Post-Game Discussion Manly V Dragons [Round 15, 2024]

Game Information

Sea Eagles
Vs
Dragons
30 4 Pines Park
16 Jun 2024 14:00
80:00 minute
14

Match Stats

Gutsy performance. DCE’s second half was superb. Simpkin, Brown, Bullemore, Jake, Lawton in the second row - huge effort. Garrick is not a centre can’t defend (poor read early should have been a Dragons try but they bombed it) and we were much stronger in defence with Burbo in the centres. Hoppa was excellent. Simpkins service was crisp and made DCE’s job much easier. His defence was great too!
 
How can you ever drop a player like Bullemore?? When Turbo is back straight to centres, bye bye Garrick. Lehi fullback for life.
Garrick’s much better on the wing and he is capable of kicking goals. Talau and Garrick to swap and Turbo to lock??? 🤔
 
Some thoughts;

Not sure why we persisted with Lawton at hooker, he was great on the edge. When he first got here from Warriors he was in 2nd row and was great back then.

Lehi was brilliant again today - what a future he has.

DCE/Hamole superb in 2nd half, Brown was huge as well.

Bull has to be there, how Sipley got ahead of him recently I will never know.

Next weeks team will be interesting given Tent and Sipley (along with Oshay and Lodge) will be out.
 
Well deserved win, second half was huge, first half…

Amazing what happens if you hold the ball
The greatest wins are wins against all odds
We were down 4 players , The bench was empty , our tank was empty but we ran with the Great Manly spirit of resilience and ran away with the game
That was a deserving top 8 position win led by our for ever young and for ever brilliant captain DCE
I hope we can continue to be consistently courageous
Today we made our Legendary clubs colors proud !
 
I thought we were too sideways in the first half but put it down to injuries in the middle rotation; no Aloiai, no Paseka, no Sipley, etc. but still, too sideways.

In the second half, we straightened up. Sure we still used the edges at times (particularly Olakau’atu) but it was often two off the ruck, not long shifts and then we would all push up around the play-the-ball and go again. I haven’t seen us play like that in a long time. In fact, the last time was when Manase Fainu was playing, that’s how long ago it was.
 
Full strength

1. Hopoate
2. Saab
3. Turbo (left and roaming centre)
4. Koula (right centre)
5. Garrick
6. Brooks
7. DCE
8. Paseka
9. Croker
10. TBD - Bullemor if the next few weeks go well for him playing extended minutes
11. Haumole
12. Burbo
13. Jake
14. Simpkin - was fantastic. Could be switched with Croker starting. Both of great quality
15. Bullemor / Aloiai / Waddell / Sipley
16. Lawton (utility value)
17. Brown
 
I thought we were too sideways in the first half but put it down to injuries in the middle rotation; no Aloiai, no Paseka, no Sipley, etc. but still, too sideways.

In the second half, we straightened up. Sure we still used the edges at times (particularly Olakau’atu) but it was often two off the ruck, not long shifts and then we would all push up around the play-the-ball and go again. I haven’t seen us play like that in a long time. In fact, the last time was when Manase Fainu was playing, that’s how long ago it was.
Also had to do with the mobility of Brown and Bullemor in the middle
 
Next week looks rough...

1. Hopoate
2. Saab
3. Talau
4. Koula
5. Vaega
6. Brooks
7. Humphreys
8. Bullemor
9. Simpkin
10. Brown
11. Waddell / Condon
12. Burbo
13. Lawton?
14. GCKT
15. Aitasi James
16. Don't even know
17. Caleb Navale?

Ideally Waddell is available, and likely plays as a middle.
 
Next week looks rough...

1. Hopoate
2. Saab
3. Talau
4. Koula
5. Vaega
6. Brooks
7. Humphreys
8. Bullemor
9. Simpkin
10. Brown
11. Waddell / Condon
12. Burbo
13. Lawton?
14. GCKT
15. Aitasi James
16. Don't even know
17. Caleb Navale?

Ideally Waddell is available, and likely plays as a middle.
Parker at 11.
 
Next week looks rough...

1. Hopoate
2. Saab
3. Talau
4. Koula
5. Vaega
6. Brooks
7. Humphreys
8. Bullemor
9. Simpkin
10. Brown
11. Waddell / Condon
12. Burbo
13. Lawton?
14. GCKT
15. Aitasi James
16. Don't even know
17. Caleb Navale?

Ideally Waddell is available, and likely plays as a middle.
I posted in another thread... we look in real trouble next week!
 

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