tackle options.

It’s easier to get away with a lack of talent in the middle, than it is to have a clueless 7.

When I read your post, 2011 come straight to mind, strong middle, rookie half, you know the story, similar principle carried us through to a robbery in 2013 and we’re all aware of the subsequent years and the outcomes.
Funnily enough the very composition of the team now and over recent years seems to be as you mention, re DCE with an average middle.

Ahhh at last some common sense.

On the surface, the replacement for DCE is a new and exciting talent wearing the same numbered jumper; problem solved? Not quite - 329 first grade games of experiences...a premiership...25 games for QLD...series wins as captain...21 games for Australia...the most golden point FG's since the format's inception...a great kicker of 40/20s...a nuanced passing game...composure under pressure...a great trainer...a strong leader...

Step on up rookie

No doubting DCE’s achievements and standing in the game, it’s definitely an impressive resume.
However he was that rookie half stepping up in 2011 behind a strong pack, remembering he also had a rookie halves partner, so interesting summation, but not necessarily definitive, so yes step on up rookie, it mightn’t be as comical as you indicate, especially given the raps on Walsh and the fact Cherry will be mentoring him.

In saying that, I think Chez will play on, unless he lifts the trophy in 26, which can happen, but I think that would be a relatively large upset given our middles and the tier 1 teams were chasing, but it’s footy and anything can happen.

If and or when our next rookie half steps up, be it Walsh, Large or perhaps another experienced replacement. l actually look forward to the new chapter, in the meantime let’s hope our middles can focus, step up and help our captain go out on a high, nothing would better.

We all know Daly’s a smart man, listening to him during the last episode of the MW he talked about achievements in the game and setting up for life after footy via footy.

I feel pretty confident in saying, Daly is hyper aware of his career stats and standing in the game and has an obvious desire to remain involved with the game in whatever capacity, after all, footy’s been his life and the sport’s never been richer. I guess the only question is, what drives him, extending his personal stat sheet to list dual premiership winner, something other or a combination of reason, only he will know.

If he plays on through 27 and has an injury free run he could move into second place for the most NRL games behind Smith, set a pretty hard club record to displace, etc. Who knows what drives him. His a complete professional and an asset to our club, whatever his motivation, here’s hoping it finishes in style, I want to take my boys to a Manly GF and I want to celebrate another Manly premiership. I think I’m having footy withdrawals, the closer the season gets the longer it seem to be taking.

 

[The Indian]

I don't see too much sign of his form dipping - he's always been a super competitor and been a great attacking force and in the past 2 seasons he has played his most consistent football of his career (in my opinion anyway). He plays less 9 out of 10 games these days and that's just natural but he also plays less 4 out of 10 games these days too. Albeit perhaps his defence has dropped off a little, his game management has improved. He's really turned around my opinion of him in the last 2 to 3 years. Albeit our success on the field has been similar before and after.

I think he's got 400 games plus on his mind plus 1 more premiership to cement a legacy. I think he'll play on as long as he possibly can.

 

[Scorpio]

I also agree 100%. DCE's durability is truly amazing and halves who are being troubled by niggling injuries (like Cleary's kicking leg problem last year) badly need to ask DCE about his training regimen.

I don't think this is rocket science.

He is very fit and looks after himself... but if DCE constantly took hit-ups as often as Cleary (i.e. runs hard and direct into the opposition defence and wear a big hit in doing so) and was also the main goal kicker... then I would suggest that he would be injured as often as other playmakers.

Cameron Smith was also rarely injured... but he was rarely in a position to be tackled, and wasn't usually the player that made the heaviest front-on contact in defence. Not having to repeatedly wear an impact from a defensive wall with multiple 100kg men is a luxury that most NRL players do not have, and your Smiths and DCEs rely on other teammates to be doing these jobs in order for them to be effective.

 

[eaglebuzz]

If he wanted to DCE could probably keep playing for the next 5 years, but I think he would spend the last 2-3 of those playing Reserve grade on way less money.

 

[LeonardCohen]

When I read your post, 2011 come straight to mind, strong middle, rookie half, you know the story, similar principle carried us through to a robbery in 2013 and we’re all aware of the subsequent years and the outcomes.
Funnily enough the very composition of the team now and over recent years seems to be as you mention, re DCE with an average middle.

No doubting DCE’s achievements and standing in the game, it’s definitely an impressive resume.
However he was that rookie half stepping up in 2011 behind a strong pack, remembering he also had a rookie halves partner, so interesting summation, but not necessarily definitive, so yes step on up rookie, it mightn’t be as comical as you indicate, especially given the raps on Walsh and the fact Cherry will be mentoring him.

In saying that, I think Chez will play on, unless he lifts the trophy in 26, which can happen, but I think that would be a relatively large upset given our middles and the tier 1 teams were chasing, but it’s footy and anything can happen.

If and or when our next rookie half steps up, be it Walsh, Large or perhaps another experienced replacement. l actually look forward to the new chapter, in the meantime let’s hope our middles can focus, step up and help our captain go out on a high, nothing would better.

We all know Daly’s a smart man, listening to him during the last episode of the MW he talked about achievements in the game and setting up for life after footy via footy.

I feel pretty confident in saying, Daly is hyper aware of his career stats and standing in the game and has an obvious desire to remain involved with the game in whatever capacity, after all, footy’s been his life and the sport’s never been richer. I guess the only question is, what drives him, extending his personal stat sheet to list dual premiership winner, something other or a combination of reason, only he will know.

If he plays on through 27 and has an injury free run he could move into second place for the most NRL games behind Smith, set a pretty hard club record to displace, etc. Who knows what drives him. His a complete professional and an asset to our club, whatever his motivation, here’s hoping it finishes in style, I want to take my boys to a Manly GF and I want to celebrate another Manly premiership. I think I’m having footy withdrawals, the closer the season gets the longer it seem to be taking.

It’s easy to suggest that DCE is a fine example of a rookie half that stepped up, but the trouble with that take on things, is the oversight in how often it happens in the NRL. DCE is a generational talent. Most rookie halves take years and years to develop, if ever at all. Only a handful ever live up to hype. That’s the issue we face. Walsh of Large will need to be an exception, because it’s certainly not the rule.

 

[Pete W]

I think a halves combination of Arthur and Brooks will be more than adequate, for at least a transition period, provided Arthur gets in some much needed field time this year, and DCE's salary is well spent on strengthening our middle third.

 

[LeonardCohen]

It wasn’t so long ago that a number of fans were excited at the prospect of Foran handing the baton over to Josh Schuster, an exciting and highly touted future star…

 

[Dion Johnson]

It wasn’t so long ago that a number of fans were excited at the prospect of Foran handing the baton over to Josh Schuster, an exciting and highly touted future star…

I still remember it like yesterday when Trent Hodkinson signed with the Bulldogs after a decent debut season in 2010, then out of nowhere came DCE who had a breakout debut season in 2011.

The excitement of the unknown is always fascinating.

 

[Rafferty]

It’s easy to suggest that DCE is a fine example of a rookie half that stepped up, but the trouble with that take on things, is the oversight in how often it happens in the NRL. DCE is a generational talent. Most rookie halves take years and years to develop, if ever at all. Only a handful ever live up to hype. That’s the issue we face. Walsh of Large will need to be an exception, because it’s certainly not the rule.

Just looking over a couple of thing, Shaun Johnson was also a rookie in 2011, interestingly enough from what I could find, 15 rookie halfbacks have made the Gf in 116 years, not great odds, but not bad either just over 12%, however on the other hand just 7 over the age of 30 have won a GF and only 2 over 35 which is just over 1%, so it’s a very rare feat for a senior (over 35) halfback to come away with.

Going off statistics its more likely that a rookie will lift the trophy, in saying that there’s a caveat attached, bit like a super add, “past performance is no indication of future performance”. Should Chez lift the trophy he will set a new benchmark as the oldest half back to raise the trophy. Cronk holds that tittle at 35 years 305 days, Jim Craig was the only other 35 yo to do it, 1930 with Western Suburbs.

 

[Tragic Eagle]

You must have a plan and a heirs otherwise you fall significantly when important players retire. Parramatta suffered that fate when Sterling retired followed by Cronin and so on. We will too if we don’t identify talent and roll the dice. Many factors come into play and you hope that at least one young star lol comes through. You can’t enjoy the fruit if you don’t plant the trees.

 

[Bearfax]

I still remember it like yesterday when Trent Hodkinson signed with the Bulldogs after a decent debut season in 2010, then out of nowhere came DCE who had a breakout debut season in 2011.

The excitement of the unknown is always fascinating.

I wonder if DCE impacted so well in his first season because he had been held back in lower grade because of the half backs we had then, and had his first game when aged 22. He certainly exploded onto the scene in his first year. I remember watching him play some games on TV for Manly's then QLD based reggie side and he looked most impressive and dominant even then.