Manly should only improve in 2022

[47MVEagle]

If the rumours of us talking to Junior Paulo are true then wow we’d have the best & scariest pack in the NRL. My preferred team next year:-
Tom
Saab
Harper
Parker
Garrick
Schuster
DCE
Paseka
Croker
Keppie
Olakau’atu
Bullemore
Jake
Res: Walker, Marty, Aloiai, Davey
Foran, Sipley, Koula, Sione Fainu

I reckon that's very close to what we'll see in the first few games, although I think Des will keep Foz at 5/8th & Schuster at second row with Bullemore on the bench instead of Davey, while Davey regains match fitness at Blacktown.

As we get into the guts of the season I can see Des starting Schuster at 5/8th & Olakau'atu & Bullemor becoming 80 minute backrowers with Davey on the bench.

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

Yeah it’s nothing personal against those players. I love Foz too. Not a huge fan of Croker. I think he’s hiding a little, in a team doing well rather than playing well… but he’s doing a job.

Would have loved Fainu back. He just adds a dynamic element to our attack. Keeps the defence guessing. Croker doesn’t do that enough.

Schuster absolutely keeps the defence guessing every time he gets the ball. For him to be touching it every set keeps the retreating defensively line in two minds. Also had a great short kicking game.
Foz is doing an admirable job / but he isnt going to stand up in the big games and win you the arm wrestle.

DCE needs to be doing more in my opinion but we are set with him at 7.

Happy to be proven wrong but I don’t see us winning a comp without at least Croker or Foz being moved aside for a stronger option.

I think we could still win with Foz, you know the “ old head “ thing BUT look at the top 3-4 sides all of them have a dynamic hooker, we don’t !!

 

[BOZO]

I think we could still win with Foz, you know the “ old head “ thing BUT look at the top 3-4 sides all of them have a dynamic hooker, we don’t !!

The old head is a positive but the old head also has older legs and is up against more dynamic opponents which is a concern feathered friend

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

The old head is a positive but the old head also has older legs and is up against more dynamic opponents which is a concern feathered friend

Yes I was at the semi finals v South’s and he was well covered by the Bunnies.

That said our forwards were well dominated and that would have made a difference.

 

[manly al]

Keep on overlooking Toff Sipley as a reasonable contributor for next season . Maybe will always have some issues with some lateral defence around the middle but definite improver last season with his stamina and bustling runs . Enough for the club to give him another 2 year deal and even started a couple of times last season. ,Depending on the prop availability situation and Bullemor 's progress but again , could provide some good input or depth factor next season .

 

[alafua8]

Yeah it’s nothing personal against those players. I love Foz too. Not a huge fan of Croker. I think he’s hiding a little, in a team doing well rather than playing well… but he’s doing a job.

Would have loved Fainu back. He just adds a dynamic element to our attack. Keeps the defence guessing. Croker doesn’t do that enough.

Schuster absolutely keeps the defence guessing every time he gets the ball. For him to be touching it every set keeps the retreating defensively line in two minds. Also had a great short kicking game.
Foz is doing an admirable job / but he isnt going to stand up in the big games and win you the arm wrestle.

DCE needs to be doing more in my opinion but we are set with him at 7.

Happy to be proven wrong but I don’t see us winning a comp without at least Croker or Foz being moved aside for a stronger option.

Agreed 100% with your summation on the difference between Schuster and Foz .Get Schuster to first receiver and it will be a different team from what we saw this year .Stay with Foz next year and it will be much of the same as this year .

 

[Tragic Eagle]

Haha yeah I recall back in those days i'd privately do my own version of YART and always conclude Manly should win, hats off to those Eels we really owe them another grand final beating. It's no secret their star backline set them apart but it was really the balance and blend in the side that got them there I think. Sterling has always been a tad underrated I suspect because he wasn't a speedster but he was important in their 'mix'.
In a similar way I think the current version of Foran might be crucial to Manly this year. Doesn't have the capacity for individual brilliance that Schuster might have but his leadership and on-field general role will probably be just as important as DCE to keep us working as a team.

It didn't help us much against the top 3.