Manly v Raiders Round 8 (Pre-Game Day Discussion)

[Andrew..]

I see a fairly new team with a few talented young blokes that are only going to continue to grow and improve.
In my eyes we're roughly where I thought we'd be at this point in time.

 

[HappilyManly]

The problem is that their strongest attacking side is our weakest defensive side on the left 😕

 

[pjayz]

I have a funny feeling we will win this; although, Taupau must play if we are to win.

 

[Harvies elbow]

If we play like we did against cows, dogs and dusters, we can pretty much beat anyone.
But the raiders are intimidating.

 

[eagerbeaver]

Your happy with the 2nd rowers stats are you ???

I think our 2nd rowers are being instructed to not get too involved in attack to allow them to stay fresh in defence, and play close to 80 mins each week. Hence why they barely get 10 hitups most weeks..

 

[mickqld]

I think our 2nd rowers are being instructed to not get too involved in attack to allow them to stay fresh in defence, and play close to 80 mins each week. Hence why they barely get 10 hitups most weeks..

I dont doubt that's exactly what Barrett is instructing but does anyone seriously think we will move up the table if we dont get our 2nd rowers making meters. Not when you look at what the top teams are getting out of their backrowers.

 

[Ron E. Gibbs]

I think our 2nd rowers are being instructed to not get too involved in attack to allow them to stay fresh in defence, and play close to 80 mins each week. Hence why they barely get 10 hitups most weeks..

Which might be a good plan if we didn't leak 30 points in a half…
Seriously, the idea that second rowers can only do one thing and not the other - attack or defend, but never both - has to stop. If they can't do their share of both we need to find players who can.

 

[Ron E. Gibbs]

Oh well. Seems supporters are happy enough to watch 30+ point leaking defences and 2nd rowers who can't break out of a trott.

I feel your pain, Mick, but who else have we got? Aside from Bainbridge, who I like the look of, which of our current players will step up? Wait a minute… This sounds like a job for New Zealand international Lewis Brown. Come in, spinner!

 

[HoldenV8]

I'm sorry but......Brown again?

 

[qldeagle]

Incredibly frustrating about Poo. He's a proven failure, and his continual selection does no favours to Twenty.
Also noted is that Mr Plod has not been selected in the top 17 . . nor for the Manly Workers. I guess his contract stipulates he can never play Reggies.

Saving himself for Origin like he does every year

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

I bet Rapana and Leulua ( spellcheck needed) are salivating at the thought of our puny defence.

We might surprise BUT the odds suggest an absolute flogging!!

 

[wombatgc]

I bet Rapana and Leulua ( spellcheck needed) are salivating at the thought of our puny defence.

We might surprise BUT the odds suggest an absolute flogging!!

I just keep getting visions of Blake Austin running to Greens outside shoulder full pelt, then putting the big right foot step on him! It's horrifying!😱

 

[Simonmyers11]

I just keep getting visions of Blake Austin running to Greens outside shoulder full pelt, then putting the big right foot step on him! It's horrifying!😱

My thoughts too. Green is a turnstyle and winterstein doesn't move well at all and arm grabs. Our 2 biggest weak links in the defensive line.

 

[Manly_92]

I dont doubt that's exactly what Barrett is instructing but does anyone seriously think we will move up the table if we dont get our 2nd rowers making meters. Not when you look at what the top teams are getting out of their backrowers.

Baz can only play the cards he is dealt mate, i am not sure whether you have noticed or not but we don't actually have any top-tier 2nd rowers at our disposal at the moment

 

[CBreeagles]

Baz can only play the cards he is dealt mate, i am not sure whether you have noticed or not but we don't actually have any top-tier 2nd rowers at our disposal at the moment

Yep, it's not like we weren't after a top tier 2nd rower. We were chasing Cordner and Gillet.

 

[HoldenV8]

Baz can only play the cards he is dealt mate, i am not sure whether you have noticed or not but we don't actually have any top-tier 2nd rowers at our disposal at the moment

How about Marty Taupau? I know he is more effective as a prop, but even as a back rower his defense $hits all over our current back row.

For mine its a simple solution. Start Darcy at prop, drop Marty to the back row and either drop Winterstein or Sironen to the bench (or Blacktown and have Myles on the bench). Play Marty on the left so he can help cover for Green while Jorge can help Kelly.

 

[madmax]

Barrett is clueless. Picking 2 utilities when we're playing thar monster Raiders pack. Green Brown Sironen should be out judging on performance.
Cullen to 6
Hastings to 9.
Lane to 12.
Api on bench with AFB Lussick Perrett.
Why has Perrett been dropped. He was getting good go forward last week.

Perrett hasn't been dropped! He is injured mate! Sternum problem................

 

[madmax]

I've watched Lane the last few weeks.

His defence isn't first grade standard and he zones out of games sometimes.

Mind you last week I had yelling at the Tv at Siros tackling so IDK.

Ps I just don't see how we can win this week.

Kelly and Tafua against BJ and Rapana

I have a feeling Kelly & Jorge will be going in 'hard' for BJ...........

 

[Fluffy]

Very tough ask to beat them down there.

We will most likely lose this game, like every other team before us this year, there will be wrist slitting, mass consumption of coolaid but in the end Canberra are rated one of the top title chances this year compared to us who are starting with more than a $1M handicap during a rebuild.

Just hoping we can keep our away record intact.

 

[Utility Player]

The thought of their green machine against our Green mache is frightening.

A case of expect the worst but hope for the best.