Post-Game Discussion Manly V Cowboys [Round 1, 2025]

[Nike]

Criticism of Burb, I feel, is justified. 6 missed tackles is not good enough. Needs to pick up on his game. Criticism of Saab I feel is not justified. 171 mtrs gained, 5 tackle breaks, a try. Can't do more than that. Defence better than we've seen but as LC points out, there still needs to be improvement. I don't think the Cowboys are that good and didn't have them in my 8 despite what some judges were suggesting. I'm also a little concerned Manly may be unprepared for the Storm in Rd5 given they play Warriors, Raiders and Eels in next 3 rounds, and though they should easily defeat those teams (should) its not good preparation for one of the two major heavyweights. I have Panthers, Storm, Sharks and Bronks as the teams likely to keep Manly out of the four.

How many of his missed tackles were when he slotted into Koula's spot in the centres? Genuinely asking cause I'm not sure, could be wrong but I thought he looked alright last night.

 

[BOZO]

Great victory

But

Disappointed to see the team clock off and concede two late tries. We should've shut them out

Not playing for the full 80 stops this team from reaching the next level

I see you think just like me feathered friend
Its Good to get a Victory but it is better to focus on how much more we can improve and keep getting better
Never rest on our Laurels

 

[BOZO]

How many of his missed tackles were when he slotted into Koula's spot in the centres? Genuinely asking cause I'm not sure, could be wrong but I thought he looked alright last night.

Back rowers play like centres out wide
IMO No excuses for missing one on one tackles against any player

 

[Rackets]

He should be back where he belongs at Manly

 

[BOZO]

He should be back where he belongs at Manly
View attachment 29464

You can take the boy out of Manly
But you cant take Manly out of the boy
Boy oh Boy what a Player AFB is
Good to see him supporting the Manly Boys

 

[Nike]

Back rowers play like centres out wide
IMO No excuses for missing one on one tackles against any player

He's notoriously bad when playing at centre, if Talau wasn't injured he would've slot in. My point was I thought he looked okay by the eye, actually had some impact in defense when playing backrow.

 

[BOZO]

He's notoriously bad when playing at centre, if Talau wasn't injured he would've slot in. My point was I thought he looked okay by the eye, actually had some impact in defense when playing backrow.

The was I see it is that he is always sus on one on one tackles
He was satisfactory behind a team with momentum
I want to see how he goes against credible opposition

 

[frank stokes]

How many of his missed tackles were when he slotted into Koula's spot in the centres? Genuinely asking cause I'm not sure, could be wrong but I thought he looked alright last night.

He got burnt a couple of times at the edges playing centre and I would suggest those trash 15min at the end of the game affected his stats… overall I was impressed with Burbo last night, he was almost “trial games 2024” Burbo…

I am convinced that there is a very handy forward in there somewhere and we will laugh all the way to the bank if we manage to unlock him…

 

[manly al]

Know that Manly were favorites but still had a bit of uncertainty if they could get the job done and did they ever
Dominated possession in that first 30 min or so but importantly were good and measured enough to take advantage and execute those great team plays and of course unlucky not to have added more ..
Could never understate Turbo 's dynamic input but a pretty good platform and momentum for the majority of the game to enhance that outcome .
Doen "t seem to be an issue with either Jazz or Simpkin starting at 9 , Jake did look revitalized with his overall play , Haumole even more effective how he was used ,
Sipps so much more mobile and hope that can continue and with the composite future pack with some no doubt more demanding defensive efforts at times needed as the season progresses ..
Taukeiaho keeping his good input going . Tent and Bully right up there , not sure how to accommodate Brown and Alioia ongoing in normal circumstances .
Burbo went well in general , good anticipation with his try .
Great night , great crowd, can 't remember a better start to a season .
Ability and game structure is certainly there all going well , just the open question of overall consistency and the necessary defence long term and under pressure to hopefully be addressed in a positive way

 

[frank stokes]

My only concern to come out of last night was the lack of line speed in defence. I was impressed with the attack but until we suffocate teams with our defence, we’ll be the same side as last year.

Note your point @LeonardCohen bit the flip-side to that is we did not give away a single offside penalty when cows were working off their own line…

Those pressure relieving penalties (from forwards charging up and trying to make the big hit) absolutely killed us in a stack of games last year… yes, we need to find the balance against the big dogs but I was SUPER impressed with our discipline last night…

 

[DieHardManlyFan]

Know that Manly were favorites but still had a bit of uncertainty if they could get the job done and did they ever
Dominated possession in that first 30 min or so but importantly were good and measured enough to take advantage and execute those great team plays and of course unlucky not to have added more ..
Could never understate Turbo 's dynamic input but a pretty good platform and momentum for the majority of the game to enhance that outcome .
Doen "t seem to be an issue with either Jazz or Simpkin starting at 9 , Jake did look revitalized with his overall play , Haumole even more effective how he was used ,
Sipps so much more mobile and hope that can continue and with the composite future pack with some no doubt more demanding defensive efforts at times needed as the season progresses ..
Taukeiaho keeping his good input going . Tent and Bully right up there , not sure how to accommodate Brown and Alioia ongoing in normal circumstances .
Burbo went well in general , good anticipation with his try .
Great night , great crowd, can 't remember a better start to a season .
Ability and game structure is certainly there all going well , just the open question of overall consistency and the necessary defence long term and under pressure to hopefully be addressed in a positive way

After the effort he put in last season I think we find a place for Brown once he is pushing for first grade. I’d personally have him over Waddell. Especially with the flexibility Burbo offers.

Aloiai on the other hand has been given multiple opportunities if he doesn’t push for the first team immediately he isn’t a bad depth player to have in the ranks.

 

[Waz13]

He got burnt a couple of times at the edges playing centre and I would suggest those trash 15min at the end of the game affected his stats… overall I was impressed with Burbo last night, he was almost “trial games 2024” Burbo…

I am convinced that there is a very handy forward in there somewhere and we will laugh all the way to the bank if we manage to unlock him…

Thought there was more aggression in his defence last night. They got around him at centre a couple of times. Also good to note that by then we were playing with two subs as TKO and Koula were gone. Were a bit sluggish late when the two tries got let in.

 

[BOZO]

After the effort he put in last season I think we find a place for Brown once he is pushing for first grade. I’d personally have him over Waddell. Especially with the flexibility Burbo offers.

Aloiai on the other hand has been given multiple opportunities if he doesn’t push for the first team immediately he isn’t a bad depth player to have in the ranks.

It is a long season riddled with injuries and All players will play a role
I hope they will be all up to it

 

[BOZO]

. Were a bit sluggish late when the two tries got let in.

You could see the intensity drop off in the team late in the game
We need to learn to become 80 minute fighters

Sing with me @Waz13
We are the Manly Premiership Winning Champions My feathered friend
and we will keep on fighting till the very end

 

[manly al]

After the effort he put in last season I think we find a place for Brown once he is pushing for first grade. I’d personally have him over Waddell. Especially with the flexibility Burbo offers.

Aloiai on the other hand has been given multiple opportunities if he doesn’t push for the first team immediately he isn’t a bad depth player to have in the ranks.

Brown and Alioia at their best i am sure could offer something worthwhile but even if was the case , just not sure how they could fit in on present indications .
T K O , Tent , Bully and Sipps best prop options , .
Both not really suited on an edge .
Only option and if Brown may be up to it , coming on for jake again and jake moving to prop .
But again on present form , probably best to keep jake at 13 and the current props .
Still have some expectation that Alioia may be able to get back to his best but has really struggled with form and fitness the past couple of seasons .
Waddell playing on an edge off the bench if needed seems O K , jazz can always give Jake a rest at 13 [ think that is what happened last night ]
Anyway , a long season and depth or reasonable quality depth definitely needed and not to discount Navale either if he is showing some reasonable form in the lower grades .
Wonder how Patolo went in the N S W cup yesterday

 

[Michael Clare]

I wasn’t complaining or anything
I was just answering someone inquiry about koula
Then noticed TKO had ice on his knee

Great round 1 win

Loved DCE response to the miss tackle which lead to Cowboys first try. Shows that we trying to reach another level.

Go Manly 🦅

No

My only concern to come out of last night was the lack of line speed in defence. I was impressed with the attack but until we suffocate teams with our defence, we’ll be the same side as last year. Given all our possession, there’s no reason why we didn’t have the energy to really go after the Cowboys in defence. I get the fatigue at the end of the game for both sides, but I didn’t see the same intensity in our defensive line, as I saw in the Dogs against Dragons. That’s how you compete for premierships…get up in the face of the opposition and win contact. Make them kick long, etc.

Astute observation.

 

[Once Was Brissie Kid]

My only concern to come out of last night was the lack of line speed in defence. I was impressed with the attack but until we suffocate teams with our defence, we’ll be the same side as last year. Given all our possession, there’s no reason why we didn’t have the energy to really go after the Cowboys in defence. I get the fatigue at the end of the game for both sides, but I didn’t see the same intensity in our defensive line, as I saw in the Dogs against Dragons. That’s how you compete for premierships…get up in the face of the opposition and win contact. Make them kick long, etc.

I tend to agree. Our preferred method of defence appears to be to make sure we have as much game time as possible in possession of the ball.

 

[Once Was Brissie Kid]

After the effort he put in last season I think we find a place for Brown once he is pushing for first grade. I’d personally have him over Waddell. Especially with the flexibility Burbo offers.

Aloiai on the other hand has been given multiple opportunities if he doesn’t push for the first team immediately he isn’t a bad depth player to have in the ranks.

I agree. Brown's time will happen. Winter is coming.

 

[Nambawan]

Brown and Alioia at their best i am sure could offer something worthwhile but even if was the case , just not sure how they could fit in on present indications .
T K O , Tent , Bully and Sipps best prop options , .
Both not really suited on an edge .
Only option and if Brown may be up to it , coming on for jake again and jake moving to prop .
But again on present form , probably best to keep jake at 13 and the current props .
Still have some expectation that Alioia may be able to get back to his best but has really struggled with form and fitness the past couple of seasons .
Waddell playing on an edge off the bench if needed seems O K , jazz can always give Jake a rest at 13 [ think that is what happened last night ]
Anyway , a long season and depth or reasonable quality depth definitely needed and not to discount Navale either if he is showing some reasonable form in the lower grades .
Wonder how Patolo went in the N S W cup yesterday

Reckon Navale a better option than Waddell - will tackle all day and is much quicker. Patolo well off the pace in the 2nds yesterday. Ben T's days as a centre are well over. Now too slow.

 

[Nambawan]

It is a long season riddled with injuries and All players will play a role
I hope they will be all up to it

What flexibility does Ben T. offer?