sheridanstand78
First Grader
I witnessed last nights match and what really stood out for me is the evolution of the two teams out there last night.
I saw a Penrith side full of youthful exhuberance, powerful, energetic, fast and a solid game plan based on hard running and astute game management from an inform halves pairing.
What I saw in Manly was a predictable game plan, slow to react, one half in DCE doing a great job in trying to get things happening with zero support from his parther in the halves.
I understand that Manly are short handed at the moment, we have key players either injured or playing injured. The stark difference in the backrow efforts of both teams really stood out. Jake tried hard, Sirro did well considering hes not fit and Thommo is not the player he was. Their back row was dynamic, they killed on the fringes.
I applaud that Penrith had the foresight to bring in youth last year and blood them when it was obvious that they were not going to make the finals and the have not been afraid to move on quality players to give their great young players a chance.
I see Manly playing and I know they try hard and you can see that some of the guys really put in. We are carrying too many passengers right now who are not of first grade standard and when the heat is applied we wilt.
We have some great young players and the are currently idle.
A telling stat this season is we are scoring about 15 points a game, that is ten less than the top 4 and our general attack lacks creativity and is sooo predictable.
Every kick that Penrith did last night had a purpose, the bombs that Cleary kicks are really hard to defuse and challenge the best full backs out there, Most of our bombs are straight to the opposition without challenge. The second half last night Penrith got 3 line drop outs and just controlled the game easily. They had game management even when over 20 points ahead and I dont see that consistently with our halves.
Des has been around the traps and with all his experience he knows that its a results based game and the risk is do you blood young players? or stick with the tried and trusted ones?
Penrith played with a freedom last night that reminded me of Manly in 2011. We had a young DCE, Foran and Hoppa blended in with our experienced guys who won in 2008 and it was a great energetic, creative and tough side.
I hope Des remebers that and understands that young guys like Funa, Schuster and co deserve a chance if the more experienced guys are just not doing the business.
I understand that Des is hoping that we scrape into the 8 and that a fit Tommy will make a difference. The truth is that after seeing last nights game, we are miles behind the top 4 consistently.
I want to see the team evolve and I was Des to prove that he can also do that as his last 2 years at the Dogs were not good and his reluctance to change things ultimately cost him there.
Since 2015, Manly have really made some dud decisions in relation to keeping young players, We had a Holden cup team make the grand final in 2015 and win in 2017 and how many players from those teams are in our current 17???
I saw a Penrith side full of youthful exhuberance, powerful, energetic, fast and a solid game plan based on hard running and astute game management from an inform halves pairing.
What I saw in Manly was a predictable game plan, slow to react, one half in DCE doing a great job in trying to get things happening with zero support from his parther in the halves.
I understand that Manly are short handed at the moment, we have key players either injured or playing injured. The stark difference in the backrow efforts of both teams really stood out. Jake tried hard, Sirro did well considering hes not fit and Thommo is not the player he was. Their back row was dynamic, they killed on the fringes.
I applaud that Penrith had the foresight to bring in youth last year and blood them when it was obvious that they were not going to make the finals and the have not been afraid to move on quality players to give their great young players a chance.
I see Manly playing and I know they try hard and you can see that some of the guys really put in. We are carrying too many passengers right now who are not of first grade standard and when the heat is applied we wilt.
We have some great young players and the are currently idle.
A telling stat this season is we are scoring about 15 points a game, that is ten less than the top 4 and our general attack lacks creativity and is sooo predictable.
Every kick that Penrith did last night had a purpose, the bombs that Cleary kicks are really hard to defuse and challenge the best full backs out there, Most of our bombs are straight to the opposition without challenge. The second half last night Penrith got 3 line drop outs and just controlled the game easily. They had game management even when over 20 points ahead and I dont see that consistently with our halves.
Des has been around the traps and with all his experience he knows that its a results based game and the risk is do you blood young players? or stick with the tried and trusted ones?
Penrith played with a freedom last night that reminded me of Manly in 2011. We had a young DCE, Foran and Hoppa blended in with our experienced guys who won in 2008 and it was a great energetic, creative and tough side.
I hope Des remebers that and understands that young guys like Funa, Schuster and co deserve a chance if the more experienced guys are just not doing the business.
I understand that Des is hoping that we scrape into the 8 and that a fit Tommy will make a difference. The truth is that after seeing last nights game, we are miles behind the top 4 consistently.
I want to see the team evolve and I was Des to prove that he can also do that as his last 2 years at the Dogs were not good and his reluctance to change things ultimately cost him there.
Since 2015, Manly have really made some dud decisions in relation to keeping young players, We had a Holden cup team make the grand final in 2015 and win in 2017 and how many players from those teams are in our current 17???