Game Day: Manly v Tigers [Round 17, 2020]

[grassy]

I have to disagree. I watched the opposition march Marty upfield as he hung on grimly around the middle. We could just not put them on their back and dominate. And often there was an offload thrown in to compound the problem. They killed us in the ruck if you have a good look at it.

Yea I noticed that too HK. They changed the game in the second half and started sidestepping our big boys. Our fitness is also in question.We were lazy around the play the ball and had zero desire to even get out of the way when they were playing the ball. We were WAY too slow.

 

[HoldenV8]

Agree, although still incredibly disappointing. IMO while alot of it was due to inexperience and lack of match-fitness from the backline (which showed much promise and gives 2021 some hope), a huge part of the problem was also Croker and Levi (as well as Waddell). Croker was absolutely shocking and Levi capitulated in that second half (eg THAT kick). They are below 2nd grade quality, 100^% liabilities

Croker has been nothing short of shocking almost all year. About the only time he even remotely played well was the win over Canberra.

 

[Chip and Chase]

Que the "sack dce, worst half in the comp" drivel..
This game is a dead set perfect example of our season..
Bloke busted his arse, set up most our points and was the best half on field... unfortunately the players around him are dead set usless.. can't tackle, constantly kicked on the 2nd or 3rd tackles for no results and dead set lost this game with incompetence..
But some here will spend the next week whinging about dce and his pay..
2020 in a nutshell
Pathetic

He was as bad as the rest of them tonight. Not a Captain. Can we get someone that can lead this rabble. There's a difference between trying hard and composure to close out a game when you are in a winning position.

 

[HK_Eagle]

Not as bad as some of the defence out wide, parker was pretty bad and young Hoppa definitely not ready. The forwards too look gassed but they did enough to get us to 32-18 with 9 to go.

I agree, we were deplorable out wide. But, to be honest, I was more concerned with our defence in the middle. We have experienced players and plenty of muscle, but we were in no way dominating the ruck. It was well hidden because of the large spells of having the ball and both teams throwing it around willy nilly. We are nowhere near teams like the Storm in our ability to control the ruck.

 

[Peter C]

Parker is so slow, so bad

Is Parker playing with roller skates on?

 

[EaglesDontTweet]

Again people attacking DCE and the props. Check the ratings given. They were the highest for Manly. Its not them. Its again the outside backs and poor execution. If Schuster had stayed on the field we probably would have won. Injuries are killing this team more than anything else. I would be asking about their conditioning because how can a team suffer so many serious injuries so consistently, while teams like Melbourne seem year by year unaffected..

Sign up King Gutho's physio.

 

[Nike]

Agree, although still incredibly disappointing. IMO while alot of it was due to inexperience and lack of match-fitness from the backline (which showed much promise and gives 2021 some hope), a huge part of the problem was also Croker and Levi (as well as Waddell). Croker was absolutely shocking and Levi capitulated in that second half (eg THAT kick). They are below 2nd grade quality, 100^% liabilities

I wholeheartedly agree, our pack is strong but severely lacking in a quality dummy half that can provide good service when required and make the right decisions at the right time.

Reality is we gambled on Fainu and lost. It's not the first time and won't be the last, we aren't the first team to suffer this fate, nor will we be the last but how we address it moving forward into next season and beyond will really provide grounds for whether Des' style and the criticism is warranted.

 

[HoldenV8]

Don’t usually pick out players who after a loss.But.:. Parker reverted to his Trent Barrett days tonight.

Lots of good signs from the young pups.

Anyone who says Brad Parker is a winger needs to put themselves into drug rehab. Every time he plays on the wing, he looks like he's lost at sea.

 

[Jerry1]

Please explain.

Run. It Off. like. Every. Other. First. Grade player. That. Has. Had. Cramp ... slow enough for you..

 

[simon64]

And here was me thinking there was no way we could lose from 32-18 up with 11 to go.
I underestimated our sh!tness (it is now.)

We have the worst backline in the NRL and it's not a close run thing either. It's by the length of the straight. Every team knows if you just attack us out wide, you're bound to rack up 5 or 6 tries.

At least I only have 3 more weeks of this crap to endure. The Warriors will put 50 on us.

 

[conanu]

Que the "sack dce, worst half in the comp" drivel..
This game is a dead set perfect example of our season..
Bloke busted his arse, set up most our points and was the best half on field... unfortunately the players around him are dead set usless.. can't tackle, constantly kicked on the 2nd or 3rd tackles for no results and dead set lost this game with incompetence..
But some here will spend the next week whinging about dce and his pay..
2020 in a nutshell
Pathetic

He is a great player when things are going right, but he needs to manage our games better and talk to his players and tell them to stop the stupid risky shiiite. DCE is not playing anywhere near his 1.2 million price tag we deserve better, trying his guts out is not enough winners are smart game managers like Cameron Smith to put it in context DCE earns more than Smith.

 

[MadMarcus]

Yeah no ****, mind tallying up the difference in experience between the lineups real quick?

The Tigers are hardly the 08 Melbourne Storm either mate...

 

[HK_Eagle]

Anyone who says Brad Parker is a winger needs to put themselves into drug rehab. Every time he plays on the wing, he looks like he's lost at sea.

I agree. He's a centre or nothing

 

[XV-1]

Is Parker playing with roller skates on?

Parker is a good one on one defender, however, laterally he is crap. He , Tafua and Suli are just so slow to turn around.

 

[XV-1]

I agree. He's a centre or nothing

He will be nothing by the end of next year

 

[MadMarcus]

Run. It Off. like. Every. Other. First. Grade player. That. Has. Had. Cramp ... slow enough for you..

You quoted me twice so I thought you were telling me to run it off. No need to be a dick about it.

 

[Cioran]

Croker has been nothing short of shocking almost all year. About the only time he even remotely played well was the win over Canberra.

Hard to understand why Des sent Croker back on. Levi didn’t look blown and you’ve got think that the more time Croker spends off the field, the better our chance of winning.

 

[court83]

He is a great player when things are going right, but he needs to manage our games better and talk to his players and tell them to stop the stupid risky shiiite. DCE is not playing anywhere near his 1.2 million price tag we deserve better, trying his guts out is not enough winners are smart game managers like Cameron Smith to put it in context DCE earns more than Smith.

Which contract of smiths are you talking about?? The nrl registered one or the secret back room one

 

[Wombat64]

This is Trent Barrett's fault ...... that **** Voodoo cursed us this year

 

[nightster]

All I can say is that Bradman Best must have been playing some ****e football if Schuster and Hopoate were better than him coming through

I agree with Hoppa but I thought Schuster played pretty well on debut, he’ll toughen up