Lehi Hopoate

[frank stokes]

i have been following manly since 1967 dude. koula is not 1st grade standard. in february, no one here picked their top 8 to include the dogs. i did 🤣dragons were in my top 8 too. people think i am mad and dont know my footy picking dogs and dragons. but i have watched the game for 57 years. koula will stuff our season up. lehi is 10 times the player. Brad parker would be a better option than koula.

FWIW... whilst I do not agree that Koula is "the most overated player ever" (Josh says hi), I think Koula has been average at best this year and have Lehi, Saab and Talau clearly in front of him...

Garrick is an awesome goal kicker so he gets my nod also... obviously the Corso Comet picks himself...

Koula's defence has not been terrible but I don't think he has added much in attack and you can count his line breaks for the season on one hand... puts his hand up to take the hard runs though, awesome supporting player, good hands and I think he has untapped potential - but he has not got to the standard I expected him to this year... has had injuries though so maybe that has held him back all season?

on the flip side Tommy Talau impresses me more and more... has been so solid and his carries out of pressure have been immense... jmo....

 

[mike walker]

G'day all,I preface my comments by saying I don't get to see as many games as others do,but my observations for what it's worth,both TT'S, Lehi and Garrick are footballers who are good athletes,whereas Saab and Koula are good athletes who can play footy.
cheers mike

 

[Jay Eagle]

I think you will find Seibs plays them all.. don't be surprised if Lehi, Tommy T or Koula are on the bench when all are fit.. Seibs has already shown this and he has constantly backed our "weapons" which is speed and he will continue to do so.
Especially when you have players like Jake and Brown in the side both can play front row and lock and both can play big minutes.. so the need for 3 "bigger" forwards on the bench becomes not such a huge requirement

 

[manly al]

I think you will find Seibs plays them all.. don't be surprised if Lehi, Tommy T or Koula are on the bench when all are fit.. Seibs has already shown this and he has constantly backed our "weapons" which is speed and he will continue to do so.
Especially when you have players like Jake and Brown in the side both can play front row and lock and both can play big minutes.. so the need for 3 "bigger" forwards on the bench becomes not such a huge requirement

Then the other conundrum if Gordy is preferred on the bench to sub Croker and Brown.
Maybe Lawton or Burbo starting in the backrow , a utility [ maybe Talau on the bench also ] , Bully or Sipley would have to be another required bench option .
If Gordy is not considered the best bench option , bit easier to accommodate the other bench considerations .
Just would say that it would be quite difficult in the present circumstances to leave either Burbo or Lawton out of the game day 17 and all personal available and that does not even include Lodge

 

[Sheikheagle]

Given how Tommy T was carrying that shoulder/pec i reckon he will be out for a while. I hope its not season ending. He has had his best ever year by a long stretch.

 

[Heckenberg]

i have been following manly since 1967 dude. koula is not 1st grade standard. in february, no one here picked their top 8 to include the dogs. i did 🤣dragons were in my top 8 too. people think i am mad and dont know my footy picking dogs and dragons. but i have watched the game for 57 years. koula will stuff our season up. lehi is 10 times the player. Brad parker would be a better option than koula.

G'day all,I preface my comments by saying I don't get to see as many games as others do,but my observations for what it's worth,both TT'S, Lehi and Garrick are footballers who are good athletes,whereas Saab and Koula are good athletes who can play footy.
cheers mike

I’d argue turbo is both. Guy would’ve succeeded in any sport he chose

 

[Tragic Eagle]

The kid is the complete package. He is a very talented and smart footballer and plays like he has years of first grade experience. IMO He's our best local junior since Turbo.

 

[frank stokes]

The kid is the complete package. He is a very talented and smart footballer and plays like he has years of first grade experience. IMO He's our best local junior since Turbo.

I feel like I may be going off a little early but I tend to agree...

Safe under the highball, great try finisher, takes the hard carries, makes great defensive reads and just generally seems to play well above his weight in terms of his tackling and his yardage...

I know it is easy to get excited about the shiny new toy (and I am a little jaded after Josh, Kaeo, Tom Wright and a host of others) but this kid seriously has me excited to see where his ceiling is... I am damn sure he has too many skills and assets to play his career on the wing...

 

[lsz]

The impressive thing for me is how he manages to play above his body weight. I expected him to get rag dolled every time but he is just smart with how he does it

As for Tolo you are comparing very different positions. I would think that 3 & 4 are amongst the toughest positions to play in the modern game. While he has been around a few years he is still very young in his career

 

[manlyfan76]

I’d argue turbo is both. Guy would’ve succeeded in any sport he chose

Break dancing?

 

[Bearfax]

I agree that Lehi shows amazing maturity and common sense actions in his play. I thought of those in our backline Garrick was the most professional and mature in his style, but Lehi is comparable. They need to sign him up long term.

 

[Heckenberg]

Tu

Break dancing?

Turbogun

 

[frank stokes]

Tu

Turbogun

Tommygun??

 

[Brookie Bob]

Tommygun??

 

[Lyonstomenzies]

Will was better at the same stage of their careers.

Dont quote me, but I think he was 2nd to only Cam Smith in errors/missed tackles in Wills 2011 season. Being 2nd to Scam is a pretty good achievement.

He also won a premiership and made origin.

Too early to start talking Lehi up as better that John or Will.

 

[HK_Eagle]

You moron… the only band that matters. 😉

 

[HK_Eagle]

 

[Brookie Bob]

Now I understand why they were called 'the Clash', rather than 'the Dentists'..............they would not know what the latter was.......

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

Interesting piece on Lehi and also Saab

Hopoate ready for new role as Manly wingers fuel finals surge

Manly rookie Lehi Hopoate is determined to carve out his own place in the Sea Eagles starting line up after a breakout debut season that has him on the cusp of a finals appearance.

www.nrl.com

 

[manly al]

Sabb definitely has improved his yardage runs , appeared to start towards the end of last season and now continued with a better type of robust and more power based running at the point of contact or trying to get between defenders .
Aiming up a bit wider of the ruck seems to assist as well
Seems to come pretty natural for Lehi somehow poking his nose out of the other side and making some good yardage and which is a real credit considering his current body built .
Must have some real natural strength and that wirey type body built as well .
Not too sure on Talau "s height - weight stats [ guess that he would be in the high 90 "s kg range ] but seems to manage quite well also with ruck yardage in the main