Pre-Game Manly v Dragons [Round 18, 2021]

[47MVEagle]

 

[Woodsie]

Yeah I know the stats are pretty damning but if you drill down & look for other possible factors, you'll find that there are other possible reasons, such as other key players also not playing.

Those key players being DCE, Foran, Jake & Schuster IMO.

I look at the 7 losses we've had this season as follows:

RDS 1-4 - as well as missing Turbo, we were (re)developing a combination between DCE & Foran, had changed our defensive system from up & in to sliding, & played 3 heavyweights in Roosters, Rabbits & Storm.

I feel the DCE-Foran combo & our sliding defence clicked in RD 5 in our 1 point win over the Warriors. That was the first game I saw hunger & determination from our boys & cohesion as a team - they looked happy to be playing with each other.

RDS 6-11 we had Turbo back & really started firing as a unit. Schuster proved himself to be a valuable part of our playmaking unit & the likes of Olakau'atu, Keppie & Sipley started building as players, seemingly improving each week.

I think gaining match fitness is another factor that benefited us in this period.

We lost to Penrith in this period but gave a much better showing than in round 4.

RD 12 was the Great Newcastle Train Robbery.

RDS 14-16 was resumption of the normal programming we created in RDS 6-11.

RD 17 we were without Turbo, DCE, Jake & Schuster, & Des made some "interesting" selections but I think he used this game as an opportunity to give Walker, Suli & Jetski game time so their fitness would be there for later in the season, should we need them due to injury & also to give him some insight into how those 3 played as part of the unit that's developed this season.

Now that SOO is over we can settle into the back end of the season with the likes of Jake & Schuster having had a good rest & others like Aloiai returning from injury.

Good research ... but factors are interesting .. especially the common factors ... and the big common factor is Tom. I know if one looks hard enough, all manner of reasons or conditions can be found ... but the fact remains that without Tom last year and the beginning of this year we fell into a 1 - 15 form slump ... other players may have been out, the ref's a ****. it was raining, we had a short turnaround, ... but that big common factor remains ...

Can that change, of course, it bloody has to ... and I agree players like Schuster, Foran, Guacamole etc will be at the forefront of that change ... but let's not rewrite the past ... we suck without Tom ..

PSS .. and to lighten the mood .. What do tightrope walkers and a bloke getting a BJ from an 80yo woman have in common ... they both keep muttering to themselves .. Don't look down, Don't look down ...

 

[47MVEagle]

Good research ... but factors are interesting .. especially the common factors ... and the big common factor is Tom. I know if one looks hard enough, all manner of reasons or conditions can be found ... but the fact remains that without Tom last year and the beginning of this year we fell into a 1 - 15 form slump ... other players may have been out, the ref's a ****. it was raining, we had a short turnaround, ... but that big common factor remains ...

Can that change, of course, it bloody has to ... and I agree players like Schuster, Foran, Guacamole etc will be at the forefront of that change ... but let's not rewrite the past ... we suck without Tom ..

PSS .. and to lighten the mood .. What do tightrope walkers and a bloke getting a BJ from an 80yo woman have in common ... they both keep muttering to themselves .. Don't look down, Don't look down ...

Definitely historically we were adrift without Tom but I reckon this year is the year we've developed a squad that can win without him.

 

[Disco]

There is a big difference between excuses and looking at contributing factors to a performance good or bad.

Lets take Manly out of it.

Panthers lost to the Tigers in round....was it 13?

Now they can be dissapointed in that loss and have expected better.

But it is also fair to say that missing missing Cleary, Luai, Yeo, To'o, Martin, Api and Capewell contributed to that loss.

That is not to say they couldnt win without them but it certainly was a factor.

 

[Wombat64]

In an effort to ensure a Sea Eagles win over their next opponents Ive just changed my footy tipping to the Dragqueens!!

Usually this will do the trick OR go back to the Bush for a month!!!

Not much "bush" left these days. All gone Brazillian.

 

[Woodsie]

There is a big difference between excuses and looking at contributing factors to a performance good or bad.

Lets take Manly out of it.

Panthers lost to the Tigers in round....was it 13?

Now they can be dissapointed in that loss and have expected better.

But it is also fair to say that missing missing Cleary, Luai, Yeo, To'o, Martin, Api and Capewell contributed to that loss.

That is not to say they couldnt win without them but it certainly was a factor.

Disco ... that's seven SOO players ... Sweet Jesus and the 12 disciples would struggle with that big a talent loss ...

 

[47MVEagle]

 

[ManEagle]

In an effort to ensure a Sea Eagles win over their next opponents Ive just changed my footy tipping to the Dragqueens!!

Usually this will do the trick OR go back to the Bush for a month!!!

We've been through this, let's just play it safe
FcK OFF BACK TO THE BUSH FOR A MONTH
Not to be pushy or anything

 

[WiseyEagle]

With DCE back, Garrick playing fullback wont have the pressure of trying to kick goal line drop outs further than 30 metres.

 

[Ryan]

Personally I can't get on board with playing Schuster through the middle.

I think he is best utilised on the edge ala Glen Stewart.

And yes I know Stewart had the 13 on his back but he played edge not middle.

Was also at that Tigers trial and thought Harper was servicable at the back at best.

I'd be more inclined to go Garrick at the back and Koula on the wing.

But moot point, Dessie will do what Dessie always does

That's true.

Love to see Josh Schuster bunlocked though. Gift was very talented and had great ball playing ability about him, but I do think Schuster could possibly be one of those generational type players (like next step up - ALA Turbo). He's played less than 10 odd games, and they were saying he was a smokey for the 14 for NSW. But fair enough, he works really well with Foz, Parker and Garrick, too.

Regarding Harper, I guess it's one of this playing players in their preferred positions thing. He'd be mis-placed, but all the others would be playing in their normal spots. His defense was sweet in that trial. I do like the things I've read about Koula though, and know nothing about him, but I love, love, love speed.

 

[Brisbane Tragic]

I don’t think it’s a case of couldn’t be bothered, but I do think we have an attitude issue at times against teams we are expected to beat, you can never just think you’ll turn up and get the 2, we need to respect and develop that winning edge regardless who we play, or where we play, it’s not just this year, it has been a notable issue for sometime.
Good sides just get the job done regardless, that’s what makes them good sides, we have the talent, just maybe need to adjust the attitude at times or understand that if we drop our intensity against those sides we are expected to beat, they will and have pulled our pants down.

Yep we certainly need to learn that

 

[WiseyEagle]

Word is Jetski is cut for Dragons game. So no nasty surprises with him suddenly appearing in the starting side. So that news is good for 12 to 18 points after his dismal effort last week.

 

[Mataiforever]

If Turbo is out guys, I'd move Harper to fullback (he was amazing there in a very beaten team in the trial against the Tigers - especially defensively).

01. Morgan Harper
02. Jason Saab
03. Dylan Walker
04. Brad Parker
05. Reuben Garrick
06. Kieran Foran
07. Daly Cherry-Evans
08. Marty Taupau
09. Karl Lawton
10. Taniela Paseka
11. Haumole Olakau'atu
12. Sean Keppie
13. Josh Schuster

14. Lachlan Croker
15. Toafofoa Sipley
16. XXXXXXXXX
17. Ben Trbojevic

would be my team - the 16 could be whoever.

surely you give Garrick benefit of the doubt last week considering his cowboys performance?

Also whats up with benching croker? He either starts at 9 as he's great in early defence, or is dropped. Would provide no impact off the bench.

For me:
1 Garrick 2 Saab 3 Parker 4 Harper 5 Koula / Tuipulotu 6 Foran 7 DCE
8 Paseka 9 Croker 10 Keppie 11 Olakau'atu 12 Lawton 13 Schuster

14 Walker 15 Taupau 16 Trbojevic 17 Sipley

But trboejvic not even named... hopefully not gosiewski. Would have Schuster as a roaming 13 to help DCE out as he will be gassed... marty is much more effective off the bench.

 

[The Wheel]

Strong support for Sea Eagles at Gold Coast 'home' ground

It might be a ‘home’ game on the Gold Coast but for the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles, Cbus Super Stadium is very much a happy hunting ground for the club.

www.seaeagles.com.au

 

[Ron E. Gibbs]

surely you give Garrick benefit of the doubt last week considering his cowboys performance?

His performance against the Cows was exceptional, but it was exceptional in both senses of the word. Every other time he's played fullback he's been poor to ordinary.

Look, I like Reuben as a player, and I think his positioning at fullback has improved enormously, both in attack and defence. But he can be hesitant to defuse bombs and he really needs to work on that. Still, as it stands, he's probably one of our better "Not Tommy" options.

 

[Ryan]

surely you give Garrick benefit of the doubt last week considering his cowboys performance?

Also whats up with benching croker? He either starts at 9 as he's great in early defence, or is dropped. Would provide no impact off the bench.

For me:
1 Garrick 2 Saab 3 Parker 4 Harper 5 Koula / Tuipulotu 6 Foran 7 DCE
8 Paseka 9 Croker 10 Keppie 11 Olakau'atu 12 Lawton 13 Schuster

14 Walker 15 Taupau 16 Trbojevic 17 Sipley

But trboejvic not even named... hopefully not gosiewski. Would have Schuster as a roaming 13 to help DCE out as he will be gassed... marty is much more effective off the bench.

One game mate, but boy, what a game! It's just that everything went that right that game. In all the other matches I've seen him play there, I've always thought, surely we have better backup.

Regarding Lawton versus Croker starting. Games going to be won up the middle. Lawton is crisper and more dynamic in both attach and defense. He's played a learnt Hooker. Dragons have a big pack.

Lachy is the perfect utility. He can now play both halves and hooking positions. It also allows Walker to not be wasted on the bench. You want him on the park. That said, your bench looks great. Not gonna lie, your whole team make-up looks really good.

 

[BOZO]

There is a big difference between excuses and looking at contributing factors to a performance good or bad.

Lets take Manly out of it.

Panthers lost to the Tigers in round....was it 13?

Now they can be dissapointed in that loss and have expected better.

But it is also fair to say that missing missing Cleary, Luai, Yeo, To'o, Martin, Api and Capewell contributed to that loss.

That is not to say they couldnt win without them but it certainly was a factor.

Let us not take Manly out of it because I was referring to the Manly raiders match feathered friend

 

[pt73]

Yep read it. It’s hilarious. Sone of gat stuff you can’t even make it up. Especially how he rates his own golf courses up against the worlds best.

Good old alterative facts.

The stuff about how many club championships he's won is gold too.

 

[BOZO]

Disco ... that's seven SOO players ... Sweet Jesus and the 12 disciples would struggle with that big a talent loss ...

Sweet Jesus put on a Maroon Jersey and produced a miracle winning series for QLD

Remember this? Queensland’s stocks were decimated by Super League, leaving Paul Vautin with a no frills line-up facing the prospect of a fourth straight series loss to a then-great NSW team.

So it was arguably the greatest shock in Origin history when the Maroons came out on top of an epic struggle in game one, winning 2-0 to take a stunning series lead.

Fatty stuck to his guns, picking just 18 players for the whole series - among them forgotten names like Gavin Allen, Terry Cook, Mark Hohn, and Craig Teevan - and not only did they win, they got the 3-0 clean sweep.

This against a side brimming with greats of the game including Andrew Johns, Brad Fittler, Paul Harragon, Steve Menzies, and Tim Brasher, as well as one of the all-time great coaches, Phil Gould.

Amen

 

[EOL now nesting on the GC]

Geez what's with the aggression? I don't think we will win without Turbo either.

Had a splinter in my foot that was really hurting. Its out nowso aggression levels have returned to feather in a cloud levels.