Lehi Hopoate
- Thread starter Dion Johnson
- Start date
LeonardCohen
Bencher
Yep. Imagine Vaega playing fullback against the Tigers last year at Brookvale...could he do what Koula did that night?! Oh wait, he can brake a tackle though...yep, let's pick Vaega over Koula...much better option 🙄
LeonardCohen
Bencher
I can understand the concern, however, circumstance needs to be taken into consideration when looking at Will and Albert.
Will went on the Mormon mission (something Manly had no say in) at a time when Manly had a stacked roster; Will was great, but not absolutely essential. Upon looking to return to the NRL, Manly's cap was in all sorts and we couldn't compete with Parramatta; in fact, I don't even think we even bothered offering him a deal. Eventually Will ended up back with Hasler, after a couple of underwhelming seasons at the Eels. If Des was still an Eagle, you can assume Will may have ended up back with us.
Albert was a gun junior but suffered a number of injuries. He lost one of his best assets; speed. He was given an opportunity during an injury crisis at Manly and looked completely off the pace. He was released and has only just been able to fight his way back into FG at Canberra; a club with a pretty thin roster.
Lehi's situation seems different. Providing he doesn't go looking for a Mormon mission, I can see the club doing whatever they can to keep him; something they couldn't and/or didn't need to do, in the case of Will and Albert respectively.
I guess the long and the short of it is:
Will = we don't need you that badly because we just won a premiership and you want to go on a Mormon mission
Albert = we don't really want you because you're off the pace
Lehi = you're a star and we really want to keep you
ManlyTragic
Bencher
Nothing wrong with being a quality winger. Tom Mooney. Kerry boustead comes to mind !
Wasn’t his brother a great winger at manly.. chsnged clubs played in a different position and never realised his potential, in my opinion,
Just saying
The Who
Journey Man
And what about Jamil?
Wow, I was finding it hard to agree with you already but you completely lost me with that last line. Vaega plays hard but he's a park footballer at best.
Koula has been very good for us at times, he just needs to build consistency.
frank stokes
I discriminate indiscriminately
Taking 2 full seasons off and not playing Sundays in the name of religion may have impacted Will's NRL ascendancy too... just sayin' 🙃
Nothing wrong with being a good winger but there is a reason FBs and spine players get the coin... and Lehi has demonztrated in his couple of opportunities (through safe hands, heavy carries and a willingness to throw himself into the contest) that he WILL be an NRL standard FB imo...
frank stokes
I discriminate indiscriminately
I thought Will signed with the scum before he left on the mission? Albert us finally starting to play as though he has overcome some of those injuries... he could still end up being a "Gutho" in the right squad... imo...
Terry Zarsoff
First Grader
Waz13
Let’s all have a chew!
Bearfax
Grizzly old fart
Bearfax
Grizzly old fart
I note this consistently on these sites. The high expectations before players come anywhere near their peak.
I reiterate. The Sea Eagles and we supporters, too often look for quick fixes. We seem to forget that these players are on a journey and some will take a few years to reach their potential. others burst on the scene and look like they should have always been there. Just a difference in how each player develops.
I remind about Gutherson who played just a few games for Manly, got a few nasty injuries and was encouraged to look elsewhere. Became a star at Parramatta. Boy we could have used him. Tom Wright played a few games for Manly and was shown little encouragement to stay. Picked up by Union and is now their Union's test full back. The Fainu brothers, the youngest didn't even get a start. They helped made a mess of Manly in the recent Wests game. Same with Weekes for Canberra. Albert Hoppa, despite the negative assessments, was their regular wing man until injury and his metres gained, defense etc was easily first grade standard.
I realise we cant keep everyone, but we want the quick fix and sometimes that's shooting oneself in the proverbial. The talk now of Vaega over Koula is in a manner a similar issue. Vaega is big, tough good player. He's also 24 and has only played 12 first grade games and no rep games. Koula is only 22, has played 57 first grade games and 3 rep games. We have Koula for potential. He's had injuries. He'll come good Let him grow into the game and forget the quick fix high expectations
I reiterate. The Sea Eagles and we supporters, too often look for quick fixes. We seem to forget that these players are on a journey and some will take a few years to reach their potential. others burst on the scene and look like they should have always been there. Just a difference in how each player develops.
I remind about Gutherson who played just a few games for Manly, got a few nasty injuries and was encouraged to look elsewhere. Became a star at Parramatta. Boy we could have used him. Tom Wright played a few games for Manly and was shown little encouragement to stay. Picked up by Union and is now their Union's test full back. The Fainu brothers, the youngest didn't even get a start. They helped made a mess of Manly in the recent Wests game. Same with Weekes for Canberra. Albert Hoppa, despite the negative assessments, was their regular wing man until injury and his metres gained, defense etc was easily first grade standard.
I realise we cant keep everyone, but we want the quick fix and sometimes that's shooting oneself in the proverbial. The talk now of Vaega over Koula is in a manner a similar issue. Vaega is big, tough good player. He's also 24 and has only played 12 first grade games and no rep games. Koula is only 22, has played 57 first grade games and 3 rep games. We have Koula for potential. He's had injuries. He'll come good Let him grow into the game and forget the quick fix high expectations
LeonardCohen
Bencher
Yeah it was around the time we had a premiership winning roster and Brett Stewart at fullback. I don’t think we had the cap space or the need to really get in a bidding war for him. That was my point. I believe we will make Lehi more of a priority than his brothers, which is what I was trying to get at.
God Bless John Hopoate the Manly Production line King
His Latest Production Lehi is an incredible player
and his greatest asset along with his Great Speed , Skill and Strength is that nothing ever fazes him
Lehi is made for Big Pressure games and the Bigger the games the Best he Performs
Premiership Winning Eagle JH . The Manly Production Line King
His Latest Production Lehi is an incredible player
and his greatest asset along with his Great Speed , Skill and Strength is that nothing ever fazes him
Lehi is made for Big Pressure games and the Bigger the games the Best he Performs
Premiership Winning Eagle JH . The Manly Production Line King
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manly al
First Grader
Will signed with the Eels just before that G F in 2011 from memory and un be known to Manly at the time .
Got the impression that he left on a pretty sour note and when trying to justify his actions , made the main reference that money talks
Seemed to have some pretty indifferent form in his post Manly career but did represent the Blues on a couple of occasions .
Much more hopeful with Lehi staying into the future with Manly , under contract in any case for a couple of more seasons and sure that the club will do all that it can to make him a long termer , with or without his old man 's influence overall
Got the impression that he left on a pretty sour note and when trying to justify his actions , made the main reference that money talks
Seemed to have some pretty indifferent form in his post Manly career but did represent the Blues on a couple of occasions .
Much more hopeful with Lehi staying into the future with Manly , under contract in any case for a couple of more seasons and sure that the club will do all that it can to make him a long termer , with or without his old man 's influence overall
Let us not be fake politically correct feathered friend
In professional sport money does talk
The reality is that clubs and players do what is monitory best for them selves
Dee Why Eagle
Bencher
Both Will & Lehi have received similar wraps early in their careers, but I've been more impressed with Lehi after a handful of games for them both.
What do others think?
What do others think?
silvereagle
Reserve Grader
I did not want to comment here as I don't want to put any more pressure on the kid and build up dad's negotiation points. But got to say he is the entire package. Apart from the "must haves" (eg. speed, step, balance, tackling, toughness etc) Lehi has the most critical factors of all which I think is time and lateral vision. A long way to go at 19 and hopefully in a Manly jersey but I for one will be sitting back with a nice cold ale and enjoying the ride.
Will started his young career at Manly with a Bang
But I think Lehi will be a Better player
Pressure ?
Lehi is not fazed by pressure
Lehi farts out pressure every day with ease
He is never fazed by it
Remember feathered friend
Pressure at Manly is a Privilege and it only comes to those who earn it
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