Manase Fainu

[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.

 

[wombatgc]

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.

Api will always be my favourite on and particularly off the field. Agree to disagree.
I think there is a terrible and grief stricken reason why Api wasn’t at his best several years ago.

 

[Mal Cochrane]

Surely Fainu would know by now who did it, if not him. Why he has held out to protect someone that is not protecting him is beyond me.

 

[Terry Zarsoff]

Excellent, is Eddie Hayson a sponsor again

Must be to welcome Foran back.

Don’t even joke about that stuff.

 

[40 nil]

Surely Fainu would know by now who did it, if not him. Why he has held out to protect someone that is not protecting him is beyond me.

Like all of us, I am hoping the young man is innocent. Perhaps the prosecution has a flimsy or flawed case which can only be refuted once evidence reaches the court? Forum members with more legal knowledge than me may know if this is a possibility.

 

[eaglebuzz]

Api will always be my favourite on and particularly off the field. Agree to disagree.
I think there is a terrible and grief stricken reason why Api wasn’t at his best several years ago.

Don't get me wrong, I like Api and I wish we'd kept him. But Fainu is the better hooker of the two in my opinion.

 

[Shoe1]

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

After the warm and fuzzy response to the Capewell incident, Des should be confident that the goat photos becoming public won't affect his reputation.

"A shearer asked me to help him out, and I felt uncomfortable but I felt if I said no it would upset the applecart."

 

[Mataiforerver]

Surely Fainu would know by now who did it, if not him. Why he has held out to protect someone that is not protecting him is beyond me.

supposedly Fainu has held out because the real person is extremely dangerous (interpret that the way you will)

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

supposedly Fainu has held out because the real person is extremely dangerous (interpret that the way you will)

Must be Kaiser Soze.

 

[XV-1]

supposedly Fainu has held out because the real person is extremely dangerous (interpret that the way you will)

More dangerous than the big crims in jail that will have him as their girlfriend?

I call BS on that one.

 

[Kevinward777]

Must be Kaiser Soze.

I thought I saw a crooked little Polynesian bloke limping out the back doors of the Manly offices a few weeks back.