Manly vs Cowboys [Round 13, 2018] - Pre game Discussion Thread

[HoldenV8]

You and I can play for Manly and give 100%
Which top 8 NRL team will M Wright make it in ?
We all have different bench marks and expectations and that is why some on here rated the likes of Brown and Croker because they gave 100% .

I said at the end of both 2016 and 2017 that Matt Wright isn't the type of player you want to rely on having in your starting side for long periods through a season because there are definitely better players out there. But as a back up he is probably one of the best to have because he gives his all each game and while he is no superstar, he won't let you down.

How many other NRL players would have chased DCE's kick in Melbourne and ended up scoring from it, even from our own squad? He just never gave up on it and scored an improbable try.

He can play wing, centre, fullback, dummy half and at a pinch could probably play 5/8 if needed. That's a pretty handy back up to have in your squad even if he is never going to become an Immortal or Hall of Fame type player. And while I wouldn't want to rely on him as a season long starter in first grade, I'd much rather have Matty Wright as a utility than Lewis Brown.

 

[BrendonStarr]

We should win this one by 30+

North Queensland's season has gone from bad to worse and their chances of reversing that trend have suffered a similar fate with Scott Bolton joining Matt Scott on the sidelines for Thursday night's trip to Manly. (nrldotcom)

 

[BrendonStarr]

Really, with Scott Bolton also out now, we should win this one by 40 even without the Trbojevics.

 

[stoodamire]

WIll be a close game. Don't know why so many here are predicting an easy win.

The Brothers are a massive loss.

 

[BrendonStarr]

Well the Cowboys will be without 5 of their regulars now and will have to field at least one debutant.

 

[Kevinward777]

WIll be a close game. Don't know why so many here are predicting an easy win.

The Brothers are a massive loss.

Mate... they are missing their entire run on pack of forwards and their best back,..: and they have been playing sh1thouse all year. On that basis, I don’t understand how you get to thinking the Cowboys are a difficult proposition.

 

[Woodsie]

I think Parker will be injury cover only and will not get game time otherwise ..... how if GoJetSki is used will be interesting .....

I can see just the bik boi's being interchanged ..... Lane, Frankie and Thommo can all go 80 ......

 

[Woodsie]

Matt wright was a blight on our side last year. He cost us many a game with his pea hearted efforts, i suspect this year he has stepped up a little because he wants another deal somewhere... unfortunately i think it will be us. The guy has to go imo same as brown hastings croker jono Wright sironen uate

What an odd use of the words "I think" .........

 

[double hoops]

North Sydney had lots of quality players like M Wright and that is why they didn't win many premierships

@BOZO my memory is more like the Bears would still been playing Lewis Brown as the A grade utility, and a great little footballer like Matty Wright would have moved to Manly without any fan fare and then go on to play a vital role in winning a premiership.

That 2011 Premiership would not have happened but for a little fellow by the name of Terry Seu Seu. Not a big man, Not on big coin, Not a rep player, Not super fast, Not even one of our starting players. But when our season depended on him, none of that mattered to Terry, he did more than stand up. He was our best player on the field.

A True Manly Legend.

 

[maxta]

TW has the skill to play anywhere in the backline . All he needs is a proactive coach that can instill belief in him . Self confidence is the psychological steroid that brings out the best in players with skill .
Any coach can keep selecting a fringe player and play it safe but my motto is GREAT THINGS DONT COME IN COMFROT ZONES !!!
We will agree to disagree feathered friend

Hey Bozo - while I'm sitting here getting splinters over which Wright is right for this game for various reasons, there are valid arguments both ways, but I have a more important thing I am yet to work out and need your clarification mate....
What's this COMFROT ZONE you refer to, almost sounds like a sticky place ??

 

[Andrew..]

Love your optimism Andy but we are facing this over the next couple of months and are 3 games out of the eight already.

Warriors. Away
Saints Away
Panthers. Away
Storm
Roosters
Sharks Away
Panthers

In our first twelve games we played 3 games against current top 8 sides and won one against Storm. In the other 9 games against bottom eight sides we played we lost 6 including twice against knights and got flogged by the team running last.Our draw has been so soft and now it is twice as hard in the back half.

If it was a horse race we would be an emergency.

We won’t make the eight but we need Hodko and DCE to get a solid partnership happening, get a game plan happening that is middle focused around Marty and AFB and hope that good kids like Kelly , Suli, Paseka and Lane continue to develop.And make sure that spoon is not in the offing.

Do that and 2019 has potential. In essence we need to see a lot less difference between our best and worst. At the moment it is so wide it is barely believable.

Good aye Sue, I know in my head what you're saying is true but my heart just can't give in whilst there's a flicker of hope. I believe the Warriors, Roosters and Storm are all failable and we just need a bit of luck with a couple of the others. The hardest thing for most of us is seeing our own faults so I agree I might be blinded by my love for our team. I just thought I saw something there, just a glimmer of self belief or maybe I'm just seeing what I hope to see.

 

[BOZO]

Hey Bozo - while I'm sitting here getting splinters over which Wright is right for this game for various reasons, there are valid arguments both ways, but I have a more important thing I am yet to work out and need your clarification mate....
What's this COMFROT ZONE you refer to, almost sounds like a sticky place ??

I have never been a fence sitter that get splinters. I have always had the courage of my convictions . I look at players talents and put trust and confidence in them fulfilling their ability and doing the job .
Clarification ?COMFORT ZONE !!! Cant you read feathered friend ?
Do you want me to spell it for you 😉

 

[BOZO]

@BOZO my memory is more like the Bears would still been playing Lewis Brown as the A grade utility, and a great little footballer like Matty Wright would have moved to Manly without any fan fare and then go on to play a vital role in winning a premiership.

That 2011 Premiership would not have happened but for a little fellow by the name of Terry Seu Seu. Not a big man, Not on big coin, Not a rep player, Not super fast, Not even one of our starting players. But when our season depended on him, none of that mattered to Terry, he did more than stand up. He was our best player on the field.

A True Manly Legend.

I don't believe in holding back young talent for fill in players .
That's my view . You have yours and we both have this wonderful forum to express them

 

[Woodsie]

I said at the end of both 2016 and 2017 that Matt Wright isn't the type of player you want to rely on having in your starting side for long periods through a season because there are definitely better players out there. But as a back up he is probably one of the best to have because he gives his all each game and while he is no superstar, he won't let you down.

How many other NRL players would have chased DCE's kick in Melbourne and ended up scoring from it, even from our own squad? He just never gave up on it and scored an improbable try.

He can play wing, centre, fullback, dummy half and at a pinch could probably play 5/8 if needed. That's a pretty handy back up to have in your squad even if he is never going to become an Immortal or Hall of Fame type player. And while I wouldn't want to rely on him as a season long starter in first grade, I'd much rather have Matty Wright as a utility than Lewis Brown.

Spot on V8 .... tomorrow night ... M.Wright who is on about $250k will be replacing a SOO player on about $800k ... and numbnutted simpletons want to bag him because .... wait for it .... because they reckon he is not as good as the bloke he is replacing ..... FMD .....

 

[HoldenV8]

Spot on V8 .... tomorrow night ... M.Wright who is on about $250k will be replacing a SOO player on about $800k ... and numbnutted simpletons want to bag him because .... wait for it .... because they reckon he is not as good as the bloke he is replacing ..... FMD .....

I don't expect Matty Wright to be as good as Tom at fullback (Tom's errors not withstanding). But I also know he won't let us down and I feel more comfortable having him there than I would throwing in a rookie like Tom Wright. With Thurston leading the opposition charge that would be asking for trouble. JT's body may have slowed down, but his football brain still works and his skills are still intact, just a touch slower.

It may 'only be' for Samoa, but a lot forget that as well as being a seasoned first grade player, Matt Wright has international standard experience. He'll go alright.

 

[maxta]

I have never been a fence sitter that get splinters. I have always had the courage of my convictions . I look at players talents and put trust and confidence in them fulfilling their ability and doing the job .
Clarification ?COMFORT ZONE !!! Cant you read feathered friend ?
Do you want me to spell it for you 😉

Hmmmm - Now I get it

Yes decisions need be made - but being overly black/white in war terms is a quick grave, not courage.
In this case there is both upside and downside that needs to looked at.
M. Wright is Experienced and safe, not super quick but dependable and know what you will get from him...in this game the match winners are up front so reliable at the back could well be the fit.

I analyse from a different angle and in this case to bring in Tom Wright would feel from an opposition perspective 2 major things.

A) "Lets target this young kid"
Reasoning - Unproven, Thurston and Coote have good kicking games and WILL give him plenty, confidence player - dent it early and could be an ugly game a youngster struggles to come back from.

B) "Lets watch this kid"
Reasoning - Unpredictable, great step and evasion.

Prefer T. Wright by a stretch long term, but now you have given me 2.5 minutes to make a decision for tomorrow I go Matt Wright for the above reasons.

 

[MuzztheEagle]

Spot on V8 .... tomorrow night ... M.Wright who is on about $250k will be replacing a SOO player on about $800k ... and numbnutted simpletons want to bag him because .... wait for it .... because they reckon he is not as good as the bloke he is replacing ..... FMD .....

...and the solution is to instead replace M.Wright (who is familiar with our current playing group, structures and plays) with a 20 year old player with a total of 6 minutes of first grade experience who has been shown to go missing for large parts of games while playing in both 20's and reserve grade in a key defensive position.

 

[Woodsie]

...and the solution is to instead replace M.Wright (who is familiar with our current playing group, structures and plays) with a 20 year old player with a total of 6 minutes of first grade experience who has been shown to go missing for large parts of games while playing in both 20's and reserve grade in a key defensive position.

Tom Wright is a bit of a mystery to me though .....

Baz has ... contrary to the comments of some .... never had a problem promoting and playing the youngens ..... croker 20, Kelly 20, Suli 19, Parker 19, Bainbridge 19. .... so logic would have to suggest there are other reasons .... some you have mentioned ...

My gut feel is that is a matter of mental maturity and mental toughness .... just my guess ......

 

[BOZO]

Hmmmm - Now I get it

Yes decisions need be made - but being overly black/white in war terms is a quick grave, not courage.
In this case there is both upside and downside that needs to looked at.
M. Wright is Experienced and safe, not super quick but dependable and know what you will get from him...in this game the match winners are up front so reliable at the back could well be the fit.

I analyse from a different angle and in this case to bring in Tom Wright would feel from an opposition perspective 2 major things.

A) "Lets target this young kid"
Reasoning - Unproven, Thurston and Coote have good kicking games and WILL give him plenty, confidence player - dent it early and could be an ugly game a youngster struggles to come back from.

B) "Lets watch this kid"
Reasoning - Unpredictable, great step and evasion.

Prefer T. Wright by a stretch long term, but now you have given me 2.5 minutes to make a decision for tomorrow I go Matt Wright for the above reasons.

I had my view and now you have expressed yours
The moral of the story...
. The pessimistic approach holds great people back and the optimistic approach leads great people into greatness .
We will agree to disagree this time feathered friend
One word of friendly advice ...
Never ever let fear hold you back from greatness

 

[MuzztheEagle]

Tom Wright is a bit of a mystery to me though .....

Baz has ... contrary to the comments of some .... never had a problem promoting and playing the youngens ..... croker 20, Kelly 20, Suli 19, Parker 19, Bainbridge 19. .... so logic would have to suggest there are other reasons .... some you have mentioned ...

My gut feel is that is a matter of mental maturity and mental toughness .... just my guess ......

I agree, and fullback should require a different level of experience and maturity compared to most of those positions (5/8th this year was desperation). I would love to see T.Wright get some time on the wing this season, like Turbo did in 2015 and hopefully at the expense of Uate if his form continues.

 

[BOZO]

...and the solution is to instead replace M.Wright (who is familiar with our current playing group, structures and plays) with a 20 year old player with a total of 6 minutes of first grade experience who has been shown to go missing for large parts of games while playing in both 20's and reserve grade in a key defensive position.

At your pessimistic best .

 

[Woodsie]

I agree, and fullback should require a different level of experience and maturity compared to most of those positions (5/8th this year was desperation). I would love to see T.Wright get some time on the wing this season, like Turbo did in 2015 and hopefully at the expense of Uate if his form continues.

Unfortunately I think that if we lose a few more games then the pressure will be off and Tom may get blooded for next year ..... it is a difficult call at the moment for Baz with every game a must win .....

 

[MuzztheEagle]

At your pessimistic best .

Maybe I'm just positive about what M.Wright has to offer in the position, while you only see his negatives.
Out of curiosity @BOZO how much of T.Wright's game time have you actually seen? Personally I have found it difficult to watch most Blacktown games as they are not televised but from the updates on here from those actually at the game as well as the 20's games I watched last year my impression was that although T.Wright has plenty of potential he still has several areas to improve before he gets to an NRL standard.
What makes you think he will perform in the role at a first grade level? Or are YOU so pessimistic that you think tomorrow nights game is a lost cause and we may as well throw in as many juniors as possible.