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

[globaleagle]

What an awesome night at Brookie! Thankfully the weather stayed clear, Alfred behaved himself (could've been much worse) and Gough didn't crucify us for a change. The atmosphere was wonderful and it was so good to be back at the footy.

Very hard to single out players as they were all so good, however, I loved the first 15 minutes or so with Jazz at 9 and hope that continues. Tom was superb with his support play, Lehi is just amazing, Paseka, Sips, Jake, Bully down the middle lead the way, Saab used his height and speed to good effect, Brooks was on with his kicking and even Garrick surprisingly played well at centre. Although Burbo missed some tackles at centre, I thought he played really well at 12 and is being unfairly criticised here imo.

Nice blast from the past seeing Georgie Rose with the game ball at the start and my thrill of the night was getting a handshake from Cliffy as the legend came past me!

I appreciate the 'from the ground' reports seeing as I basically never get to a game.

~appreciates~



(I mean more than: Lines were long, pies were cold, beer was hot posts. lol)

 

[Tragic Eagle]

I though Burbo did enough in the backrow to earn selection against the warriors.

 

[rj90]

 

[ALinda]

I appreciate the 'from the ground' reports seeing as I basically never get to a game.

~appreciates~



(I mean more than: Lines were long, pies were cold, beer was hot posts. lol)

That's one main reason I do them. It's my pleasure, thanks GE.

 

[Disco]

I though Burbo did enough in the backrow to earn selection against the warriors.

Agreed, I thought he had a decent game.

I think we have some coiled springs here, just waiting for an error or missed tackle.

 

[eaglebuzz]

Agreed, I thought he had a decent game.

I think we have some coiled springs here, just waiting for an error or missed tackle.

He had a couple of bad misses but they were on the only cowboys player who looked dangerous, when he was defending out of position. When he was in the second row he looked fine.

 

[Cliffy's Jockstrap]

He had a couple of bad misses but they were on the only cowboys player who looked dangerous, when he was defending out of position. When he was in the second row he looked fine.

I agree. And to be frank, Brbo really isn't a centre anymore. To me he looked bigger once again, he doesn't have the acceleration and lateral movement to compete as a back with the specialist backs. That is my feeling. Which means that if circumstances force us to play him at centre we shouldn't expect a lot more than we would from Waddell, for example. I wish it were different: I'd love it if he could be NRL standard backs cover but it's not on. I suspect that once Talau is fit we will have a specialist back on the bench regularly, that is how the sport seemed to move last year.