There's two DCE's in my book. DCE pre Titans backflip 8 year massive contract and DCE post Titans backflip 8 year massive contract. Or more simply up to and including 2015 and then 2016 and beyond
Very good point C & C about the early part of his career v later years although personally I don’t characterise that as ‘pre and post backflip and massive contract’.
Sure the backflip and contract go towards why he’s disliked, but don’t especially explain his halted development as a player. Maybe he just reached his ceiling. Or maybe a combination of factors eg struggles of a champion side in terminal decline, front office and coaching instability, and seasons lost in an unsuccessful rebuild attempt.
In 2015 well before a ball was kicked there was media talk of player unrest and dumping the coach. That was the year of the contract dramas, Tooves eventually (and painfully) sacked, Manly was a mess all year, missing the finals in a preview of what was to come.
By 2016 Lyon Matai and Snake were still technically present but didn’t play much, Ballin Foran Hiku were gone, while Kite, Gifty, Choc, King and Rose were distant memories. The instant rebuild featuring Barrett Taupau and Walker sputtered fizzled and ultimately crashed, pretty much a waste of 3 years.
DCE in his early years had looked to have almost unlimited potential but you’re right he just hasn’t quite gone on with it and kept improving as we’d all hoped. And he hasn’t been able to lead Manly back to the top of the heap.
He’s still been pretty good though, just not consistently dominant. And usually rates high on our MVP (lol, yes I concede Silvertails members on the whole are terrible judges but we do watch Manly closely and often our own harshest critics, so must count for something!)
2021 – 2nd in MVP
2020 – MVP
2019 - 3rd
2018 – 2nd
2017 – MVP
2016 – not placed
2015 – 3rd
