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

[Fluffy]

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!!

Kenny Edwards had his hearing for assault, think it was tipping a drink over his partner and will not play us.

 

[Fluffy]

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.

Well if they are cheating the cap again you make a fair point but when cap compliant from rounds 10 - 26 they won only 7 games - most teams beat them in that period.

 

[Ron E. Gibbs]

Well if they are cheating the cap again you make a fair point but when cap compliant from rounds 10 - 26 they won only 7 games - most teams beat them in that period.

Most. Not us, unfortunately. But yeah, they're cheats and we're due for a win.

 

[Ned]

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

I wouldn't know since Gould blocked me on twitter!!!

 

[Eagles2nv]

I am going to give Api the benefit of the doubt for the first 5 rounds. He has had an off season to work on his game.

If he is struggling then I would like to see Hastings brought into the squad. None of this "lets give walker a go for half a season" logic.

 

[Kevinward777]

I firmly believe Manly will win this one and win it well. We definitely are bigger, stronger and faster in the forwards. It is predicted to be raining, so in the forwards it shall be won.

 

[Stevo]

For ****s sake some of you ****ers are thick. Lewis Brown is a specialist utility. He's finally going to get to play that role properly. He is literally thee only player we now have that covers centre, the halves, hooker and the back row. In a full strength team all he will be doing is covering. And he is very good at it. No he is not an impact back rower. No he is not a full time hooker and no he sure as **** is not a centre.

 

[BOZO]

For ****s sake some of you ****ers are thick. Lewis Brown is a specialist utility. He's finally going to get to play that role properly. He is literally thee only player we now have that covers centre, the halves, hooker and the back row. In a full strength team all he will be doing is covering. And he is very good at it. No he is not an impact back rower. No he is not a full time hooker and no he sure as **** is not a centre.

You say Lewis Brown is a specialist utility .
We all agree with you that he is too slow for that backs and provides no impact in the forwards .
You say that in a full strength team all he will be doing is covering .
Well I would rather we have another player that comes on off the bench and does more that just (duck for) cover .
I would prefer we have a quality player coming off the bench that causes havoc to the opposition. Just like all the top NRL sides have .

 

[Stevo]

You dont need 4 impact players on the bench. Most teams these days keep a 2nd hooker on the bench. Why not have a player that can cover hooker and a truck load of other positions too?

The reason behind it is that if a player goes down, the utility comes on and slots in where ever will disrupt the team least.

 

[Stevo]

Especially when you have a front row rotation and back row rotation that are interchangable.

 

[BOZO]

You dont need 4 impact players on the bench. Most teams these days keep a 2nd hooker on the bench. Why not have a player that can cover hooker and a truck load of other positions too?

The reason behind it is that if a player goes down, the utility comes on and slots in where ever will disrupt the team least.

I understand what you are saying Stevo . I would rather have a utility that comes on and not just slots in but makes a statement .
I believe when Lussick , Lane , Cullen and Hastings are fully fit Browns Bench days are numbered

 

[Woodsie]

You say Lewis Brown is a specialist utility .
We all agree with you that he is too slow for that backs and provides no impact in the forwards .
You say that in a full strength team all he will be doing is covering .
Well I would rather we have another player that comes on off the bench and does more that just (duck for) cover .
I would prefer we have a quality player coming off the bench that causes havoc to the opposition. Just like all the top NRL sides have .

Cullen and Lussick have never played a first grade game and I think Baz will make Hastings earn his promotion. given that, and the importance of our first game I can understand Baz going with the more experienced Brown on the bench.

It will be a long season and all will get a chance.

 

[Ben]

I understand what you are saying Stevo . I would rather have a utility that comes on and not just slots in but makes a statement .
I believe when Lussick , Lane , Cullen and Hastings are fully fit Browns Bench days are numbered

Brown will only miss out if Hastings is bench utility. Until then its Browns. Me personally i would rather have someone on the bench that can cover at least 3 positions to save any reshuffling and disruption to the starting side. Guys do leave the field and can leave the team up sh*t creek. Brown is the man at the mo until Hastings is picked

 

[BOZO]

Brown will only miss out if Hastings is bench utility. Until then its Browns. Me personally i would rather have someone on the bench that can cover at least 3 positions to save any reshuffling and disruption to the starting side. Guys do leave the field and can leave the team up sh*t creek. Brown is the man at the mo until Hastings is picked

Can Brown cover the fullback position if Tom T is injured ?

 

[HappilyManly]

FYI the green Lottoland signs are on the Ticket booths now.

Meanwhile, the Souther Stand is being framed in 80m of steel, so phone receptions will be interesting.

I assume the 80 meter Lottoland balls will be glued onto the steel by Sunday

 

[BOZO]

Cullen and Lussick have never played a first grade game and I think Baz will make Hastings earn his promotion. given that, and the importance of our first game I can understand Baz going with the more experienced Brown on the bench.

It will be a long season and all will get a chance.

Experience amounts to nothing if the player in not performing and if Brown plays like he did last year then I believe we have the depth this year to replace him .

 

[Sheikheagle]

Cullen and Lussick have never played a first grade game and I think Baz will make Hastings earn his promotion. given that, and the importance of our first game I can understand Baz going with the more experienced Brown on the bench.

It will be a long season and all will get a chance.

Hey Woodsie Cullen played 5 first grade games last year for tits and scored two meat pies.

 

[Woodsie]

Hey Woodsie Cullen played 5 first grade games last year for tits and scored two meat pies.

The dickens you say! Well I was wrong. But a gentleman would never have pointed that out.

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

Less than 24 hours until the footy kicks off again, just a pity it's the bloody Donkeys first up.

Four sleeps until the one that counts most!

 

[Stevo]

Can Brown cover the fullback position if Tom T is injured ?

No but he can slot in at centre and Walker can play from the back.