Heckenberg
Reserve Grader
We really struggle to get on the front foot with our big lumbering forward pack. sipley paseka keppie Marty and aloiai are all cut from the same cloth, very much in the mould of forwards from yesteryear that des loved during his time with the dogs. I think we can afford to carry maybe two of these types being paseka and aloiai but the others are surplus to requirements. We really need one absolute **** of a bloke to enforce and then a couple of faster dynamic types like Murray or cotter to speed up our ruck. Even if our forwards are rolling they aren’t quick enough to really get the other side on the back foot multiple tackles in a row without making a line break being put through a gap. If they’re just running one outs they’re gonna be fairly useless.All of the better performing sides have just constant and direct attack , forcing the opposition or getting the opposition to back peddle and subsequently continually applying pressure . Apart from maximizing ruck meters . Manly just can 't seem to manage this simple type of game plan even with key forwards such as Paseka and Alioia out , Jake is not a tackle buster or has high level go forward but good contact and quick play the balls as a prop does suffice . Sipley with a rare good break last night , occasionally Marty with a strong burst , Keppie has dropped back , just does not cut it to compete with the better or any side , D C E and now Walker cribbing across the ruck and hesitating , again zero impact in getting the or any opposition on the back foot or getting support players in better attacking positions . Real problem at the moment and for a good part of this season . Can 't just depend on Turbo to lift the side apart from his injury prone absence sadly to date .