I'm not saying a player who has a crisp lateral pass is the be all and end all, but i would rather a player who can pass and defend than someone who can skirt around, engage a little but can't tackle and fatigues very fast during intense moments of play in defence.
There is a lack of leadership and toughness in this squad as it is, we need a Ballin like hard working hooker for now and focus on other areas of our game and player recruitment for long term gains ---not short term fixes.
Proof is in the pudding, Api is playing in a GF. Let's be clear here i don't rate Api's passing game at all, never have---it is average also, but Hasler was quick to cast Api aside after returning from injury for a younger more flashy version that lacks substance "in my opinion"
The differene with Api is he has defensive leadership qualities, is hard working and can engage the ruck also in his own ways when fit and confident, just never felt like Hasler had him in his plans from day dot and combining that lack of confidence from the coach with a return from injury at the start of the season worked against Api.
Now we have a flashy not so hard working hooker out for 2 years with the third year probably getting used to the game again and a squad that lacks hard working types as it is.
If the game was all about attack for sure i would agree with most here, but what people don't realise is a hard working hooker takes up so much defensive workload off the forwards, sures up the middle, pressures from the inside and reduces the load on the interchange---points come indirectly from this also that don't make the individual stats.
Ballin helped Manly big time and was very under-rated, a lot of Manly's go forward in those years was laterally based around back rowers and centres, Ballins strong crisp passing helped hit the edges more efficiently.
