Game Day: Manly v Eels [Round 1, 2017]

[Fluffy]

The eels team just looks ok to me overall with one of the worst spines on paper, unproven fullback especially in defense, 5/8 who is in his first full season there and a journeyman hooker. Add to that Matagai an impact journeyman prop who generally plays off the bench is a starter you have to see their forward pack as weaker than average.

 

[Holmsey]

I think we may lose just based on last years performances from both sides and in my opinion Eels have a stronger lineup that ours. Guess we will see if we get back the fortress to winning most games there.

 

[globaleagle]

Have all the eels players sorted their parole hearings, court dates, bail applications yet?

If not they may be down on numbers unless..... green gives parra special dispensation!!

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

Have all the eels players sorted their parole hearings, court dates, bail applications yet?

If not they may be down on numbers unless..... green gives parra special dispensation!!

Classy emoticon. Where did you find that?

 

[globaleagle]

Classy emoticon. Where did you find that?

1) In Dan's emoji extended thread, or
2) If you've just read my 'egrets' post then.... 😛

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

1) In Dan's emoji extended thread, or
2) If you've just read my 'egrets' post then.... 😛

Never heard of Dan's extended emoji thread 😉
PS is that what all our tipping comp money is wasted on??? 😱😡

 

[globaleagle]

Never heard of Dan's extended emoji thread 😉
PS is that what all our tipping comp money is wasted on??? 😱😡

Got me! But I'm supposed to be leaving and I am now getting in wife trouble!!! ahhhhh

 

[Ron E. Gibbs]

The eels team just looks ok to me overall with one of the worst spines on paper, unproven fullback especially in defense, 5/8 who is in his first full season there and a journeyman hooker. Add to that Matagai an impact journeyman prop who generally plays off the bench is a starter you have to see their forward pack as weaker than average.

Agree that the Eels team doesn't look that strong on paper. Problem is, games of rugby league aren't played on paper. Our recent record against them has been terrible and most teams struggled to beat them last year because they played well as a team.
Usually I'd get some confidence from the fact we're playing at home, but in case anybody didn't notice, "Fortress Brookvale" was anything but a fortress last season. And this season it's "Lottoland," so…
I hope the pre-season form carries over and we get the win. From all the interviews they've been giving, it seems like the coaches and players are putting a fair bit of emphasis on "getting off to a good start" this season. That's all well and good, but if it doesn't happen we could find ourselves in a hole pretty quickly.

 

[madmax]

Fort

Agree that the Eels team doesn't look that strong on paper. Problem is, games of rugby league aren't played on paper. Our recent record against them has been terrible and most teams struggled to beat them last year because they played well as a team.
Usually I'd get some confidence from the fact we're playing at home, but in case anybody didn't notice, "Fortress Brookvale" was anything but a fortress last season. And this season it's "Lottoland," so…
I hope the pre-season form carries over and we get the win. From all the interviews they've been giving, it seems like the coaches and players are putting a fair bit of emphasis on "getting off to a good start" this season. That's all well and good, but if it doesn't happen we could find ourselves in a hole pretty quickly.

Fortress Brookvale may be gone, however it's not easy to win the 'lottery' so I think Lottoland is gonna be a hard place to win at this year & next year & the year after!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Midnight Rambler]

The eels can tackle, which is exactly what we couldn't do last year. It's the one thing I want my team to do this year. If we can be a solid defensive outfit in 2017,the top 8 beckons.

 

[mave]

I would much prefer to see Cullen at 14 over Brown, other than that its about as good as we can put on the field with Lussick out.

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

Eels will be very hard to score against but their attack is limited. We need to closely watch Takairangi and Moera for offloads. I predict a close low-scoring match, especially if its a heavy track.

 

[The Royal Soup]

I'm sure Super coach Trent will have a great game plan

 

[southsideeagle]

Trent Barrett is at least a good coach may even a very good coach. There are probably 100 good coaches around. To be successfully in NRL requires a very good or great coach!! so I take it that TB has some ability. Most of the comments on here are on the ability of the individual players from between the period 12 months to 6 months ago. The coach and players have had 6 months to work on their individual skills and team function. Maybe Api learnt how to pass BOTH ways?

The team should have been picked mainly on what happened in last 6 months and not the previous 6 months.

I just want to see how this team performs. Let the proof be in the pudding!

One selection I'm excited about is Brian Kelly.

 

[globaleagle]

I just realised I won't be home for the first game.

#quickontheuptake

sheesh

So no one talk about the game until I've seen it.

 

[maxta]

Looking at the Eels team - there are plenty of players to engage in attack who are not great defensively - I feel the extra ball playing ability of both Green and Sironen will give us the edge in this dept and cause plenty of headaches, add the unpredictability of Kelly and the fact Tom T is now feeling at home in the 1 and 100% fit.....the Manly attack will be far better and fluent even to start the season.

 

[manlyfan76]

Attitude. While I'm excited to see the start of a new campaign with a whole squad of new players plus the arrival of our Westie brothers from Blacktown what I'm most anxious to see is the team's attitude on Sunday. Players like Myles Uate and Taufua must surely have had rockets put up their asses. The young 2Nd and 3Rd chance brigade must now put up or shut up, no time to take a breath or slacken off if you want to stay in first grade.
If we tackle, tackle, tackle and respect the ball when we have it we have enough backline talent and x factor to score points BUT games will still be won on attitude and that is defense. Combinations will improve, players will gel but unless twenty has the players drilled with the right attitude ( I see that as his strong suit) we will have more of what we've had.

GO MANLY!

 

[manlyfan76]

I just realised I won't be home for the first game.

#quickontheuptake

sheesh

So no one talk about the game until I've seen it.

Manly win by plenty. Sorry not sorry.

 

[Budgie]

Gus Gould says he can't pick who will win this one.

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

Gus Gould says he can't pick who will win this one.

What an idiot. Pretty obvious Manly will win.