Lehi deserves the 1

[Disco]

So the question is do we want a $1.2mil fullback who plays half a season pumping out those elite stats or a $600K fullback who plays most of the season pumping out consistent but half those stats but we then spend $600K on an edge player of origin test calibre ?

Well Tom is under contract s o this is a question for the end of 2026.

Id suggest at that time we probablly aren't looking at 1.2mil to re-sign considering Tom already offered to reduce his wage wage.

Also are the elite stats you are referring to the 2024 that I referenced? If so that is 20 games, not half a season.

All that aside it really comes down to who your 600k fullback and edge would be.

Would I take a say Tracey/Bula and Preston/Fermor for Tom???

I'd say no

 

[maxta]

I mean I think there is a bit of hyperbole about.

Tom finished 4th in the Dally Ms last year.

In 20 games he had 17 tries, 21 try assists, 15 line breaks, 27 line break assists, 83 tackle busts, 28 offloads.

He was great, people moaned cause the 2021 standard is 2 trys and 3 try assists a game but he was actually very good last year.

This year he has been hampered by injury and down on form, no doubting that but even a down on form Tommy has 6 try assists and 12 line break assists in 7 games.

In fact he is 6th in the league for line break assists and has played up to 5 games less than some above him.

Yes yes, stats blah blah, eye tests show blah blah blah.

I'm not saying he isnt at his usual level, he obviously isnt fully fit nor in top form, but all this narratively about retiring him or releasing him etc etc is just.....wild.

Firstly I personally like your work Disco and a fair summary of Toms performances, that has not suprised at all..... but let's add a couple of other things.....his 2021 was Super human and only 1 season Hayne got Eels to a GF off his back compares in my time watching footy....
You have last season 2024 showing decent stats and is you rightfully stated.

Just some other stats to consider....

• Injury riddled through 2022 and 2023 and other extended periods since 2020
• Many games been on 1 leg (felt sorry for him, but wanted him off ASAP)
• Tom is Dynamic, Levi is pure class, but will never be as good at running the footy (noone is imo), but has the silky ability and brains to be a long term leader from the back and is for a rookie already has game sense and defensive ability at least on par.
• Watching Manly in recent seasons compared to ther sides , we have had a wretched injury count and Tom is basically a week to week proposition and I feel to contend, you need a side that plays consitent footy week in, week out.

Lastly if Tom can stay fit, the bloke is a freak of a player and met him in person and know he is a great bloke....and I personally have always said if fit, he MUST be in the 1 ..... but after this last injury and let's be fair - it;s become fairly common, I just prefer him tried at centre, keeping in mind this is simply an honest opinion up for debate on a feel we should consider options, but the likelyhood when Tom is back, he will be at FB

 

[maxta]

Good to know. Puts his alleged poor form into perspective (and we all love perspective) 🙂

I don't think many have called Tom out for poor form, it's called not being on the field

 

[manlyfan76]

Resting him, rehabbing him, 1 week off, ten weeks off, the season off, US experts, vege diets, meat diets, junk food diets, holy water, exorcisms, chanting to the sun and all things in between have made no f&&@ing difference to Tom. His body is just not made for footy imo. If he’s fit, he plays and we hope for the best. I’ve had enough like everyone else here. Maybe it’s time we try him in another position.

He needs to do Corso races first weekend after the grand final, he came back pretty good from that.

 

[Frogz]

I mean I think there is a bit of hyperbole about.

Tom finished 4th in the Dally Ms last year.

In 20 games he had 17 tries, 21 try assists, 15 line breaks, 27 line break assists, 83 tackle busts, 28 offloads.

He was great, people moaned cause the 2021 standard is 2 trys and 3 try assists a game but he was actually very good last year.

This year he has been hampered by injury and down on form, no doubting that but even a down on form Tommy has 6 try assists and 12 line break assists in 7 games.

In fact he is 6th in the league for line break assists and has played up to 5 games less than some above him.

Yes yes, stats blah blah, eye tests show blah blah blah.

I'm not saying he isnt at his usual level, he obviously isnt fully fit nor in top form, but all this narrative about retiring him or releasing him etc etc is just.....wild.

NRL stats show he is 20th for linebreak assists with 7....48th in Try assists with 4 ???

2023 25th for linebreak asisists and 43rd for try assists ... 11 games
2022 not in top 50 for either stat... 7 games

They are only stats and depends on which ones you read.

So obviously he is a good player, but only occasionally. Since 2018 he has only appeared in more than 12 games in a season twice.

 

[Rafferty]

NRL stats show he is 20th for linebreak assists with 7....48th in Try assists with 4 ???

2023 25th for linebreak asisists and 43rd for try assists ... 11 games
2022 not in top 50 for either stat... 7 games

They are only stats and depends on which ones you read.

So obviously he is a good player, but only occasionally. Since 2018 he has only appeared in more than 12 games in a season twice.

Plus, why all the positive stats, last year he was 11th for most errors in the league, with 33 (going on memory from reading an article a few days ago) and this year his played 7 games from a possible 13 if you include this weekend (which he’ll miss) for 4 wins and 3 losses where he currently sits 12th for most error with 16 errors from 7 games.

No big deal I guess but just to be fair if people are going to quote all the good bits, maybe it should be balanced with some other stats, like his tackle efficiency sits at 75% this season, so it not all roses, don’t get me wrong Toms a great player and we have been lucky to have him, to steel someone else line, just sayin.

 

[Disco]

NRL stats show he is 20th for linebreak assists with 7....48th in Try assists with 4 ???

2023 25th for linebreak asisists and 43rd for try assists ... 11 games
2022 not in top 50 for either stat... 7 games

They are only stats and depends on which ones you read.

So obviously he is a good player, but only occasionally. Since 2018 he has only appeared in more than 12 games in a season twice.

Im on Fox sports stats.

He is not occasionaly a good player, he is occasionaly a fit player

 

[Disco]

Plus, why all the positive stats, last year he was 11th for most errors in the league, with 33 (going on memory from reading an article a few days ago) and this year his played 7 games from a possible 13 if you include this weekend (which he’ll miss) for 4 wins and 3 losses where he currently sits 12th for most error with 16 errors from 7 games.

No big deal I guess but just to be fair if people are going to quote all the good bits, maybe it should be balanced with some other stats, like his tackle efficiency sits at 75% this season, so it not all roses, don’t get me wrong Toms a great player and we have been lucky to have him, to steel someone else line, just sayin.

Foxsports has him 23rd for Errors last year but I'm not stressed about that, for the most part your creative players tend to be high on the error list. Drinkwater, Walsh, Ponga, Hynes, Walker, Hunt, Luai all above.

When you push to create you increase your risk of errors

 

[Rafferty]

Foxsports has him 23rd for Errors last year but I'm not stressed about that, for the most part your creative players tend to be high on the error list. Drinkwater, Walsh, Ponga, Hynes, Walker, Hunt, Luai all above.

When you push to create you increase your risk of errors

Tom’s a freak at times and he does push the boundaries which forces some of his errors, other times its like he struggles mentally to get in the grind and comes up with quiet a few unforced errors
when he loses that mental battle.

I’m not too concerned either it’s clear we play better when his on the park, that’s more of a problem, anyway I used the site below to reference those stats, I’ve never heard of them before, I just popped in Toms name and up come a snap shot of some of his primary stats or leading stats over the last 4 years.

 

[Eagledare2dream]

Resting him, rehabbing him, 1 week off, ten weeks off, the season off, US experts, vege diets, meat diets, junk food diets, holy water, exorcisms, chanting to the sun and all things in between have made no f&&@ing difference to Tom. His body is just not made for footy imo. If he’s fit, he plays and we hope for the best. I’ve had enough like everyone else here. Maybe it’s time we try him in another position.

Wazza mate, not everyone had enough on here, half/half so far. 1week off on what eva you're going on about. Ofcause he's gonna re injured himself if coaching staff called him in too early. Sieb & the rest of the coaching staff trying to save their arss, so TT on a Millions+ gonna go ok not to let everyone down. Rest him till he's not 60/80/100% but 110% and we'll see what happened. We've 3 other really good fullback to cover for him but none can be like him. We aint winning ****TT this year nothing to lose, if da forwards going nowhere rest him for longer, but with TT he can win it on his own without the lazy C###TTT forwards. He has won us so many games give him a rest, I'm sure U all were his fans, now UR kicking him when he's down. He's not DCE Mate Manly boys true&true, and I do not and think he'll leave but take a massive pay cut like he did B4, maybe 500k which's fair enough.

 

[Eagledare2dream]

Firstly I personally like your work Disco and a fair summary of Toms performances, that has not suprised at all..... but let's add a couple of other things.....his 2021 was Super human and only 1 season Hayne got Eels to a GF off his back compares in my time watching footy....
You have last season 2024 showing decent stats and is you rightfully stated.

Just some other stats to consider....

• Injury riddled through 2022 and 2023 and other extended periods since 2020
• Many games been on 1 leg (felt sorry for him, but wanted him off ASAP)
• Tom is Dynamic, Levi is pure class, but will never be as good at running the footy (noone is imo), but has the silky ability and brains to be a long term leader from the back and is for a rookie already has game sense and defensive ability at least on par.
• Watching Manly in recent seasons compared to ther sides , we have had a wretched injury count and Tom is basically a week to week proposition and I feel to contend, you need a side that plays consitent footy week in, week out.

Lastly if Tom can stay fit, the bloke is a freak of a player and met him in person and know he is a great bloke....and I personally have always said if fit, he MUST be in the 1 ..... but after this last injury and let's be fair - it;s become fairly common, I just prefer him tried at centre, keeping in mind this is simply an honest opinion up for debate on a feel we should consider options, but the likelyhood when Tom is back, he will be at FB

READ MY POST

 

[Eagledare2dream]

I don't think many have called Tom out for poor form, it's called not being on the field

WELL KEEP HIM OFF DA FIELD TILL HE'S 110% FIT NOT 60/80/100% then YOU'LL SEE

 

[Waz13]

Wazza mate, not everyone had enough on here, half/half so far. 1week off on what eva you're going on about. Ofcause he's gonna re injured himself if coaching staff called him in too early. Sieb & the rest of the coaching staff trying to save their arss, so TT on a Millions+ gonna go ok not to let everyone down. Rest him till he's not 60/80/100% but 110% and we'll see what happened. We've 3 other really good fullback to cover for him but none can be like him. We aint winning ****TT this year nothing to lose, if da forwards going nowhere rest him for longer, but with TT he can win it on his own without the lazy C###TTT forwards. He has won us so many games give him a rest, I'm sure U all were his fans, now UR kicking him when he's down. He's not DCE Mate Manly boys true&true, and I do not and think he'll leave but take a massive pay cut like he did B4, maybe 500k which's fair enough.

Still am a fan of Turbo like most on here are. I think many are just sick of him being so injury prone. My point (and in response to your earlier post) is over the past however many years we have tried all sorts of things with his fitness and sweet f all seems to work. It is honestly like his body is not built for footy. Maybe trying him somewhere else may be better for him. And as many have noted, we have reasonable replacements.

 

[Frogz]

Wazza mate, not everyone had enough on here, half/half so far. 1week off on what eva you're going on about. Ofcause he's gonna re injured himself if coaching staff called him in too early. Sieb & the rest of the coaching staff trying to save their arss, so TT on a Millions+ gonna go ok not to let everyone down. Rest him till he's not 60/80/100% but 110% and we'll see what happened. We've 3 other really good fullback to cover for him but none can be like him. We aint winning ****TT this year nothing to lose, if da forwards going nowhere rest him for longer, but with TT he can win it on his own without the lazy C###TTT forwards. He has won us so many games give him a rest, I'm sure U all were his fans, now UR kicking him when he's down. He's not DCE Mate Manly boys true&true, and I do not and think he'll leave but take a massive pay cut like he did B4, maybe 500k which's fair enough.

Im sorry but he is not worth $500k. We sent him to the USA, and he came back bigger, better and faster than ever ....failed ... He rested over off season..Failed. What more can we do...how much more top dollars do we keep tipping in. Unfortunately . in my opinion, Tom is just about done and dusted. Prove me wrong Tommy please, but I have been wishing that for many years now.

 

[broadbeachm]

Lehi should be fullback for good and we need to rebuild the backline around him. Our current backs defences are poor ( Koula Garrick Saab etc).

 

[maxta]

WELL KEEP HIM OFF DA FIELD TILL HE'S 110% FIT NOT 60/80/100% then YOU'LL SEE

No worries, I'll let the medical staff know

 

[TheSoaringEagle2023]

I mean I think there is a bit of hyperbole about.

Tom finished 4th in the Dally Ms last year.

In 20 games he had 17 tries, 21 try assists, 15 line breaks, 27 line break assists, 83 tackle busts, 28 offloads.

He was great, people moaned cause the 2021 standard is 2 trys and 3 try assists a game but he was actually very good last year.

This year he has been hampered by injury and down on form, no doubting that but even a down on form Tommy has 6 try assists and 12 line break assists in 7 games.

In fact he is 6th in the league for line break assists and has played up to 5 games less than some above him.

Yes yes, stats blah blah, eye tests show blah blah blah.

I'm not saying he isnt at his usual level, he obviously isnt fully fit nor in top form, but all this narrative about retiring him or releasing him etc etc is just.....wild.

Maybe consider the fact that he was near his peak between 2017 to 2021 the team had better depth (AFB, Tapau, Api, Dylan Walker,Foz,etc) and better coaches too.
We are in a hole where he's banged up, the roster is skewed towards over 30 and the coach needs replacing...oh and also the captain is on the way out.
He's better off for his own sake to play with a club that has a window where he can win now because I doubt he will be playing into his mid 30s. Him and Jurbo would do great at a club such as the Roosters or even Penrith. He wont win a ring here. Time to build the team around Lehi and Mole.
Whats wild is the posters who think hes bigger than the club.

 

[bob dylan]

Brendan Elliot went alright. He wasn’t our worst player in that era, not by a long shot. Funa I agree with.

Agree 100% Elliot had courage and tried his guts out.

 

[LeonardCohen]

personally, I prefer Tom to be out completely than play with a niggle; I’m sick of watching a FG footballer hobble around and wince in contact and meander through games, when we need 110% from a player in such an important position.

If he is not right, put him on ice until he is 100%. If he is 100%, play him at fullback because he can get injured playing anywhere, regardless.

 

[Disco]

Whats wild is the posters who think hes bigger than the club.

Not seen any posters want Tom to succeed ahead of the club.

Just personally think we are a better chance of succeding with Tom than without.