Briza
Maroon and White - Born and Bred
How good would that be! Couldn't think of a sweeter victory.
One win from second place
- Thread starter EOL now nesting on the GC
- Start date
HappilyManly
Journey Man
Supreme Leader
Uber L77T playa
Isn't it great not to have to turn the newspaper upside down to see our team in the top 4?
Good to see you back brother @Wombat64
Haha.... MGs still a Manly fan at heart. Used to be playing touch footy or cricket in our street growing up. MG and his mates would often join in. I used to be wearing my Manly gear (and copping heaps of shiit for it). Then one day MGs walking down the road in a ‘78 Manly jersey! I had no idea he was a Manly fan. Back then MG was playing 5/8 in the juniors .I was bigger than him. Then around 14-15 years old, someone got him on the roids lol (Actually the urban myth back then was he’d made his first rep side for Penrith, in turn he meets the great Merv Cartwright (king of Penrith footy). Cartwright apparently takes a cpl of the 14 year olds to the Pioneer tavern after a big win, and introduces them to "schooner of New".) I’m telling you the growth spurt he put on from then to about 18 was insane.
The silver lining out of all this was I stopped getting shiit about my Manly gear. I’d just mention that that’s MGs team as well, and all was good.
I’ve talked with him about this later in life. He told me once he started making Penrith rep sides they barred him from wearing his Manly jersey to training. But he still kept them hidden in his wardrobe , but was in constant fear that his old man would tell old Merv.
Apologies to those that have heard this story from me umpteenth times. But I do like memories, especially when they’re Manly ones.
They were just on 2mmm talking about whether Raiders or Newcastle can challenge Souths, Storm or Roosters. No mention of us at all which is fine, under the radar is perfect for Dessie and the boys.
QueefRichards
Bencher
I've always maintained that Mark Geyer is the highest IQ commentator
Cameron
Make Manly Great Again #Hasler2019
Are you sure mate 🙂
HoldenV8
Journey Man
Most of the so-called experts, and I have to say even some of our own fans, had us finishing in the bottom 4 in 2019. Some even had us getting our first wooden spoon.
On the other hand, some of us believed that if things went well, with players like the Trbojevic's, DCE, Walker, Taupau, AFB, Thommo and Siro, we had the talent to be a top 8 side.
Now, if you'd have known that Tom would miss 10 weeks through injury, DCE would miss 5, Walker would miss 9 games through the NRL's no fault suspension, AFB would miss 3 games suspended, and we'd have a revolving door at 5/8, all in the first 15 games of the year, you would have half believed that we would indeed finish in the bottom 4.
Yet here we are, round 15, and sitting 5th, technically equal 4th but for points differential.
The difference has been that Des has been able to get the best out of everyone, including those who at the end of last year would have been considered reserves, back ups at best. Guys like Brad Parker, Moses Suli, Lachlan Croker and Brendon Elliot have stood up while others like Cade Cust, Reuben Garrick and Corey Waddell have started their first grade careers like a house on fire.
One thing that can't be understated though is the fact that other than AFB missing 3 games with suspension and Jake missing one game due to Origin, our forward pack has pretty much remained the same since round 1. Its been mostly the bench forwards who have been changing. And they've all been enormous. AFB and Marty are arguably the best starting front row in the comp, Siro and Jake have been very solid in the back row (what a difference having Siro actually playing makes) while Jake has arguably become the best all-round forward in the NRL as well as continuing to be the best defensive player in the game. Plus, until last week at least, Api and Fainu have been a brilliant 1-2 punch at dummy half. And all of that has helped DCE, Cust, Croker and even LG to a point.
Even when things have gone wrong, we've still stood up to be counted, a far cry from the capitulations we saw in the second half of 2018. And touch wood things get better from here.
While I don't think we will win the comp this year, we definitely can win it. Its not impossible. And its a far cry from the wooden spoon we almost got in 2018 and what a lot of people predicted we would get in 2019.
On the other hand, some of us believed that if things went well, with players like the Trbojevic's, DCE, Walker, Taupau, AFB, Thommo and Siro, we had the talent to be a top 8 side.
Now, if you'd have known that Tom would miss 10 weeks through injury, DCE would miss 5, Walker would miss 9 games through the NRL's no fault suspension, AFB would miss 3 games suspended, and we'd have a revolving door at 5/8, all in the first 15 games of the year, you would have half believed that we would indeed finish in the bottom 4.
Yet here we are, round 15, and sitting 5th, technically equal 4th but for points differential.
The difference has been that Des has been able to get the best out of everyone, including those who at the end of last year would have been considered reserves, back ups at best. Guys like Brad Parker, Moses Suli, Lachlan Croker and Brendon Elliot have stood up while others like Cade Cust, Reuben Garrick and Corey Waddell have started their first grade careers like a house on fire.
One thing that can't be understated though is the fact that other than AFB missing 3 games with suspension and Jake missing one game due to Origin, our forward pack has pretty much remained the same since round 1. Its been mostly the bench forwards who have been changing. And they've all been enormous. AFB and Marty are arguably the best starting front row in the comp, Siro and Jake have been very solid in the back row (what a difference having Siro actually playing makes) while Jake has arguably become the best all-round forward in the NRL as well as continuing to be the best defensive player in the game. Plus, until last week at least, Api and Fainu have been a brilliant 1-2 punch at dummy half. And all of that has helped DCE, Cust, Croker and even LG to a point.
Even when things have gone wrong, we've still stood up to be counted, a far cry from the capitulations we saw in the second half of 2018. And touch wood things get better from here.
While I don't think we will win the comp this year, we definitely can win it. Its not impossible. And its a far cry from the wooden spoon we almost got in 2018 and what a lot of people predicted we would get in 2019.
Dear @Will on the hill. .... Whilst you are no doubt entitled to your own opinion .... I am curious to know why you gave old mate Briza a "dislike" for the above post stating that a Grandfinal win against Melb this year would be a sweet victory .....
Just curious ....
Fat fingers. Had no idea I did that.
Thanks for the heads up, it's been rectified.
Thanks for the heads up, it's been rectified.
Kevinward777
First Grader
I could be wrong, but if memory serves me correct, those who were banging on about anything less than a sixth place finish being considered a failure were the Barrett sympathisers.
In other words, setting the parameters of what is deemed to be a successful season by upholding super coach’s 2017 finish. However, most on here were still haunted by last season’s effort of coming oh so close to collecting our first wooden spoon.
The train wreck of 2016 may have also formed part of their thinking as well.
Briza
Maroon and White - Born and Bred
Changed due to fear of being teabagged by a Scotsman in a kilt
I’m a very astute judge ( in my own lunchtime) and I thought 12th to 14th would be where we’d end up.
The fact we are 6th , with a bullet is well quite frankly “ ****ing unbelievable “.
The fact we are 6th , with a bullet is well quite frankly “ ****ing unbelievable “.
Peter C
Bencher
Sounds great, however Geyer's brain is a lot slower than his mouth
Nice memories @wombatgc ...haven't heard them before and thank you for sharing.
I don't think about how many wins we need, or getting into top 4, or 2nd place. Every win is such a feat in itself and so many factors could affect how we end up.
Considering where we've come from last year, getting into the finals would be awesome, but at the moment I'm just enjoying the ride
Considering where we've come from last year, getting into the finals would be awesome, but at the moment I'm just enjoying the ride
Terry Zarsoff
First Grader
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2020 Ladder
| Team | P | W | D | L | PD | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bulldogs | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 74 | 14 |
| 2 | Warriors | 8 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 14 |
| 3 | Storm | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 78 | 12 |
| 4 | Raiders | 8 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 58 | 12 |
| 5 | Broncos | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 78 | 10 |
| 6 | Sharks | 9 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 49 | 10 |
| 7 | Sea Eagles | 8 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 36 | 10 |
| 8 | Tigers | 9 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 20 | 10 |
| 9 | Cowboys | 8 | 4 | 0 | 4 | -14 | 10 |
| 10 | Dragons | 8 | 3 | 0 | 5 | -14 | 8 |
| 11 | Roosters | 9 | 4 | 0 | 5 | -42 | 8 |
| 12 | Knights | 8 | 3 | 0 | 5 | -48 | 8 |
| 13 | Rabbitohs | 9 | 4 | 0 | 5 | -70 | 8 |
| 14 | Dolphins | 9 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| 15 | Titans | 7 | 2 | 0 | 5 | -68 | 6 |
| 16 | Eels | 8 | 2 | 0 | 6 | -117 | 6 |
| 17 | Panthers | 8 | 2 | 0 | 6 | -26 | 4 |
