I too am a little peeved with the way things are going lately and have some observations on the team in general.
Personally I think we have assembled a team of quite mediocre talent. I originally thought that we might be doing what the Brumbies (yeah I know rugger crap) did way back when they recruited the discarded from all the others and assembled a team that went on and entertained and dominated to some degree for several years. But, alas, this is far from what has happened here. We seem to have recruited very average players at best and they are performing as such.
1. Turbo Tom – nothing needs to be said really. The talent is obvious and does make the odd mistake/blunder but the effort, involvement and desire is going to take him into another stratosphere.
2. Mathew Wright – a solid fill-in winger/player – but that really is all. The fact he can kick goals (albeit quite hit and miss) is an added plus but really isn’t in the class of the wingers the sea eagles have had in the past and should be looking to in the future. I don’t see much improvement so probably seeing the best he has to offer. Maybe an option in centres ahead of Kelly who is a complete liability. Really missing Toufua.
3. Dylan Walker – I was quite excited to see him come the sea eagles but was completely bamboozled by the attempt to turn him into a 5/8. So, having him go back to the centres for I was again pretty excited. The problem is that you essentially have two very different people here. In attack he is awesome and really does some great hit ups out of our own half – but – there is a big part of this game called defence. His ability to continually rush up out of the line which creates attacking opportunities out of nothing for the opposition is wearing thin. His turnstiles defence is embarrassing. Delve into the missed tackle stats and we see Manly has two of the worst centre defenders in the game Walker (82 missed tackles) and Kelly (61). As a pair they are ranked #1 as the most missed tackles – just simply not good enough. I never see anyone saying boo about Walkers defence or lack thereof. I think he is a liability that we cannot afford – but then again…who can replace him???
4. Brian Kelly – A lot of people mention he’s young, learning blah blah…well so are a bunch of other dudes that are performing to very high standards at other clubs. Maybe needs a year or so playing in lower grades with the odd fill in game in ones but from what I have seen isn’t really ever going to go on with it. Manly has two worst defensive pairings of centres in the league and we wonder why so many points are being scored against us. I hear the Morris bros. maybe on the market J
5. Uate – happy here except needs a centre that can tackle and understand defensive patterns inside him.
6. Blake Green – Sorry not sold on this one. Seen some positive things and is reasonably solid but I don’t think he is the answer. My guess is we are stuck with this option for another year or so.
7. Cherry – Cherry is Cherry no real complaints but does need a better option at #6 for him to play his best.
8. Brenton Lawrence – loved him like a brother but lately is showing signs of (well I don’t know what really). Has been great in parts and usually offers some fantastic drive up the middle with his leg speed but also seems to have a knack of giving away penalties just when you don’t need it or coming up with some sort of mistake again at the wrong time. I just can’t put my finger on it but seems to need a change of environment perhaps which I guess he is getting next year.
9. Api – has grown on me and is really adding some great spark and is huge in defence. Punching above his weight so all positives moving forward.
10. Kapow – Good, happy no dramas. You know what you are gonna get with him.
11. Winterstein – Man… I am sooooo disappointed with Frank. Look at this bloke. He is so athletic looking – big, strong, a real athlete but does jack sh!t. No real impact in a game at all. Seen a couple glimmers of hope but overall… Phht so far. Need more involvement…need something please.
12. Shaun Lane – take 2 (ala Winterstein) 6ft 5inch athlete who is completely anonymous on the field…was he on the other day? Is he ever there …really? My god the size of him and there’s no anger, no passion, no will. Can someone please slap some mongrel into these dudes? Just sits out on the edge and runs his lines makes a couple tackles…good game…not.
13. Jake T – nothing to say…good as gold.
14. Lewis Brown – not fan in any way shape or form. I’ve seen people comment on his usefulness and quality …really… is that why he has been from club to club? Just don’t understand it. Fills in a number of rolls but essentially crap at all. How was the service/delivery out dummy half the other day…pooooor. Just doesn’t cut the mustard.
15. Perrett – just a fill in nothing more nothing less. At best a bench player (which he generally is) but doesn’t add much.
16. Finua Blake – I like him and he adds some great punch and go forward. Has some crap in his game overall he goes ok off the bench.
17. Darcy Lussick – I was happy he went to Parra and really peeved to see him back. Just a stupid player.
Surely with a side like this we should be millions under the salary cap as not many should or would command a great deal of coin. So I guess we are simply paying overs for the vast majority of our squad. We need a rebuild/cleanout simple as that. Most of these guys are not going to improve to any great extent. I know by seeing some comments from the fans on here that there is a lot of blind faith but I just don’t see it getting better with the quality of roster we have.