Lehi the 1 Turbo centre

[EOL now nesting on the GC]

Eat a Dik

Wow. That's very Golden Gay time of you my little friend. But each to your own champ. It is 2024 obviously so if that's what rocks your world power to you.

 

[EOL now nesting on the GC]

Talau definitely has the smallest ceiling of the players fighting for a backline position. He is the slowest and least enterprising of the group; he’s a solid first grader without the flair of the others. For this reason, I’d have him as the depth option.

You think? He looks a pretty interesting prospect that's no where near his peak yet. TTalau looks a perfect 3/4. Makes good decisions. Has some xfactor. Ruben on the other hand..... I loved him as a winger but his D has been so Disappointing. His ability to absolutely stuff up just when you don't thing he can possibly cook it up seems to have no boundaries.

 

[47MVEagle]

It will be interesting to see if Lehi has put any weight on in the offseason. He has to be in our starting 13.

Tommy Talau has to be in our starting 13 - he showed more hunger & determination than our other backs IMO.

Garrick back to wing.

I hate to say it, but I think Koula & Saab are our odd men out - Koula is too small, which I think will become more apparent over time, & Saab is really only all about speed, his defence isn’t great & he doesn’t break or bend the line very often. I also can’t see him ever bulking up to become more powerful.

If we have to make a decision on who our starting back 5 should be, I think (in no particular order) it should consist of Turbo, Talau, Lehi, Garrick (on wing) & one of Koula or Saab.

 

[HoldenV8]

Hopoate is a good backup fullback meaning we don't have to shift Koula or Garrick if Turbo gets injured. But at this stage I would still have Turbo in the No.1 jumper and Hopoate in either 2 or 5.

There is a big difference having a roving commission while playing centre in an Origin or Test level side than there is doing it at NRL club level.

Oh, and for those who think Garrick will or has to go back to the wing, good luck with that one because it won't happen. Unless injury dictates otherwise, he will play right centre for us in 2025. You know, for all the crap he gets about his defence, statistically speaking he is actually a better defensive centre than Koula. But I'm not going to sit here and say he's a great defender because he's not. His defence still needs a lot of work. But that work won't be happening out on the wing, it'll be one in at centre.

 

[Stewbojevic]

Hopoate is a good backup fullback meaning we don't have to shift Koula or Garrick if Turbo gets injured. But at this stage I would still have Turbo in the No.1 jumper and Hopoate in either 2 or 5.

There is a big difference having a roving commission while playing centre in an Origin or Test level side than there is doing it at NRL club level.

Oh, and for those who think Garrick will or has to go back to the wing, good luck with that one because it won't happen. Unless injury dictates otherwise, he will play right centre for us in 2025. You know, for all the crap he gets about his defence, statistically speaking he is actually a better defensive centre than Koula. But I'm not going to sit here and say he's a great defender because he's not. His defence still needs a lot of work. But that work won't be happening out on the wing, it'll be one in at centre.

Who do you think misses out in the backline?

 

[Eagle 1]

It's not even 2025 yet, and already we're getting ourselves into a tizz on our backline picks. It's like a game of musical chairs were we have 5 chairs for 6 players, someone's going to miss out, but will they ?. Would be good to go injury free next season, but we all know that's not going to happen. We'll have our usual injuries in the backs as we move through the season, in the meantime before we get another injury, what's wrong with having a back on the bench, Problem solved.

 

[Disco]

It's not even 2025 yet, and already we're getting ourselves into a tizz on our backline picks. It's like a game of musical chairs were we have 5 chairs for 6 players, someone's going to miss out, but will they ?. Would be good to go injury free next season, but we all know that's not going to happen. We'll have our usual injuries in the backs as we move through the season, in the meantime before we get another injury, what's wrong with having a back on the bench, Problem solved.

I'll be the unders on 8 games of having all 6 available at the same time

 

[HoldenV8]

Who do you think misses out in the backline?

Talau or Hopoate.

And then its most likely Talau.

The problem is Hopoate is too good to leave out of first grade, but if we play him at Blacktown and not in the NRL then I wouldn't put it past John to start shopping his kid around.

 

[Phobia]

The problem is Hopoate is too good to leave out of first grade, but if we play him at Blacktown and not in the NRL then I wouldn't put it past John to start shopping his kid around.

John likes to think he's above the NRL's rules, but he simply can't do that. Everyone fears this for some reason, but he's subject to the same contract rules as everyone else. Hoppa is signed until 2026, he can't negotiate with any other clubs for the 2027 season until November 1 next year. It's a more likely scenario that Talau (who is already on the market) is moved on in favour of Hopoate, and we go looking for some hidden gold as depth elsewhere.

 

[HoldenV8]

Is John Hopoate his kids manager?? If he is then he's bound by the NRL's rules.

If not........

 

[Heckenberg]

Is John Hopoate his kids manager?? If he is then he's bound by the NRL's rules.

If not........

I can’t imagine many clubs would talk to John. He’s more trouble than it’s worth really.

 

[Tragic Eagle]

We would be stupid not to pick Lehi in the top 17. The kid oozes class, this mentality of wait till he gets bigger is neanderthal. He is ready and has shown his class and talent both for Manly and his country. We need to get our feet out of the mud and start making some headway.

 

[Bearfax]

Manly are not going to drop Saab or Koula, given they are on long term contracts. I could live with Turbo at centre but doubt it will happen. The Sea Eagles need to tie up young Hopoate quickly though. He's a future star. Garrick is our goal kicker. So its a problem I believe for Talau. Great having six top class players for five positions but someone is going to miss out. Mind you the way Manly cops injuries in recent years, having that extra player is important. Maybe one, like Talau, off the bench. I think he can handle several positions