Jamal Fogarty

[LeonardCohen]

You make some fair points, but I think you’re still overplaying it massively. Every halfback can have games where they go quiet or get exposed defensively, especially against the top sides. The difference is DCE has had far more of those games than Fogarty over the years. Singling out Fogarty for two games out of a season where his team finished first is clutching at straws.

Also, don’t forget that we’ve had one of the worst right-edge defences in the comp for years now — and that comes primarily down to DCE and his defensive approach. His reads are erratic, he often rushes in with no communication, leaves Haumole stranded in no man’s land, and the centre (usually Garrick) ends up looking like the one to blame. The lack of cohesion on our right side has been a glaring issue that opposition teams have targeted for a long time. So if you’re going to bag Fogarty out for being caught a couple of times this season, then you’ve got to acknowledge the same thing with DCE. Otherwise, it’s just not a fair or balanced take.

And yeah, I watched the Raiders v Broncos game — no denying Fogarty got burnt, but Walsh is one of the hardest players in the comp to contain when he’s on. He almost single-handedly dragged Brisbane back into that match. Even the best defensive units get carved up by him.

On the “rattled and spooked” point, I was clearly talking about DCE — the headless chook routine he serves up week after week, running figure eights or circles because he refuses to take on the line or get tackled. That’s been a huge issue for us in attack for years, and it’s exactly why a composed half like Fogarty will be a breath of fresh air.

On the “it’s more impressive to do it in a beaten side” argument — I don’t buy that at all. Fogarty is literally one of the main reasons Canberra went from 9th last year to 1st this year. He played 23 games this season compared to just 14 last year due to injury, and you can see the difference his control and consistency made to the team. That’s not him riding on the back of success — that’s him creating it.

At the end of the day, I know you’re a big DCE fan, so I don’t expect you to change your mind. But making a reactionary call based on one game this year doesn’t line up with how Fogarty’s actually played across the season. If you’d watched him week to week, you’d see his defence is usually solid, his reads are good, and he brings the consistency and control Manly have been crying out for.

Based on your reply, we are not really having the same conversation. You’re asserting things I haven’t said and/or done.

It’s not about a DCE bias or bagging Fogerty; it’s just about opinions I hold. They’re unpopular opinions on these boards for a number of reasons, so you’ll get plenty of validation from others, but I stand by them.
1 - DCE is a better 7 than Fogarty.
2 - Jamal is a good signing
3 - Jamal did not have his best game and got caught out in defence (that’s not me ‘bagging’ him, it’s just an appraisal of his recent game; further, whether DCE gets caught out at times or not is irrelevant in my appraisal of Fog’s game on Sunday. You’ll see I’ve been critical of Daly’s defence on many occasions over the years).

I just love talking footy and am always happy to have healthy debate but I’m also wary of getting into discussions where the peripherals of what I’m actually asserting are skewed by the responder, I.e. I’m bagging Fog, I’m protecting Daly, etc. I don’t engage in that sort of fandom. My perspective of these two footballers is entirely emotionless and entirely based on my perception of a 352 game premiership winning halfback and SOO captain, vs the no frills late bloomer. They’re chalk and cheese in the fair dinkum footy department, but that’s subjective up to a point. I’m also aware that it’s not everyone’s opinion and that’s totally OK.

Also, since we are talking footy, I’m not daft and I get that Walsh will burn many an edge, but people were also trying to pass the blame onto others in an attempt to protect Fog (me thinks lots of hope for next season clouding judgement), but the reality is he was a spot defender in the Broncos game plan because he is a slowish half. Fullbacks play both sides of the ruck but notice Ethan Strange was not a target for Walsh…

 

[Cochrane]

Dce is a better 7 than Fog?
Looking at their careers, most certainly, no brainer!!
At rhe moment looking at 2025, hmmm, I cant be convinced.
Daly had 4 or 5 games where he was one of the better players on the day, the rest were quiet or appalling.

Fog in 2025 was never one of the best players on the day, but was never quiet or appalling and instead was instrumental as a 7 at Canberra and their success.

I'd love a gun 7, but hopefully that comes with the development of Walsh. For now, im more than happy for a 7 who is a worker/tradesman like in his role like Fog, and do the job week in week out as a 7 of a team and accept there will be games where he makes wrong decisions or misses tackles, as does every player.

 

[Rocky]

Haumole should clearly be the most dominant attacking edge forward in the game. And often he is, despite getting a crash ball from DCE with 3 or 4 defenders ready for him.

Hoping Fog can unlock Haumole to maximize his destructive talents.

 

[Ohgeez]

Haumole should clearly be the most dominant attacking edge forward in the game. And often he is, despite getting a crash ball from DCE with 3 or 4 defenders ready for him.

Hoping Fog can unlock Haumole to maximize his destructive talents.

Hosking, Nicholson & Sasagi have all looked great outside him this year. All good players but they aren’t in Haumole’s league. Excited to see that combination over the next few years 🤩

 

[Cliffy2Beaver]

Fog gives me Matt Orford vibes

 

[mave]

Fog gives me Matt Orford vibes

Another one who cant use a pen?

 

[Brookie1973]

Have to laugh whenever the topic of DCE comes up on NRL360, they seem to think he is the game manager type halfback the roosters need. I must have been watching a different game for the past 15 years. To me, he is an older version of what they already have in walker.

 

[Cliffy2Beaver]

Another one who cant use a pen?

I prefer the qwerty keyboard