Game Day: Manly v Dragons [Round 18, 2021]

[Shoe1]

With the suspensions I thought de Bellend would call up his mate Callum from the Shellharbour Sharks. He has form playing off the bench.

 

[court83]

Anyone else irked by the arrangement of our edge when Suli is subbed in. His chopping and changing with Parker is very problematic. I wish Des would tell one of them they're playing wing for 80 MINUTES and stay THERE!!!!

If Parker is good enough to play centre all year at full strength, I see no reason why he should be pushed to the wing on occasions, throwing the formation of the edge out. He is also not a winger by any standard. We saw him drop the ball over the line last week. Against the Cowboys, Drinkwater found him out of position on a long ball and he slipped over, causing a try. Just stay in the centres ffs.

This is where the game will be won or lost imo... As soon as des starts shifting Parker to wing, suli to centre, we lose all cohesion in attack and their defence is woeful... With funa/jorge or Koula fit and healthy there is absolutely no reason to play with Parker on the wing .. it's not like suli deserves a shot in the team, he's proven time and time again he's lazy

 

[Ryan]

Which team would win?

Des:
05. Reuben Garrick
02. Jason Saab
03. Brad Parker
04. Morgan Harper
18. Moses Suli
06. Kieran Foran
07. Daly Cherry-Evans (c)

08. Taniela Paseka
09. Lachlan Croker
10. Martin Taupau
11. Haumole Olakau'atu
12. Josh Schuster
13. Sean Keppie

14. Dylan Walker
15. Karl Lawton
16. Kurt De Luis
17. Toafofoa Sipley

Ryan:

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

14. Lachlan Croker
15. Toafofoa Sipley
16. Kurt De Luis
17. Ben Trbojevic

When Keppie comes off, Croker slots into 9, Lawton back to 12 (or Burbo comes on).

How does "falcon Suli" get a start after last week?

 

[Rafferty]

Don't give up on top 4 yet mate ... might be unlikely ... but our run starts tonight ... win and we can do it .. lose, and we don't deserve it ... Rip in Manly!

There’s 8 games 16 points left including tonight.
Parra are 3 wins and 6 points clear.
They play before us tonight so win or lose they will either be 8 points or still 6 points clear
They win we win it’s still 6
They win we lose its 8
They lose we lose its still 6
They lose we win back to 4, with 7 games remaining
So it is still possible but highly improbable, we would need to win all 8 and Parra would have to lose 4 (or 3 bringing in F/A, currently 201-117 in their favour) or we lose 1 they need to lose 5 (or 4 relying on F/A) etc etc, it’s long odds to finish in the top 4, I think we should just aim for a healthy top 5/6 (home semi! which won’t be at our home with or without COVID), below is both our runs home,

The run home
Rd 19 Manly v Tigers. Parra v Raiders
Rd 20 Manly v Sharks. Parra v Roosters
Rd 21 Manly v Storm. Parra v Souths
Rd 22 Manly v Parra. Parra v Manly
Rd 23 Manly v Raiders. Parra v Cows
Rd 24 Manly v Dogs. Parra v storm
Rd 25 Manly v Cows. Parra v Panthers

Tuff ask I think, best to let Top 4 go and concentrate on best result strategy with regard to our path through the finals.

 

[Shnorky]

Which team would win?

Des:
05. Reuben Garrick
02. Jason Saab
03. Brad Parker
04. Morgan Harper
18. Moses Suli
06. Kieran Foran
07. Daly Cherry-Evans (c)

08. Taniela Paseka
09. Lachlan Croker
10. Martin Taupau
11. Haumole Olakau'atu
12. Josh Schuster
13. Sean Keppie

14. Dylan Walker
15. Karl Lawton
16. Kurt De Luis
17. Toafofoa Sipley

Ryan:

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

14. Lachlan Croker
15. Toafofoa Sipley
16. Kurt De Luis
17. Ben Trbojevic

When Keppie comes off, Croker slots into 9, Lawton back to 12 (or Burbo comes on).

How does "falcon Suli" get a start after last week?

Golden Point draw

 

[Kalvin]

There’s 8 games 16 points left including tonight.
Parra are 3 wins and 6 points clear.
They play before us tonight so win or lose they will either be 8 points or still 6 points clear
They win we win it’s still 6
They win we lose its 8
They lose we lose its still 6
They lose we win back to 4, with 7 games remaining
So it is still possible but highly improbable, we would need to win all 8 and Parra would have to lose 4 (or 3 bringing in F/A, currently 201-117 in their favour) or we lose 1 they need to lose 5 (or 4 relying on F/A) etc etc, it’s long odds to finish in the top 4, I think we should just aim for a healthy top 5/6 (home semi! which won’t be at our home with or without COVID), below is both our runs home,

The run home
Rd 19 Manly v Tigers. Parra v Raiders
Rd 20 Manly v Sharks. Parra v Roosters
Rd 21 Manly v Storm. Parra v Souths
Rd 22 Manly v Parra. Parra v Manly
Rd 23 Manly v Raiders. Parra v Cows
Rd 24 Manly v Dogs. Parra v storm
Rd 25 Manly v Cows. Parra v Panthers

Tuff ask I think, best to let Top 4 go and concentrate on best result strategy with regard to our path through the finals.

Don't think being in the 4 is the be all and end all this season... teams 7 and 8 are going to be relatively average teams imo and should provide a easy kill week 1 of finals!

 

[HoldenV8]

TBH I'd be happier if Turbo played tonight, even if it was only for 50-60 minutes.

Still, I'm happy that we have DCE back and not Walker in the #7 jumper. And that Shoe is finally back.

 

[Tragic Eagle]

We need the football to have a chance and I hope we are not refereed out of the contest. We do not have a history of getting the rub of the green against St George.

 

[Rafferty]

Don't think being in the 4 is the be all and end all this season... teams 7 and 8 are going to be relatively average teams imo and should provide a easy kill week 1 of finals!

I agree with the first part and we will get a gauge on the second part tonight.
For mine the top 4 is a lock
And 5-8 will be unlikely to change much, Drug-castle, Sharks and possibly the Tits to fight over 8th
Both the Knights and the goons have rolled us this year, we get another shot at the goons tonight, Sharks are capable of an upset and the Tits may or may not turn up to play, I don’t think there will be any easy kills come September, every game will have to be earned.

 

[Snake]

Which team would win?

Des:
05. Reuben Garrick
02. Jason Saab
03. Brad Parker
04. Morgan Harper
18. Moses Suli
06. Kieran Foran
07. Daly Cherry-Evans (c)

08. Taniela Paseka
09. Lachlan Croker
10. Martin Taupau
11. Haumole Olakau'atu
12. Josh Schuster
13. Sean Keppie

14. Dylan Walker
15. Karl Lawton
16. Kurt De Luis
17. Toafofoa Sipley

Ryan:

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

14. Lachlan Croker
15. Toafofoa Sipley
16. Kurt De Luis
17. Ben Trbojevic

When Keppie comes off, Croker slots into 9, Lawton back to 12 (or Burbo comes on).

How does "falcon Suli" get a start after last week?

I like the first team better.

 

[HoldenV8]

Which team would win?

Des:
05. Reuben Garrick
02. Jason Saab
03. Brad Parker
04. Morgan Harper
18. Moses Suli
06. Kieran Foran
07. Daly Cherry-Evans (c)

08. Taniela Paseka
09. Lachlan Croker
10. Martin Taupau
11. Haumole Olakau'atu
12. Josh Schuster
13. Sean Keppie

14. Dylan Walker
15. Karl Lawton
16. Kurt De Luis
17. Toafofoa Sipley

Ryan:

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

14. Lachlan Croker
15. Toafofoa Sipley
16. Kurt De Luis
17. Ben Trbojevic

When Keppie comes off, Croker slots into 9, Lawton back to 12 (or Burbo comes on).

How does "falcon Suli" get a start after last week?

Team 1 wins.

Team 2 plays too many, backs and forwards, in different positions and completely changes the team dynamic.

 

[Marto1970]

Has Suli and Shu played on the same side together before,I don't think they have could be wrong but will be interesting having Shu make some space for him

 

[HoldenV8]

Has Suli and Shu played on the same side together before,I don't think they have could be wrong but will be interesting having Shu make some space for him

I just hope Reubs, Scorpio and Suli are ready for his no look passes. They were a bit dodgy before Turbo returned in round 6 and was good enough to know they were coming ... but I worry a few might go to ground tonight if his team mates aren't on the ball, so to speak.

 

[Kalvin]

I agree with the first part and we will get a gauge on the second part tonight.
For mine the top 4 is a lock
And 5-8 will be unlikely to change much, Drug-castle, Sharks and possibly the Tits to fight over 8th
Both the Knights and the goons have rolled us this year, we get another shot at the goons tonight, Sharks are capable of an upset and the Tits may or may not turn up to play, I don’t think there will be any easy kills come September, every game will have to be earned.

I think with a close to full strength side (and no complacency or flatness - which I wouldn't expect at finals time) we roll those above mentioned teams.

 

[Disco]

Which team would win?

Des:
05. Reuben Garrick
02. Jason Saab
03. Brad Parker
04. Morgan Harper
18. Moses Suli
06. Kieran Foran
07. Daly Cherry-Evans (c)

08. Taniela Paseka
09. Lachlan Croker
10. Martin Taupau
11. Haumole Olakau'atu
12. Josh Schuster
13. Sean Keppie

14. Dylan Walker
15. Karl Lawton
16. Kurt De Luis
17. Toafofoa Sipley

Ryan:

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

14. Lachlan Croker
15. Toafofoa Sipley
16. Kurt De Luis
17. Ben Trbojevic

When Keppie comes off, Croker slots into 9, Lawton back to 12 (or Burbo comes on).

How does "falcon Suli" get a start after last week?

Team one for me

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

Bird Sims Hunt and Norman are all in the top 16 for missed tackles. That stat can be misleading of course, but I think those worried about Manly's shortcomings may have forgotten that Saints are hardly setting the world on fire. Run Haumole at Norman a few times, might dampen his enthusiasm a little.

 

[Woodsie]

Which team would win?

Des:
05. Reuben Garrick
02. Jason Saab
03. Brad Parker
04. Morgan Harper
18. Moses Suli
06. Kieran Foran
07. Daly Cherry-Evans (c)

08. Taniela Paseka
09. Lachlan Croker
10. Martin Taupau
11. Haumole Olakau'atu
12. Josh Schuster
13. Sean Keppie

14. Dylan Walker
15. Karl Lawton
16. Kurt De Luis
17. Toafofoa Sipley

Ryan:

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

14. Lachlan Croker
15. Toafofoa Sipley
16. Kurt De Luis
17. Ben Trbojevic

When Keppie comes off, Croker slots into 9, Lawton back to 12 (or Burbo comes on).

How does "falcon Suli" get a start after last week?

Who's the referee? Is it raining? which team had the shortest turnaround ? which team has maroon shorts, which have white ? Who is in the Bunker? Can either side win without Tom ?

Bugger it .. I'll go with @Ryan 's team ... surely he couldn't have a worse record than Dessie's 28% without Tom ...

 

[Rafferty]

I think with a close to full strength side (and no complacency or flatness - which I wouldn't expect at finals time) we roll those above mentioned teams.

Again, I agree, at full strength and with the right attitude I think we can go all the way.
I‘ve played with the ladder predictor and we still do have a chance at top 4, it’s a bit of a long shot, but Parra have a hard run home and if anyone might steel 4th in looks like the chooks can, but it’s possible we all finish on equal points, the Chooks, Parra and us 34 points, (that’s allowing us to drop one game, the storm and rolling Parra again) doesn’t really matter I guess, a fully fit squad peaking in September with the right mental approach and no injuries we are in it up to our eyeballs.

 

[StuBoot]

Bird Sims Hunt and Norman are all in the top 16 for missed tackles. That stat can be misleading of course, but I think those worried about Manly's shortcomings may have forgotten that Saints are hardly setting the world on fire. Run Haumole at Norman a few times, might dampen his enthusiasm a little.

Good point @SeaEagleRock8 and both Sims and Hunt played the full 80 mins on Wednesday night so hopefully they'll be found out, especially as Hunt played hooker.

Bird has been shifted around a bit so his missed tackles maybe misleading as you say but with the ball he'd fancy his chances against Suli - Bird is an out and out footballer whereas Suli just plays football.
Let's hope after Norman got them over the line last start he has a bludger tonight.

Interesting thing is my Dragon's mates hate Norman and Hunt even they are the players most likely to conjure a win for them.

 

[globaleagle]

We'll be right.

If Manly knuckle down and are prepared to work hard and Harper keeps slinging the pigskin to Saab in space then all is well.

Manly 13+

woohoo!