How do we unlock Koula?

[Stewbojevic]

I’m a big fan of Koula and I think he’s a good centre.

However, it feels like there is SO much upside we’re not utilising. I think about the times he has played fullback with open space. Then there’s that amazing try against the Dogs in the finals last year.

How do we get him more space and utilise his speed and skill more?

With Turbo out, we need to maximise the talent we have!

 

[eaglebuzz]

I’m a big fan of Koula and I think he’s a good centre.

However, it feels like there is SO much upside we’re not utilising. I think about the times he has played fullback with open space. Then there’s that amazing try against the Dogs in the finals last year.

How do we get him more space and utilise his speed and skill more?

With Turbo out, we need to maximise the talent we have!

He probably needs a bit more licence to roam, like Turbo in SOO

 

[Tragic Eagle]

Koula needs ball in space. Early ball will unlock him.

 

[Woodsie]

However, it feels like there is SO much upside we’re not utilising.

Not so sure it is a matter of us not utilising him ... IMO the onus on improvement is his ... he needs to practice beating a man one on one ... his go to mode appears to be head down and charge the defensive line like it is a hit up ... in your own half that's fine ... but in their zone he needs to be thinking of beating his man with footwork .. something I have rarely seen from him ...

 

[Saabnaldo]

With the #1 on his back

 

[Rafferty]

With the #1 on his back

That’s the way I see it

 

[Ohgeez]

Brooks likes running to the line before passing, good for backline moves but sometimes just get him the ball early with space for a 1 on 1 chance.

 

[KaZa]

I’m a big fan of Koula and I think he’s a good centre.

However, it feels like there is SO much upside we’re not utilising. I think about the times he has played fullback with open space. Then there’s that amazing try against the Dogs in the finals last year.

How do we get him more space and utilise his speed and skill more?

With Turbo out, we need to maximise the talent we have!

A better half back who gives him early ball. Same with Haumole.

 

[Rosko]

I’m a big fan of Koula and I think he’s a good centre.

However, it feels like there is SO much upside we’re not utilising. I think about the times he has played fullback with open space. Then there’s that amazing try against the Dogs in the finals last year.

How do we get him more space and utilise his speed and skill more?

With Turbo out, we need to maximise the talent we have!

💯 Has to be partly down to him, but surely Brooks can do better. It is such a bloody waste.

 

[HoldenV8]

TBH I'm not totally sold on Koula as a fullback. Sure it gives him room to run, but against better defences that can be negated.

His first 2 games at fullback for Manly in 2022 saw scores of 40–6 and 48–6. We got hammered 2 weeks running by Cronulla at Brookie and Canberra in politician central. His next 2 games at fullback were against the 2023 Dogs and Tigers, both of whom were marking time to end miserable seasons and neither offered up much resistance in those games (we won 42–24 over the Dogs at Homebush and 54–12 over the Tigers at Brookie to end the season). And he only played fullback in those games after Reubes got upended that night in Auckland and hurt his back.

Personally I wouldn't mind seeing him move out to the wing with a better centre (Talau or even Turbo??) inside of him to help set up his runs.

So far in most of our games this season, our right edge players have been setting up Saab to be actually able to utilise use his pace on the flank (we might have earned the ire of some commentators by spreading the ball wide without "earning the right" up the middle, but when you have someone of Saab's pace out wide, you'd be silly not to use it). It would be nice if we had Koula's pace out on the left wing to set him up also.

 

[stoodamire]

this has been a problem since Brooks came to us last year.

Our left side gets no space.

 

[Stewbojevic]

TBH I'm not totally sold on Koula as a fullback. Sure it gives him room to run, but against better defences that can be negated.

His first 2 games at fullback for Manly in 2022 saw scores of 40–6 and 48–6. We got hammered 2 weeks running by Cronulla at Brookie and Canberra in politician central. His next 2 games at fullback were against the 2023 Dogs and Tigers, both of whom were marking time to end miserable seasons and neither offered up much resistance in those games (we won 42–24 over the Dogs at Homebush and 54–12 over the Tigers at Brookie to end the season). And he only played fullback in those games after Reubes got upended that night in Auckland and hurt his back.

Personally I wouldn't mind seeing him move out to the wing with a better centre (Talau or even Turbo??) inside of him to help set up his runs.

So far in most of our games this season, our right edge players have been setting up Saab to be actually able to utilise use his pace on the flank (we might have earned the ire of some commentators by spreading the ball wide without "earning the right" up the middle, but when you have someone of Saab's pace out wide, you'd be silly not to use it). It would be nice if we had Koula's pace out on the left wing to set him up also.

Would Koula cope with the high balls on the wing?

There is something intriguing about this back 5:

1. Lehi
2. Koula
3. Turbo
4. Garrick
5. Saab

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

Not cool or nice to strangely unlock a speedy Sea Eagle (5)

 

[IQofalimabean]

Would Koula cope with the high balls on the wing?

There is something intriguing about this back 5:

1. Lehi
2. Koula
3. Turbo
4. Garrick
5. Saab

i think your being generous with turbo given his injury history.

 

[Scorpio]

this has been a problem since Brooks came to us last year.

Our left side gets no space.

He was previously at right centre next to DCE and the same issue was being pinned on DCE... which is probably partially true, but the common denominator is Tolu himself.

Despite his proven toughness and athleticism, he doesn't often seem to keep the opposition guessing with soft hands, a kicking game, dummying to kick/pass or with late footwork to beat a defender. On his own, the opposition seem to know what he's going to do, and when he has enough space he can burn them with pace. But when that space isn't there (most of the time) he doesn't create much.

He's only 22 and is a first grade centre every day of the week, but it would be good to see him improve in these parts of his game.

 

[Sheikheagle]

He was previously at right centre next to DCE and the same issue was being pinned on DCE... which is probably partially true, but the common denominator is Tolu himself.

Despite his proven toughness and athleticism, he doesn't often seem to keep the opposition guessing with soft hands, a kicking game, dummying to kick/pass or with late footwork to beat a defender. On his own, the opposition seem to know what he's going to do, and when he has enough space he can burn them with pace. But when that space isn't there (most of the time) he doesn't create much.

He's only 22 and is a first grade centre every day of the week, but it would be good to see him improve in these parts of his game.

Yep definitely a work in progress. Still only a young fella. It will come, he will be elite in the next couple of years. I wonder how much centre he played in lower grades.

 

[DanielTurbo888]

Offloads

 

[manly al]

Koula despite his undoubted ability can only do so much to utilize this to best effect .
Getting better opportunities is hardly down to him , good indication last week what he is capable of when he is given even half a chance so will just have to rely on more of that .
And however it can be on offer for him ongoing , not so much with earlier ball but just that additional or even slightest more room to move.
Hardly going to receive it if too much a concentration on just regular one out plays on the 3 rd and 4 th attacking plays last week for instance

 

[nightster]

He probably needs a bit more licence to roam, like Turbo in SOO

Aslong as someone is covering in defence

 

[Ron E. Gibbs]

With the #1 on his back

I agree that Koula's best position is probably fullback. Unfortunately for him, Turbo is (occasionally) there, and Lehi is the obvious backup. Lehi is excellent, a natural fullback in both attack and defence. Tolu is fast as hell and has created havoc in attack when he's played fullback, but he doesn't have the same positional nous and steadiness that Lehi does.

So he's going to have to flourish as a centre.