Manase

[LeonardCohen]

Arrogant, tough guy, aggressive ... qualities applauded in rugby league but not in social world. Manase also had that charge about filming sex without consent, he was let off but it gave a clue as to his lack of respect, at least as far as females go.
Some here were slamming him for that incident (@Ryan from memory?) but I think I was inclined to defend him (young stupid etc) so in hindsight, credit to those who picked him as a ratbag early on.
I don't think stabbing someone in the back can be put down to having a bad day, it shows seriously bad values to me.

Yeah he is also a nice counter argument for people that suggest a player’s personality and life away from the game are not the club’s concern, as long as they play good footy…you just never know when one of these types will put your club on the front page for the wrong reason or even lead you down the garden path, i.e. release a premiership winning hooker, get in trouble, and cost us money and seasons hoping for a not guilty verdict.

 

[Brookie1973]

Literally the one and only season I thoroughly enjoyed watching, and was proud to support, my team since the back end of 2014.

We had top 4 defence (until the last few injury-riddled rounds), tough and gritty, while blasting through the middle of our opponents. Just good footy. I thought it was the dawn of a new beginning... how quickly everything turned to sh*t

In one off-season, Api left, Nase criminally charged, Thompson near life-ending accident, Jake misses entire off-season. Shortly after, 6-again rule introduced, foiling Des' blueprint - who happened to be on some hectic pain medication all year, AFB leaves a little later, Dylan wife issues, pizzagate etc, and a season later rainbowgate lol. Mysterious CEO departure, Fulton clan exit, Turbo always injured, Des sacked and replaced with a wooden spoon coach, Schuster and Fainu issues etc, awe inspiring recruitment, now DCE's public embarrassment. Lol you couldn't script such chaos, bad luck, and poor management, if you tried 🤣

Well at least we are never boring.

 

[Eagle 1]

A true showing of just how good Manase was, is that nearly everyone agreed at the time that it was the correct call prioritising him over Api.. who after leaving played in 3 grand finals, won 2 and played a number of times for NSW. And I genuinely believe Manase was close to, if not already a better player than Api despite being 6 years younger and having only just played his first full season in first grade.

We've made a lot of dumb moves over the last 10 or so years but this one stung the most as it was completely out of our control. Especially since we've put up with subpar play from dummy half ever since and it also eventually led to all of his brothers leaving, all 3 of them would definitely be pretty handy for us right now.

The big improver being Sione Fainu. Was languishing in the reserves for us and for them, now in firsts. You can't keep them all though.

 

[Peter C]

The big improver being Sione Fainu. Was languishing in the reserves for us and for them, now in firsts. You can't keep them all though.

That's right, we decided to keep other young up and comers, like Sipley, Aloai, Brown, and resigned Lodge and Chee kam and Waddel, why, I don't know?