Post-Game Discussion Manly V Raiders [Round 3, 2025]

[Chunkytuna]

The first 20 mins I was enjoying the possession but not so much not having scored a point.

It looked like the team decided that as the Trbojevics were close to the little champion Beau, that one of them should be the first to score.
Unfortunately it started to look like throwing mushy peas at the great wall of china and expecting it to fall over.

Then I was wondering why the hell doesn't dce kick to saab on the 5th whilst near the tryline.
Jamie Lyons scored quite a few like that and Saab is like 2 metres tall and super quick - he should get 3 tries every week like that.

So I was grumbling about mr 'gimme 2 more years' but then some ginger got sent from the raiders ......and the points started flowing
Hey now, you're and all star....get your game on, get paid....

and all was well.

I must say we did look impotent in that first 25 and i think if we’re entirely fair, that game was handed to us by the refereeing performance. We got EVERYTHING go our way and just like last week (when it all went against us) the opposition just can’t compete. It actually ruins the spectacle of the game. At the game you could feel the crowd not quite enjoying it as much as say the Cowboys game, where it was just Manly playing great footy. I felt we played reasonably well yesterday but if we hadn’t got the rub of the green, it could've been a different story. I still think we’ve got a long way to go to get our defence right. Much easier to defend against a team that is gassed. I wanna see us defend against a a full strength engerised attack. Then I’ll begin to believe we can win a premiership.

 

[frank stokes]

Home ground advantage has always been a thing. But if you think the NRL has now 'encouraged' refs to favour the home side you might want to check your 5G (!)
I'm no fan of the 6 again, I wrote recently that it should be tweaked.

But I don't agree that home advantage was the main point to come out of those games. Also don't agree the score flattered us.

Manly didn't drop the ball. We didn't creep off-side or hold down the tackled player. It was extremely disciplined play, especially by Manly standards.

We usually get ahead with a few long distance tries but then let the opposition back with some loose play to give up possession or field position.

I too was frustrated with the attack in the opening 20 min but then I remembered we win about 30% of games without Turbo.

I don't buy into Ricky's whingeing,that was all for the purpose of pressuring whichever ref gets their next game. Manly suffocated the Raiders which was a good plan very well executed, because they certainly are a dangerous side, coming off a big win over Broncos.

Yeah I agree that refereeing decisions have had massive impacts on all our games so far but I tend to blame them (apart from the stupid 6-again rule) on momentum rather than home ground advantage…

Momentum tends to be compounding with 6-agains leading to more ruck infringements/ off-sides as tired players struggle to wrestle back control of the game… it is very often a forlorn task…

Having said that, faders gave themselves no chance by continuing to drop balls and kick out on the full etc (I notice there have been no calls to “bring back Weekes” post-game 🤣)

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

Then I’ll begin to believe we can win a premiership

Manly aren't expected to win the comp this year. But are expected to improve further on last year's form and push hard for a top 4 spot.
Without Turbo that was a real danger game. Call it rub of the green or just Manly displaying rare discipline, either way the Raiders were never given a sniff. Getting to a lead of 40-nil without even scoring any long distance tries is a sign to me of good improvement.

 

[Chunkytuna]

Yeah I agree that refereeing decisions have had massive impacts on all our games so far but I tend to blame them (apart from the stupid 6-again rule) on momentum rather than home ground advantage…

Momentum tends to be compounding with 6-agains leading to more ruck infringements/ off-sides as tired players struggle to wrestle back control of the game… it is very often a forlorn task…

Having said that, faders gave themselves no chance by continuing to drop balls and kick out on the full etc (I notice there have been no calls to “bring back Weekes” post-game 🤣)

Yeah the problem is, those mistakes happen when you’re tired. And when you get 6 agains piled up on you one after the other, then you get totally gassed and start making stupid mistakes in both attack and defence.

 

[manly al]

Also mixed feelings overall , certainly cannot discount the generally good outcome of a convincing win but unfortunately , very rare to get some of the advantages that were on offer yesterday , and obviously possession wise .
Still , enough positives to indicate that the side can be more on the competitive ledger .
Hard to say how much Tent will be missed , probably Sips to fill or try to fill the void initially but maybe Patolo on some indications longer term .
Lehi deserves all of the wraps that he receives but Turbo at the back and at his best is still the Man to get the side to that better level .
Sure that the side will put a bit of focus on trying to improve on those i st 20 min attacking forays in the red zone or against a fairly effective red zone defence but certainly credit with those high completion rates .
Felt a bit strange when the Raiders finally got possession again after the 2 nd half kick off and when Manly had almost a continuous run of possession for the final i st half stanza but again , managed to somehow rack up a decent margin so guess that is what really counts .
Haumole continuing as a vital X factor , Burbo good effort , Bully , lot of good things again. , Alioia , strong effort in general .
One of D C E "s better game control efforts , Rueben , probably one of his best performances .
Long and demanding season but important to try to continue with as much early season momentum as possible

 

[frank stokes]

Yeah the problem is, those mistakes happen when you’re tired. And when you get 6 agains piled up on you one after the other, then you get totally gassed and start making stupid mistakes in both attack and defence.

Which is why I would like to see the NRL implement a full penalty after consecutive (or 3-in-a-row) 6-agains…

This way the attacking team has received sufficient benefit (and continues to) but the defending team gets a chance to reset defensive structure and get some air in the lungs (particularly if attacking team take the 2).

 

[Ron E. Gibbs]

Not being negative, but that win well and truly flattered us. Don't get me wrong, it was a good win, however if Two areas that did concern me were the lack of attacking creativity and spark in the red zone, and , at times, the ruck defence.

The first 20 min especially, we just crabbed wide only for someone to run out of room, do a few stutter steps, then concede the tackle. This is where we truly missed Turbo. He is the one who straightens out attack and creates room outside. Hoppa just doesn't have the same physical presence.

With you 100%, mosto. I said before the game that if things went our way we could end up with a big win. I just didn't expect everything to go our way! The next step for us is to be able to win when things are going against us.

But I do want to add that I think L'il Hoppa plays well above his weight. He'll never be as big and fast as Tommy, but he runs hard and invariably gets the team on the front foot. Our first try came because he threw himself into the defence and got a quick play the ball for Rueben to score. And he's way less likely to take a risky option and throw a momentum-killing pass over the sideline than Tommy is.

 

[frank stokes]

With you 100%, mosto. I said before the game that if things went our way we could end up with a big win. I just didn't expect everything to go our way! The next step for us is to be able to win when things are going against us.

But I do want to add that I think L'il Hoppa plays well above his weight. He'll never be as big and fast as Tommy, but he runs hard and invariably gets the team on the front foot. Our first try came because he threw himself into the defence and got a quick play the ball for Rueben to score. And he's way less likely to take a risky option and throw a momentum-killing pass over the sideline than Tommy is.

He certainly plays above his weight…

 

[The Indian]

Agree 100% with the sentiment most are expressing on this game - a complete role reversal of the game against the Warriors and we were gifted everything by the rub of the green. We looked so disorganized that first 20 BUT the one good thing we did do was not drop the ball so despite our impotent attack early it succeeded in taking all the air out of the Raiders so it was not all in vain.

They were shot ducks and Keao gifted us about 3 tries too. Always liked that bloke.

But happy to see that whilst we take the win of course - nobody is fooled after watching that.

 

[Chunkytuna]

With you 100%, mosto. I said before the game that if things went our way we could end up with a big win. I just didn't expect everything to go our way! The next step for us is to be able to win when things are going against us.

But I do want to add that I think L'il Hoppa plays well above his weight. He'll never be as big and fast as Tommy, but he runs hard and invariably gets the team on the front foot. Our first try came because he threw himself into the defence and got a quick play the ball for Rueben to score. And he's way less likely to take a risky option and throw a momentum-killing pass over the sideline than Tommy is.

Im not so sure he won’t be as big as turbo. He’s pretty tall (not as tall as turbo) and he’s got heaps of growing to do. I reckon he is going to turn out to be a massive weapon when he fills out. He’s only 19 or something i think! Just a kid.

 

[frank stokes]

Agree 100% with the sentiment most are expressing on this game - a complete role reversal of the game against the Warriors and we were gifted everything by the rub of the green. We looked so disorganized that first 20 BUT the one good thing we did do was not drop the ball so despite our impotent attack early it succeeded in taking all the air out of the Raiders so it was not all in vain.

They were shot ducks and Keao gifted us about 3 tries too. Always liked that bloke.

But happy to see that whilst we take the win of course - nobody is fooled after watching that.

The one thing I would point out is that the ref did not cost us in the Warriors game as much as our lack of discipline in those first 20min did…

Lack of respect for possession led to the later situation with 6-agains and momentum that we could not regain… we showed no discipline and got what we deserved…

 

[The Who]

On another note>>>
Why was Canberra playing in such foreign jerseys?

 

[frank stokes]

On another note>>>
Why was Canberra playing in such foreign jerseys?

Ridiculous that the “Green Machine” is reduced to a couple of green stripes and a green advertisers logo on what would otherwise be a bulldogs kit…

 

[robbiea]

Harsg critic of Aloiao ,but probably his best game he has had for us.

 

[The Indian]

Harsg critic of Aloiao ,but probably his best game he has had for us.

I Don't disagree and we desperately need a forward who can bend the line in the middle of the field now that Tent is gone so the opportunity is there for Josh to step it up. There is big shoes to fill there for somebody.

 

[Eagledare2dream]

Can anyone tell me why doesn't Bully play a full game instead of reserve. He reminds me of CHOC Whatmough. He should play Lock and Tevaga out also can someone tells Lehi to go to the gym, every time he gets tackle I fear he won't get up. He would be much better if he's around Garrick's size.

 

[patorick2010]

He's better off the bench. Hasn't got the motor for the full eighty.

Interesting stat on ineffective tackles from the first three rounds:

Bully (5) and Burbo (5) are both in the Top 50 across the league.

Players

Players

www.nrl.com

 

[Sea Eagle 4 Life]

Ridiculous that the “Green Machine” is reduced to a couple of green stripes and a green advertisers logo on what would otherwise be a bulldogs kit…

I live in Canberra & everyone down here cannot fathom why Raiders management selected their away jersey???
The weird thing is it is a reasonably close resembulance to the ACT Brumbies rah rah jersey. What were they thinking:

 

[Peter C]

Very happy with the win. But not sure how I feel about the overall performance. 20 mins were fantastic, outside of that, so so.

Happy with the lack of errors. Big difference to last week.

We are just a different team at Brookie. Again, very happy with the win.

I agree, we had a $hitload of ball in the first 20 min and couldn't do anything with it, , they have a try disallowed and moments later a player binned and we score 24 straight points whilst he's off, which is basically a 30 point turnaround, and first half possession of 70-30, no team could possibly beat us with the amount of ball that we had.
The true test now is to back it up against the Eels and then the Storm.

 

[DanielTurbo888]

I thoroughly enjoyed that game and one could only imagine what the score would have been if Tom had been fit. I am tipping us to crack the 40 once again vs the Eels