Jake Simpkin signed until 2026

[Dion Johnson]

Mixed bag tonight. Generally decent service from DH, but a few poor tackle attempts. At one moment in the second half, he looked completely lost at dummy half and it was amateur hour. Happy to give him more time to develop though.

Yeh some areas still developing, though 53 tackles and 3 misses was a good effort..

 

[LeonardCohen]

Horrendous error getting caught at dummy half when we were going for field goal position,but aside from that.... seemed OK. Everyone in that team showed ticker so he'll get plenty of opportunity to improve.

It’s a fatigue error though isn’t it. A humid night in NQL, extra minutes due to Ben T’s injury pushing Lawton to the edge, the ball in play for long periods and our middle getting absolutely owned in yardage. He was a fraction slow to release there and paid the price. If he is fresh, that error doesn’t happen.

 

[HK_Eagle]

Horrendous error getting caught at dummy half when we were going for field goal position,but aside from that.... seemed OK. Everyone in that team showed ticker so he'll get plenty of opportunity to improve.

But just quietly, how crucial was that error in the context of the game? HUGE. That said, I want to persevere and develop him… absolutely.

 

[Hibyemama]

Just Croker/Simpkins please. (lawton standby)
Humphrey/GCKT not in the same level of experience at this stage.

 

[Tragic Eagle]

Lawton is a very good and mobile back rower. It’s a shame we’ve wasted him at dummy half.

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

Lawton is a very good and mobile back rower. It’s a shame we’ve wasted him at dummy half.

He's only managed 50 games at Manly over 3 and a 1/2 seasons, his injuries and suspensions have held him back as much as anything.

 

[Tomay]

Needs to engage the markers or pass wider to stop our players getting caught by the markers. This is the biggest difference between the good and bad teams in this competition.

Please please please can someone spend a few weeks with our players getting them to come onto the ball with some speed, not flat footed 3 steps away from the dummy half when 2 markers are square. Receiving the ball at speed stops the defensive line from rushing up, even at depth (watch the broncs and phins) it’s very basic stuff we don’t do well. The alternative is receiving the ball wider or with the markers engaged but we don’t have a hooker that has the ability consistently.

 

[manlyfan76]

Needs to engage the markers or pass wider to stop our players getting caught by the markers. This is the biggest difference between the good and bad teams in this competition.

Please please please can someone spend a few weeks with our players getting them to come onto the ball with some speed, not flat footed 3 steps away from the dummy half when 2 markers are square. Receiving the ball at speed stops the defensive line from rushing up, even at depth (watch the broncs and phins) it’s very basic stuff we don’t do well. The alternative is receiving the ball wider or with the markers engaged but we don’t have a hooker that has the ability consistently.

Ennis, Toovey and Monaghan all on staff.
It should be figured out by now.

 

[Nordburg]

Ennis, Toovey and Monaghan all on staff.
It should be figured out by now.

Monaghan?

 

[Will on the hill]

Ennis, Toovey and Monaghan all on staff.
It should be figured out by now.

Monas is at the Titans with Des.

 

[SeaEagleSI1]

53 tackles in 68 minutes

 

[Ryan]

Guy must think this football thing is easy. Comes in, wins 75% of his games thank you very much. Interesting what happens when we have a specialist Hooker. Not sure if it's just me, but he looks awesome.

 

[BirdMan4ever]

he has been a blessing to our front foot momentum and crisp passing.
has nyone noticed GKC passes are slower and looks like he hesitatesbefore passing off the ground which almost look like knock ons.

 

[Nordburg]

Guy must think this football thing is easy. Comes in, wins 75% of his games thank you very much. Interesting what happens when we have a specialist Hooker. Not sure if it's just me, but he looks awesome.

You can definitely notice the difference with his presence,team looks a lot smoother and functional.Not sure what happens when Croker returns because I think they’ve looked better with Simpkin playing 9

 

[LeonardCohen]

has nyone noticed GKC passes are slower and looks like he hesitatesbefore passing off the ground

Yes, I have been banging on about this ad nauseam on the forum for a while. It's in the GCT thread.

I watched Simpkin very closely yesterday and the service was absolutely outstanding. He looks like a Matt Ballin clone. There's not a lot of running or creativity but geez he has a nice pass and is very solid in D. We've got a good one with Jake! I also think a 9 that doesn't overplay his hand is perfect for our footy side because our strengths are on the edges and not up the guts. Get the ball in Daly's hands and let Tom go to work.

 

[Highflier]

Can I ask anyone with any knowledge of what's going on ,what has happened to Simkins ?

Like where is he ,he has dropped of f the planet ,is he injured ,I mean won 75% of his 1st grade games and then banished ??

 

[Stuey Davis’s Socks]

Off partying with @Ryan who doesn’t seem to have posted in a while (hope he’s ok).

 

[Nordburg]

Can I ask anyone with any knowledge of what's going on ,what has happened to Simkins ?

Like where is he ,he has dropped of f the planet ,is he injured ,I mean won 75% of his 1st grade games and then banished ??

Not to mention the fact the team looked better when he was at dummy half.Cant be defence,because they’re conceding more points with Croker back

 

[master blaster]

Not to mention the fact the team looked better when he was at dummy half.Cant be defence,because they’re conceding more points with Croker back

exactly, why sign him if we are not going to use him, like you said his service from dummy half was good

 

[double hoops]

I can understand Froggy needing game time. Manly have looked at their best with Simpkins in at 9 IMO. But I'd be running 2 hookers.