Manase Fainu

[Shnorky]

I think we will have a genuine hooker by round one.

That's twice you've mentioned that Kev, some inside knowledge???

 

[manlyfan76]

Ok I'll do it.
I have only played hooker three times and that was 20 yrs ago but I'm better mentally now than then ( when I was a second rower who dreamed of being a fullback lol).
I'll even get a career ending injury to help with the cap when required.

I'll be a no nonsense dummy half for 28 mins a game max ( Def in two spells).

 

[Deleted member 26876]

Sign Brandon Smith NOW. I'm sorry but we have to let him go. Thus could be another De Bellin case. We cannot carry someone who maybe out for 2 or more years due to their actions off field and not football related. This is a business and we need a quality #9.

Why can’t we just keep Fainu on a modest wage?

Make him repay us in the future

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

If we use up Cust and Croker in our 17, and Foran and The Shoe, then it only leaves two on the interchange bench, which will almost certainly be two props. This means that only one of our optional second rowers will be in the 17: Jetski, Guaca or Davey.
That worries me.

That in fact is a damn good point !!!

 

[Brisbane Tragic]

That in fact is a damn good point !!!

Croker wont be in the 17!

 

[Brisbane Tragic]

It’ll be Cust in the 9.
Foz in the 6
Schuster in the 14.

Cust gets injured, Schuster to 6, Foz to 9.

I don’t think Cust and Croker are both in the 17. It’ll be one or the other

Exactly!

 

[R3]

At this stage I’m still keen to see Shoe given first crack at the 6 jersey. I think ‘6 again’ footy in the halves is better for younger legs than Foz. Hooker could really suit the Foz, able to communicate and direct play without being expected/required to take the line on and cover defend out wider.

I think starting 13 or 14 would be negative for the shoes development. We’ve seen big ex halves in the forwards like Sirro Jnr, Ryan Matterson, John Sutton etc
They’re alright forwards but shoe will never slim down again for the halves if Manly attempt to bilk him up to handle a bit of both so early in his career.
I have a point I’m not making very clear, time for a nap..

 

[Ryan]

I think we will have a genuine hooker by round one.

Cameron Smith, here we come

 

[madmax]

Manase looks pretty fit in the training photos!!!

 

[wombatgc]

Fainu had Api on the bench by the end of the season.

Apis persistent calf injuries had him on the bench by the end of the season.

 

[eaglebuzz]

Apis persistent calf injuries had him on the bench by the end of the season.

That doesn't explain why we were happy to let him go at season's end.

It also doesn't explain why Parcell had won the starting spot from Api by midseason a few years earlier.

 

[Kevinward777]

That's twice you've mentioned that Kev, some inside knowledge???

No mate... no inside knowledge.

 

[Ryan]

Well, in all the training photos, I've noticed Croker is playing dummy half. Or at least training there. Foran is always away from the ruck.

Interesting.

Watched a game where Hasler dropped Levi for Croker towards the end of the season (Levi back to the bench).

Maybe we have a new Willow / Hasler relationship blossoming right before our eyes ?

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

Well, in all the training photos, I've noticed Croker is playing dummy half. Or at least training there. Foran is always away from the ruck.

Interesting.

Watched a game where Hasler dropped Levi for Croker towards the end of the season (Levi back to the bench).

Maybe we have a new Willow / Hasler relationship blossoming right before our eyes ?

OR ( more likely ) , Croker has been gifted the infamous goat photos

 

[Damien2812]

Croker is a complete failure with the opportunities he has been given so he shouldn't be anywhere near 1st grade this season.

 

[simon64]

We really miss that spark that Manase provides.

It's nothing personal against Croker. I'm sure he's a great bloke. But he's a reserve grader who does the occasional good thing.

He's just going to have to face the fact that 2021 is his last year of first grade. Unless the Tigpies sign him.

 

[Ron E. Gibbs]

Well, in all the training photos, I've noticed Croker is playing dummy half. Or at least training there. Foran is always away from the ruck.

Noticed that as well, Ryan. Can't say it fills me with confidence. But Des did seem to give Croker more opportunity last year than Cust and it wouldn't surprise me to find he's our starting hooker when the season kicks off.

 

[R3]

I’m hoping Des is just covering all bases for a long season. When it’s closer toward round 1, I hope Foz has spent plenty of pre-season at hooker as well.
If we’re lucky I think Foz could be a savvy leader around the ruck like Peter Wallace did for Penrith when they decided to move him into hooker, it prolonged his injury riddled career a couple more seasons and provided him with a form revival

 

[davohan123]

Croker is a complete failure with the opportunities he has been given so he shouldn't be anywhere near 1st grade this season.

Sadly agree likeable bloke and I want him to be successful at first grade but just has not cut it with the opportunities he has been given.

 

[manlyfan76]

The six again and less scrums is ready made for Fainu an Schuster.
With Turbo backing up the middle.