Manly - Top 8

[eaglebuzz]

I think when we contemplate making the GF then 'most likely' is already out the window! 🙂
One stumble, for example, by Sharks in the next couple of games, and we're a real shot at 4th.
No gimmes, even with teams down the ladder, as last night also showed.

That's why I started the whole thing with "if" 🫡

 

[eaglebuzz]

Manly right now remind me of the 2006 team. Capable of beating anyone and proving it on several occasions throughout the season, but with no long stretches without a loss.

Plus a little short on top (or near top) of the line class in each position. That could come over the next couple of seasons. Like 2007-08.

Yeah it feels like we have a window over the next couple of seasons. If the Moses rumours are true we will be in with a real chance in 2026 I think.

 

[The Who]

Yeah it feels like we have a window over the next couple of seasons. If the Moses rumours are true we will be in with a real chance in 2026 I think.

Not sure how Moses will help our forwards....
Perhaps another ex-Eel could, RCG?

 

[LeonardCohen]

I think we are a chance, but a slim chance, for the reason you say.
Imagine if results go a certain way, we might only have to beat one of Panthers/Storm/Chooks. Few weeks ago I tipped a Manly/Dogs GF, I was only half serious but ...stranger things have happened!

I like your optimism. I give us absolutely no hope - like 0%. I don't think we'll make the top 4 for a start. I also think our pack and work around the ruck is bottom 4. Last night we were in quicksand trying to ruck the ball out of our end and it happens most weeks. I know we keep waiting for Penrith to inevitably fall on their sword, but imagine playing them in a GF (if we were to even get that far). They have 3 winning GFs worth of experience and a far superior forward pack. Can anyone really see Josh Aloiai and Paseka giving it to JFH and Leota on the big stage? I can see Brown trying but getting absolute poleaxed. It's a massive step up in class and I don't think we are there yet.

 

[LeonardCohen]

The only top 4 side we haven't beaten yet this year is the Sharks, and we will get our chance to measure up against them in a few weeks. We would have beaten the Roosters twice if we had a slightly stronger 17 or a better run with injuries the second time we played them.

We can beat anyone on our day. But our pack needs to stand up and not be bullied out of the contest.

See I don't agree with any of that. We beat the Chooks and Penrith at home very early in the year...it means nothing. They are not the same team you'll get in the finals. Those early wins mean nothing. I recall the year the Chooks won the comp, they lost to the lowly Tigers early in the year. Everyone knows the form guide is out the window as teams warm into the season.

I'm prepared to suggest that we cannot beat the Storm, Penrith or Roosters in a pressure cooker finals contest because their pack will smash ours.

 

[eaglebuzz]

See I don't agree with any of that. We beat the Chooks and Penrith at home very early in the year...it means nothing. They are not the same team you'll get in the finals. Those early wins mean nothing. I recall the year the Chooks won the comp, they lost to the lowly Tigers early in the year. Everyone knows the form guide is out the window as teams warm into the season.

I'm prepared to suggest that we cannot beat the Storm, Penrith or Roosters in a pressure cooker finals contest because their pack will smash ours.

Maybe but in 2021 we blew plenty of sides off the park and never troubled the rest of the top 4, I'd take our current side's ticker over that side.

Time will tell.

 

[NYEagle]

Looking at this I think we could be the 4th best team, but it means little if Penrith, Melbourne and Rooaters are all grades above us.

At best we can hope all three end up on he same side in the finals and cancel each other out and we make a sloppy grand final. Playing a grand final would be a great experience for this team and will help fast track their development.

I think this squad as it is is too rickety to ever challenge these top 3 and maybe even add bulldogs from next year onwards. The forwards are too slow and many of our players do not put their bodies on the line. On their day though, the backline does hum in attack.

It’s really tough without true junior development and a top system to match the top tier.

Luckily in this game there are a lot of variables (suspension, injury, matchups, and referee howlers) that means in essence anything can still happen.

NYEagle

 

[The Who]

It’s really tough without true junior development and a top system to match the top tier.

Easts manage to do it without any juniors.
The not so secret ingredient is money.

 

[Terry Zarsoff]

Yeah it feels like we have a window over the next couple of seasons. If the Moses rumours are true we will be in with a real chance in 2026 I think.

Moses will be how old by then? He doesn’t strike me as an upgrade over DCE.

Better to invest in our remaining junior halves, with an eye to the next 10 years, rather than the next two (from 2026).

Or perhaps Jakob Arthur could step up to the plate for a year or two when DCE retires, as players like Bunting and Alexander reach maturity.

 

[eaglebuzz]

Moses will be how old by then? He doesn’t strike me as an upgrade over DCE.

Better to invest in our remaining junior halves, with an eye to the next 10 years, rather than the next two (from 2026).

Or perhaps Jakob Arthur could step up to the plate for a year or two when DCE retires, as players like Bunting and Alexander reach maturity.

Are you seriously arguing that Jake Arthur would be a better choice than an established rep halfback? Moses isn't even 30 yet, he has at least three good years left in him. Five if he looks after himself.

We can't just invest in the future if our current squad is balanced for a tilt at the title, that was just be a huge waste of the fine tuning of the balance of the other 25 players we have lined up to have a serious crack at the title.

 

[47MVEagle]

I see this season as a building season.

We’ll make the finals but won’t make the GF, but it sets us up for taking the next step next year.

 

[Terry Zarsoff]

Are you seriously arguing that Jake Arthur would be a better choice than an established rep halfback? Moses isn't even 30 yet, he has at least three good years left in him. Five if he looks after himself.

1. Yes, if it doesn’t mean breaking the bank for a player like Moses.

2. Is Moses really ‘established’? He was in the NSW team because Cleary was unavailable.

3. In 2026, your ‘three good years’ might be two good years. Or one good year.

4. How many Moses clients is too many. We might already be at ‘peak Moses’.

5. All the talk about Moses is speculation. I doubt if the incoming coach at Parramatta wants to let his star half to leave anytime soon.

 

[Carl]

I'm not convinced dce won't be playing for us in 2026

 

[davohan123]

I see this season as a building season.

We’ll make the finals but won’t make the GF, but it sets us up for taking the next step next year.

Week 2 Sydney final like the dogs that’s where both teams will finish the season, anything else is a bonus

Panthers storm roosters all ahead of us and the GF will come from those 3 teams

 

[eaglebuzz]

1. Yes, if it doesn’t mean breaking the bank for a player like Moses.

2. Is Moses really ‘established’? He was in the NSW team because Cleary was unavailable.

3. In 2026, your ‘three good years’ might be two good years. Or one good year.

4. How many Moses clients is too many. We might already be at ‘peak Moses’.

5. All the talk about Moses is speculation. I doubt if the incoming coach at Parramatta wants to let his star half to leave anytime soon.

If we have Jake Arthur as our first choice half we may as well just field as many cheapies as we can and then put front loaded contracts on superstars for 2027-8 so that we can field our "proper" team in those years. We won't be a premiership threat with Arthur at 7

 

[Terry Zarsoff]

Again, you’re assuming this Moses rumour is some sort of done deal.

I am more of a ‘Bird in the hand…’ kinda guy, with a preference for Manly to set itself up for longer term success, rather than the Bob Fulton short term sugar hit approach.

 

[DanielTurbo888]

We are a chance to go deep into the finals maybe even Grand Final. This team can really put on the razzle dazzle. If we can field our full strength squad in our finals then we are half way there. Our best is still yet to come but we need to play as one.

 

[Terry Zarsoff]

Last night’s game confirmed the value of Lawman to the team.

I thought Burbo played well, but he might be another 30-40 games away from really hitting his first grade straps.

 

[double hoops]

Seibolds does seem to built a certain level of grind into our team. The last two weeks they didn't have it all there own way. But they kept their heads and over came.

 

[DanielTurbo888]

We are a pretty well grounded team. I am especially impressed with Garrick lately. I can definitely see him playing some representative footy in the years ahead.