Favourite Player

[Ryan]

Hey guys, I'd love to hear who everyone's CURRENT favourite player for Manly is, and why?

For mine: It's changed a few times for me. But at the moment , it's Jason Saab. He just has that arrogant (in a good way) swagger, that I think players need to have. His pace can tear the opposition a new arsehole. I also think his defense has improved exponentially. Also seems to love and advocate Manly.

 

[Will on the hill]

Hey guys, I'd love to hear who everyone's CURRENT favourite player for Manly is, and why?

For mine: It's changed a few times for me. But at the moment , it's Jason Saab. He just has that arrogant (in a good way) swagger, that I think players need to have. His pace can tear the opposition a new arsehole. I also think his defense has improved exponentially.

Based on who would I be the most devastated to ever see wearing another clubs colours, mine is Jake. Hard to split Jake and Tom but unfortunately watching Tom these days gives me equal parts joy and anxiety.

 

[The Insomniac]

Gotta be DCE. Hate to think where we'd be without him. When he gives up laying it on the line for QLD, ( who don't appreciate him anyway ) ,I'm predicting he'll drag our team kicking and screaming into a Grand final before he retires. Put you house on it !

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

For courage , commitment and the willingness to learn a different position so he could establish himself as a permanent starter, Lachlan Croker.

Yes , a few years ago I would have blown myself up for that statement but it’s clear how far he’s come since then.

The perfect hooker , no!!
In the top 4 hookers in the game , no!
But for what I say above , absolutely!!

 

[Ryan]

Gotta be DCE. Hate to think where we'd be without him. When he gives up laying it on the line for QLD, ( who don't appreciate him anyway ) ,I'm predicting he'll drag our team kicking and screaming into a Grand final before he retires. Put you house on it !

Absolutely a toss up for mine too. It was close to being DCE here as well. He's a fantastic brand ambassador for us.

 

[Ryan]

For courage , commitment and the willingness to learn a different position so he could establish himself as a permanent starter, Lachlan Croker.

Yes , a few years ago I would have blown myself up for that statement but it’s clear how far he’s come since then.

The perfect hooker , no!!
In the top 4 hookers in the game , no!
But for what I say above , absolutely!!

Mate, the absolute epitome of character and resilience. More than any other in our team (in my opinion).

 

[Uber Eagle 72]

Corey Waddell for me. Absolutely hated it when I heard we signed him again! But plays way above his pay grade on most occasions something we really need!

 

[47MVEagle]

DCE for me, for reasons already stated but also because he’s always shown class in the face of adversity & especially when he was being relentlessly attacked for the Titans backflip.

The mental strength he must have to have dealt with that & never letting it affect his game is amazing. Look at the likes of Latrell Mitchell who has to go for a sabbatical to his farm any time someone criticises him in the media, imagine if DCE was weak like that?

 

[Ryan]

DCE for me, for reasons already stated but also because he’s always shown class in the face of adversity & especially when he was being relentlessly attacked for the Titans backflip.

The mental strength he must have to have dealt with that & never letting it affect his game is amazing. Look at the likes of Latrell Mitchell who has to go for a sabbatical to his farm any time someone criticises him in the media, imagine if DCE was weak like that?

It was crazy, hey. I remember Gordon Tallis was scathing and very vocal. But completely changed his tune with David Fifita doing the same thing.

It was disgusting how basically the whole state treated him

 

[Ryan]

Corey Waddell for me. Absolutely hated it when I heard we signed him again! But plays way above his pay grade on most occasions something we really need!

Didn't expect that, mate, but fair enough. I agree that he's a much improved player. I think he's been playing injured of late, but he certainly holds his own these days.

 

[NREagle]

Toss up between Talau and Haumole.

Similar reasons....love their growth as players...their demeanour off the field....the way they both show that they love wearing our jersey.

 

[Ryan]

Toss up between Talau and Haumole.

Similar reasons....love their growth as players...their demeanour off the field....the way they both show that they love wearing our jersey.

Talau is LEVELS above what was expected. I thought Paulo would be it, but it's been streets.

Olakau'atu, jeez, he's such an important cog now. He is a Grand Final type player.

 

[47MVEagle]

It was crazy, hey. I remember Gordon Tallis was scathing and very vocal. But completely changed his tune with David Fifita doing the same thing.

It was disgusting how basically the whole state treated him

Every time I see that newspaper image of DCE in a Blues jersey & them calling him a treacherous cockroach, it reminds me of how ruthless the QLD media are.

They probably wouldn’t be allowed to do that today, with the whole mental health & inclusivity thing the NRL is on, so it astounds me even more that it was only 7/8 years ago.

 

[47MVEagle]

Corey Waddell for me. Absolutely hated it when I heard we signed him again! But plays way above his pay grade on most occasions something we really need!

He really showed his courage IMO, when he was hobbling around in the middle still tackling props running at him in the most recent dragons game.

He was in so much pain, you could see it on his face, especially when he’d get up from a tackle only to look up & see another dragon running at him, it was “Oh FFS, another one?!?” 😂

 

[Ryan]

Every time I see that newspaper image of DCE in a Blues jersey & them calling him a treacherous cockroach, it reminds me of how ruthless the QLD media are.

They probably wouldn’t be allowed to do that today, with the whole mental health & inclusivity thing the NRL is on, so it astounds me even more that it was only 7/8 years ago.

He MUST have an excellent support network around him. Imagine being in your 20's and having all those different demographics criticising you.

People forget that even within our own club, people were saying guys like Matai, Choc, the Stewart's and others were off him about the salary requests and that. He's had to defend reports him and the Trbojevic's had an issue. Then there was the issue with Hastings and sides were chosen.

Different type of resilience to Croker (which is more about constitution), but FMD, someone like me couldn't handle that in my 40's !! Testament to his character hey.

 

[47MVEagle]

He MUST have an excellent support network around him. Imagine being in your 20's and having all those different demographics criticising you.

People forget that even within our own club, people were saying guys like Matai, Choc, the Stewart's and others were off him about the salary requests and that. He's had to defend reports him and the Trbojevic's had an issue. Then there was the issue with Hastings and sides were chosen.

Different type of resilience to Croker (which is more about constitution), but FMD, someone like me couldn't handle that in my 40's !! Testament to his character hey.

Yeah I really admire that level of self belief & confidence in a person, even more when , as you pointed out, they’re still only young.

It must have been very hard times for him to have been ostracised by the senior players group like that.

Well done to him for not only having that strength but also for having carried it forward without ever becoming arrogant with it, as many do. He’s just gone about things strongly & silently.

 

[The Insomniac]

Each reply from our great supporters here are valid and worthy. We all look for different things. Some see things one way others see them the opposite. Nothing is right or wrong. Just keep cheering for the greatest NRL club in history. Over and out.

 

[Captain Moondog]

Talau is LEVELS above what was expected.

His cousin was around at my place yesterday.....and he brought beer.

 

[madmax]

Tommy Talau closely followed by Olakau’atu.
Looks like he’s loving it at Manly & showing it on the field.

 

[Heckenberg]

Haumole probably. The guy is just hectic.