Manly - Top 8

[Kiwi Eagle]

Actually, I take back my post, and apologize. I am shocked to say we are the 6th BEST team defensively. Wow, I didn't expect that tbh. Last I looked (months ago), we were 3rd worst.

I wouldn’t have thought we were that high up either tbh, sometimes it has looked awful but I guess the scramble has been the difference. Plenty to work on though to get better but the effort has been there rather than just giving up

 

[Disco]

Scores against us:

24, 14, 28, 20, 18, 22, 30, 18, 26, 30, 13, 20, 32, 14, 14 (average against 22 - per game).

Our literal best effort defensively all season is 13 against. We haven't kept a team to under 10 since early April 2023 (15 months ago).

But I'm glad we are finding positives in not getting thrashed.

You know we are actually 6th best for points conceded in the league.

We need to improve no doubt but we are not some defensively shambolic outlier

 

[Disco]

Actually, I take back my post, and apologize. I am shocked to say we are the 6th BEST team defensively. Wow, I didn't expect that tbh. Last I looked (months ago), we were 3rd worst.

Ooops, should have read ahead, see you already caught that.

 

[mickqld]

I wouldn’t have thought we were that high up either tbh, sometimes it has looked awful but I guess the scramble has been the difference. Plenty to work on though to get better but the effort has been there rather than just giving up

I do agree that the last few games have shown some encouraging effort signs. If we can just get most of the squad fit enough we might have some hope. Geez I didn't think we'd be 6th in defense either. That is a big surprise.

 

[Carl]

Our defense (and attack) totals would have been relatively higher (compared to teams with byes) b4 we had our first bye

 

[Eagle 1]

Need to win at least one of next two. Non negotiable. Comp is tight. From here u til the end teams will come in and out of the 8 each week. We just need to keep with the pack and time the run home well. We’ve lost the same amount of games as 5th and win the same amount as 13th. A good run of wins cements us in the 8.

Agree, usualy after SOO 3, that's when the comp turns into the straight with top 8 in view. It's been a pretty congested comp coming into the last quarter of the season. It's going to be a wild ride, let's just hope we've got the stayin' power for the run home.

 

[Dion Johnson]

Their Origin players will all be nice a fresh.

Deardan low on confidence and form the last few games, hopefully he stays that way for his next couple of games.

Tents bending of the line is one that will be missed.

 

[Waz13]

Actually, I take back my post, and apologize. I am shocked to say we are the 6th BEST team defensively. Wow, I didn't expect that tbh. Last I looked (months ago), we were 3rd worst.

This is the thing with this year. In 3 weeks time we could be in the top 4 or the bottom 4. One game at a time from here on. Enjoy every game as at this point they still have meaning. A number of teams already fairly well have nothing to play for. Not us tho!

 

[The Who]

I think we'll sneak into the finals because of this logic:
There are three standout teams: Melbourne, Penrith and Easts.
Cronulla is nothing special but have such an easy draw then it will also get into the top 8.
That leaves 10 teams with a realistic chance to take one of the four remaining spots:
Canterbury, 'Fins, 'Boys, St, Brisbane, Newcastle, Canberra, NZ, Souffs and us.
On paper I'd say that Brisbane and 'Boys are the strongest, followed by Manly then Souffs.
That's why I think we'll finish 7th or 8th.
At full strength we have shown we can beat any team. What we can't do is maintain a constant standard. So, I think our run at the premiership will not progress any further than the second week of the finals series, and we'll probably finish 6th in the 2024 premiership race.

 

[Will on the hill]

I think we'll sneak into the finals because of this logic:
There are three standout teams: Melbourne, Penrith and Easts.
Cronulla is nothing special but have such an easy draw then it will also get into the top 8.
That leaves 10 teams with a realistic chance to take one of the four remaining spots:
Canterbury, 'Fins, 'Boys, St, Brisbane, Newcastle, Canberra, NZ, Souffs and us.
On paper I'd say that Brisbane and 'Boys are the strongest, followed by Manly then Souffs.
That's why I think we'll finish 7th or 8th.
At full strength we have shown we can beat any team. What we can't do is maintain a constant standard. So, I think our run at the premiership will not progress any further than the second week of the finals series, and we'll probably finish 6th in the 2024 premiership race.

Agree with all of this except the Bunnies. I've got Dogs above them based off their superior defence and 4 point head start.

The teams most likely to drop out are Drags(very tough draw) and Phins (They've been impressively resilient in the face of injury but JMK will be the straw that breaks the back of their depth).

 

[XV-1]

Pretty simple. We will make the finals this year if we are coached well and win the majority of our matches in the rest of the season .

I hope we do it, otherwise fuuck Spoonbold off.

 

[Hibyemama]

if turbo stays fit and play well, we'll sneak into 8th.

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

So far Manly has played 4 teams twice - Souths Eels Panthers and Saints.
In each case we've won at home and lost away. 🤷‍♀️

 

[Not Paul Kent]

I

if turbo stays fit and play well, we'll sneak into 8th.

If turbo stays fit and plays well we can win the entire thing.

 

[The Who]

Agree with all of this except the Bunnies. I've got Dogs above them based off their superior defence and 4 point head start.

The teams most likely to drop out are Drags(very tough draw) and Phins (They've been impressively resilient in the face of injury but JMK will be the straw that breaks the back of their depth).

Another win for Souffs strengthens my belief that they will make the eight. It's amazing: 16 rounds gone and Souffs still have to play the Tigers, TWICE!

 

[Will on the hill]

Another win for Souffs strengthens my belief that they will make the eight. It's amazing: 16 rounds gone and Souffs still have to play the Tigers, TWICE!

They've gone on an good run (5/5 against teams outside the 8) and they will probably beat the Tigers x2 but I still think it's too little too late. No more byes so they'll have to win minimum 6/9, more likely 7/9. In that run they play all 4 teams in the top 4. If they make it it'll be one of the all time reversals of form. I reckon they are within reach until the last 2 rounds against Penrith and Roosters.

 

[JakeyB789]

Yeah I'm not convinced by Souffs. They've obviously improved a bit but in their 5 game winning run they have beaten a horrible Parra team twice, the Titans, Brisbane missing half their team, and us also missing half our team and playing with no halfback. Credit to them for winning all these though because you know we would drop a couple of games like these in the same position.

Scary to think they are only 1.5 wins behind us now after how they started the year, shows how bad our form has been over the last couple of months.

 

[jbb/james]

Our forwards havn’t been too bad. In fact better than not bad
Our defence hasn't been too bad. Some resilience shown, poor reads cost us though. They give the impression of poor defence as it looks soft

Both are just thrown up every week as the reasons we struggle, and maybe hooker .hopefully simpkins can alleviate that
Both are not the main reasons,

Our patience, game plan and execution are a far bigger concern. I also think, my opinion, we are not as tight as we could be. Not split, just not tight

Very surprised brooks bog average kick game has been front and centre. It was pretty much an exact copy of our usual kicking game, maybe minus a speculator

Very few kicks that manly make can be seen as an attacking kick or gives onside players the opportunity to challenge for the ball.

2024 has seen our roster improve, our forwards improve, our defence improve but here we are still, looking like we are dressed for 1978

Ive enjoyed the ride this season. Games have been close mostly but we still look like a large human on a rickety chair

I actually think seibs has coached ok. A few things i would consider changing but you need to hear his rationale first. Maybe he isnt great at pressers , like who watches that **** anyway

 

[Rocky]

As we all know we have donated three competition points. I won't count the other games we were a chance of winning because that's just swings and roundabouts.

but the point v Warriors (thanks Josh A) and the Raiders debacle were 3 points we just outright threw away into the bin.

Imagine how different things on here would look if we were on 22 points and equal 4th?

 

[The Who]

Our forwards havn’t been too bad. In fact better than not bad
Our defence hasn't been too bad. Some resilience shown, poor reads cost us though. They give the impression of poor defence as it looks soft

Both are just thrown up every week as the reasons we struggle, and maybe hooker .hopefully simpkins can alleviate that
Both are not the main reasons,

Our patience, game plan and execution are a far bigger concern. I also think, my opinion, we are not as tight as we could be. Not split, just not tight

Very surprised brooks bog average kick game has been front and centre. It was pretty much an exact copy of our usual kicking game, maybe minus a speculator

Very few kicks that manly make can be seen as an attacking kick or gives onside players the opportunity to challenge for the ball.

2024 has seen our roster improve, our forwards improve, our defence improve but here we are still, looking like we are dressed for 1978

Ive enjoyed the ride this season. Games have been close mostly but we still look like a large human on a rickety chair

I actually think seibs has coached ok. A few things i would consider changing but you need to hear his rationale first. Maybe he isnt great at pressers , like who watches that **** anyway

I've noticed that teams are not contesting high kicks as often as you'd imagine. Last night there must have been 15 bombs and not one was challenged, hoping the catcher would spill it. It didn't happen, even in the slippery conditions.
For some reason this non-challenge must be a tactic; one I can't work out.