Our Centers and wingers

[Nambawan]

I'm not saying that Croker is an elite hooker, but do you think Croker is any worse than Mitch Kenny? I personally don't. But Penrith still win the ruck in most matches anyway.

Changing the hooker will not be the silver bullet to our problems... just like when we had Api for 4 years and we never looked like serious premiership contenders.

Next season - should Croker be retained - Manly will remain uncompetitive with most sides.

 

[Tomay]

I'm not saying that Croker is an elite hooker, but do you think Croker is any worse than Mitch Kenny? I personally don't. But Penrith still win the ruck in most matches anyway.

Changing the hooker will not be the silver bullet to our problems... just like when we had Api for 4 years and we never looked like serious premiership contenders.

I actually don’t rate Api either. I get that he’s good in that he does some fantastic attacking plays but he can also over complicate things and his service isn’t elite. He is the sort of guy who looks really good but actually detracts from the team. You could build something around that but you’d have to have the right squad to put him in. Our team full of attacking weapons and lack of defensive starch was never the place. Whereas someone like Robson with his silky passes and solid defence slots in to any team and improves it.

 

[Loyal Eagle]

Ive been saying this all along. people here criticise me for saying koula has deficiencies. they only look at speed, but size is important too. (for defending) Koula can have the best tackling technique in the whole wide world but at under 90kg....................uhm. On a brighter note, tommy Talau has been brilliant this year. Talau and Ola was the best on a very disappointing night.

I saw enough of Koula in year 1 contact etc to suggest he has enough to cut it long term. Agree 100% re talau toughness… that’s why I think with an off-season, could be our edge back rower with Ola.

 

[Darren]

Talau loves the left hand side, definitely a second rower if he can bulk up. Just not quick enough for centres but a very smart player.

 

[globaleagle]

The real question is:

why hasn't @Terry Zarsoff raged against the spelling of centers and not centres?

 

[Frogz]

Talau loves the left hand side, definitely a second rower if he can bulk up. Just not quick enough for centres but a very smart player.

And we are down another centre then. Just what we don't need right now. Not like we are flush with great centres

 

[BOZO]

The real question is:

why hasn't @Terry Zarsoff raged against the spelling of centers and not centres?

Tezza has to show some leniency to all the Wogs on this forum
Because most Wogs cant spell
Give us a break Tezza

 

[BOZO]

I think we have a brilliant backline consisting of highly skillful athletes
Seibs has so much potential to work with

 

[Terry Zarsoff]

The real question is:

why hasn't @Terry Zarsoff raged against the spelling of centers and not centres?

Because I was fighting a losing battle.

 

[BOZO]

Because I was fighting a losing battle.

Stay positive and optimistic feathered friend
Always remember ....
The Optimistic Soul may lose a battle
But Never the War !!!

 

[maxta]

I'm gunna get in trouble for this comment, but this is how I see it....as an attacking unit this is the fastest backline in the comp and when given space can score points against ANY team....but i feel the shifts are over used at times where Manly are basically playing sideways and if there was more thrust throught the middle with a dummy half who threatened the middle and faster legs winning speedier play the balls, we would go up another 2-3 levels and be the best attacking team in the comp (or close to it) and the wingers do not have the ability to get our sets on the front foot with kick returns or early hitups coming out of trouble and are often dominated, making Manly force errors or kick from horrible field position.

In defence I feel there are some ordinary tacklers individually (Saab and Garrick in particular), but again I put the blame on the pressure situations often thrown at our edges due to the opposition winning the tempo through the middle, with lightning fast play balls.
The fact our forwards are cumbersome and make these tackles that almost are grabbing type efforts where they fall off with little dominance and always last off the ground, allows teams to get a crazy roll on that will make any outside backs make some bad reads and lack the time to "communicate" which is a real killer.

So without trying to protect the backs, I feel Manly "must" increase speed and mobility in the middle in a big way and though Jazz Tevaga is no Superstar, he offers quick feet and is that "smaller" type forward who will offer some mobility needed.
Much of the negative feedback to the backs, is a direct runoff from the forwards losing not so much physically, but off the pace as the opposition tempo is always better in attack and defence and if there were not the individual moments from Tom, Okalatu and DCE, we would be far from finalists.

So in a nutshell, I feel our backs have the ability to compete with the best, if the forwards can get up to the pace required to match those Top sides.

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

I'm gunna get in trouble for this comment, but ...

Correct. Consider yourself grounded!

 

[maxta]

Correct. Consider yourself grounded!

The Silvertails "Sin Bin"

 

[Andyvb88]

I would love to see Garrick swapped for Staggs

 

[Bearfax]

Hooker is the Sea Eagles missing link. Croker is a real trier and defends brilliantly, but he doesn't offer that explosive element in the centre of play that a Harry Grant does. Grant takes a lot of pressure off the backs, not only because of sharp and well thought distribution, but also because the defensive strategies of teams facing someone with those skills, takes some focus off the outside backs. Mistake letting Api go. Chan may develop. Simpkins is OK. But a will o the wisp type, who can create second guessing in the opposition.

 

[Marto1970]

I'm gunna get in trouble for this comment, but this is how I see it....as an attacking unit this is the fastest backline in the comp and when given space can score points against ANY team....but i feel the shifts are over used at times where Manly are basically playing sideways and if there was more thrust throught the middle with a dummy half who threatened the middle and faster legs winning speedier play the balls, we would go up another 2-3 levels and be the best attacking team in the comp (or close to it) and the wingers do not have the ability to get our sets on the front foot with kick returns or early hitups coming out of trouble and are often dominated, making Manly force errors or kick from horrible field position.

In defence I feel there are some ordinary tacklers individually (Saab and Garrick in particular), but again I put the blame on the pressure situations often thrown at our edges due to the opposition winning the tempo through the middle, with lightning fast play balls.
The fact our forwards are cumbersome and make these tackles that almost are grabbing type efforts where they fall off with little dominance and always last off the ground, allows teams to get a crazy roll on that will make any outside backs make some bad reads and lack the time to "communicate" which is a real killer.

So without trying to protect the backs, I feel Manly "must" increase speed and mobility in the middle in a big way and though Jazz Tevaga is no Superstar, he offers quick feet and is that "smaller" type forward who will offer some mobility needed.
Much of the negative feedback to the backs, is a direct runoff from the forwards losing not so much physically, but off the pace as the opposition tempo is always better in attack and defence and if there were not the individual moments from Tom, Okalatu and DCE, we would be far from finalists.

So in a nutshell, I feel our backs have the ability to compete with the best, if the forwards can get up to the pace required to match those Top sides.

This is why we struggle against the top teams who have fast line speed and shut our go forward down and we have no space on the edges

 

[Bearfax]

This is why we struggle against the top teams who have fast line speed and shut our go forward down and we have no space on the edges

You've got it Marto. I made a comment about our hookers. If we had a Harry Grant type, this problem would be addressed, though also I think some of the forwards are a little tentative and dont look for second phase plays. Having Brown and Lodge helped get grunt, but we need a little more imagination in the forwards and a speedy hooker. Bullimer looks like one who needs to be on the field 80 minutes He's got a bit of Watmough about him. I'm hoping Burbo will develop over the next few seasons into a top running forward also

 

[philasophigas]

I'm gunna get in trouble for this comment, but this is how I see it....as an attacking unit this is the fastest backline in the comp and when given space can score points against ANY team....but i feel the shifts are over used at times where Manly are basically playing sideways and if there was more thrust throught the middle with a dummy half who threatened the middle and faster legs winning speedier play the balls, we would go up another 2-3 levels and be the best attacking team in the comp (or close to it) and the wingers do not have the ability to get our sets on the front foot with kick returns or early hitups coming out of trouble and are often dominated, making Manly force errors or kick from horrible field position.

In defence I feel there are some ordinary tacklers individually (Saab and Garrick in particular), but again I put the blame on the pressure situations often thrown at our edges due to the opposition winning the tempo through the middle, with lightning fast play balls.
The fact our forwards are cumbersome and make these tackles that almost are grabbing type efforts where they fall off with little dominance and always last off the ground, allows teams to get a crazy roll on that will make any outside backs make some bad reads and lack the time to "communicate" which is a real killer.

So without trying to protect the backs, I feel Manly "must" increase speed and mobility in the middle in a big way and though Jazz Tevaga is no Superstar, he offers quick feet and is that "smaller" type forward who will offer some mobility needed.
Much of the negative feedback to the backs, is a direct runoff from the forwards losing not so much physically, but off the pace as the opposition tempo is always better in attack and defence and if there were not the individual moments from Tom, Okalatu and DCE, we would be far from finalists.

So in a nutshell, I feel our backs have the ability to compete with the best, if the forwards can get up to the pace required to match those Top sides.

Agreed but the bit about the wingers, and other backs, not getting the sets off to a good start is also critical. If we have lean, fast wingers, we're asking more of our forwards than other teams.

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

The real question is:

why hasn't @Terry Zarsoff raged against the spelling of centers and not centres?

Centaurs and wingres 😱

 

[Marto1970]

You've got it Marto. I made a comment about our hookers. If we had a Harry Grant type, this problem would be addressed, though also I think some of the forwards are a little tentative and dont look for second phase plays. Having Brown and Lodge helped get grunt, but we need a little more imagination in the forwards and a speedy hooker. Bullimer looks like one who needs to be on the field 80 minutes He's got a bit of Watmough about him. I'm hoping Burbo will develop over the next few seasons into a top running forward also

To pedestrian through the middle,need some variety, Brown played some games he had a good offload before the line , Bully is good against a tentative defensive line