Our hooker going forward?

[Eagle 1]

Looks like it is going to be a Croker - Lawton 9 combo and wouldn 't be to displeased with that . Suggest that Croker 's defense is among the best out of all of the comp 's 9 's and good enough workman like in other requirements there . Lawton is a goer there . nothing special but sharp and lively enough to add something worthwhile and to give Froggy a rest . Maybe this junior G C K T can keep improving . Not as high profile as the Api - Fainu combo but just was not sustainable , May not have had that much game time in any case with Manase with his shoulder issues and would have been under pressure to retain A P I over time if he was retained although sure that he would have provided real good value .

I'm with you m al, can't see any available hookers on the market anyway. I'm happy for a Croker Lawman combo, we could do a lot worse.

 

[Ryan]

I'm with you m al, can't see any available hookers on the market anyway. I'm happy for a Croker Lawman combo, we could do a lot worse.

So go with what we have now then, which you're happy with. An 11th-12th placed squad, who is losing Foran, Walker, Taupau, Davey and not replacing them.

Good stuff !

 

[Eagle 1]

So go with what we have now then, which you're happy with. An 11th-12th placed squad, who is losing Foran, Walker, Taupau, Davey and not replacing them.

Good stuff !

Walker and Foran got better deals, not sure what Davey's getting...and Kapop, like the pizza add...nothing special.. good bye. A lot of our player retention woes is because we are carrying 4 marquee players, well it'll be 3 once Marty goes.

 

[winnyason]

What's out there to upgrade for ?? Seems it's only Turpin

 

[Rocky]

I must watch a different game to half of you. The last two times Froggy missed games (v Storm in 2021 finals and v Dragons 2022 regular season), we absolutely fell apart.

I get it - the Frog isn't a flashy player and started off pretty underwhelmingly to his career at 9. But over the last 12 months he has turned himself into a key player at the club. And also into a pretty darn good footy player. When there is a great tackle in the middle its either him or Jake. That says a lot. Sure he isn't Api or Harry Grant or Cook. But there are only a few of those guys around and we ain't getting them.

But outside of those 3 players and The Cheese, who is legitimately a better hooker than Froggy in the rest of the competition? Last year I would have said Mahoney but now I'm not so sure. Anyone else who is clearly better than the Frog? Erin Clark? Andrew Mcculluch? Zac woolford? Jacob Liddle? Egan?

No thanks.

I'd prefer Froggy over Verrils from what i've seen.

Are the Brailey brothers and Robson upgrades over the Frog? I don't watch enough of them to answer that.

Lachlan Croker is probably on 400k a year and for that price is actually a bargain. The real problems at Manly are in other positions and that's where we should be looking to strengthen the playing roster.

 

[lsz]

In this day an age every player is available if you have the right smarts re contracts

 

[47MVEagle]

Develop Zac Fulton as hooker to work in tandem with Croker.

 

[The Indian]

Agree with the sentiment that whilst Croker is no star he's been solid and is far from our biggest problem. I'd much prefer him than to just panic buy the next Danny Levi or Jake Turpin who whoever another club is willing to offload.

But if we are going for a value recycled pick Chris Randall from the Knights is a very whole hearted player, is stuck behind Jayden Brailey at the Knights and always does the job.

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

Segeyaro is at BWSE , they might elevate him into the 30??

 

[Eagle 1]

I must watch a different game to half of you. The last two times Froggy missed games (v Storm in 2021 finals and v Dragons 2022 regular season), we absolutely fell apart.

I get it - the Frog isn't a flashy player and started off pretty underwhelmingly to his career at 9. But over the last 12 months he has turned himself into a key player at the club. And also into a pretty darn good footy player. When there is a great tackle in the middle its either him or Jake. That says a lot. Sure he isn't Api or Harry Grant or Cook. But there are only a few of those guys around and we ain't getting them.

But outside of those 3 players and The Cheese, who is legitimately a better hooker than Froggy in the rest of the competition? Last year I would have said Mahoney but now I'm not so sure. Anyone else who is clearly better than the Frog? Erin Clark? Andrew Mcculluch? Zac woolford? Jacob Liddle? Egan?

No thanks.

I'd prefer Froggy over Verrils from what i've seen.

Are the Brailey brothers and Robson upgrades over the Frog? I don't watch enough of them to answer that.

Lachlan Croker is probably on 400k a year and for that price is actually a bargain. The real problems at Manly are in other positions and that's where we should be looking to strengthen the playing roster.

It's our Elephant in the room....we need good tough Front Rowers..

 

[double hoops]

Not belond the realms of possibility that frog is needed in the halves early next year.

 

[AlxFromNthNarra]

Frog has improved a lot and seemingly become a lot more durable.

As a kid he was never lacking talent just time - after suffering like 26 snapped ACLs it wasn't like he didn't have a reason.

We will always be underdone vs a Api/Fainu tag-team hooking rotation we had the previous luxury of - which is never coming back now more than ever...

Frog has improved, and I hope he continues to. I like his mettle, grit, discipline and determination. He's not flashy, he's not a grubby Smith(s)-type, he's not a Cook jackrabbit, he's not a Mahony stirrer or a Hunt $1mill investment.

Some people need to stop letting perfect be the enemy of good.

 

[Marto1970]

I'm happy with Froggy at 9 but we need a 13 similar to Walker,so Jake to prop and finding a 13 who has good defence and ball playing ability can hopefully play 80min , Having that extra good defender in the middle with Croker and Jake ( Walkers defence was his main letdown,to many times left lying on the ground in the ruck ) strengthens our middle. Someone who can lift our attack like Walker did while Croker improves his attacking skills, Don't know if Lawton/ Fulton or a fully fit Shu can fit in

 

[Dee Why Eagle]

Yeah mate he’s a gun from what I’ve seen of him. No point looking for a hooker outside the club imo, as all the good 9s are signed up. Better off to keep developing GCKT and give him a crack next year off the bench and see how he goes. Reckon he could provide some really good impact for us. And then have croker starting, and give Lawton a go at playing that lock role off the bench that Walker has been doing so well.

And he has one more initial than DCE

 

[manly al]

I'm happy with Froggy at 9 but we need a 13 similar to Walker,so Jake to prop and finding a 13 who has good defence and ball playing ability can hopefully play 80min , Having that extra good defender in the middle with Croker and Jake ( Walkers defence was his main letdown,to many times left lying on the ground in the ruck ) strengthens our middle. Someone who can lift our attack like Walker did while Croker improves his attacking skills, Don't know if Lawton/ Fulton or a fully fit Shu can fit in

Not really a likely player already in the Manly system who could be converted to a 13 role unfortunately also . Recall that Zac Saddler was tried as a 13 at Black Town and looked promising there as well until his serious injury . Bullemor good ability but defence and link man role wouldn 't seem to be there at the moment . Burbo and Parker , more edge type players . Zac Fulton maybe could fit the bill with some more experience , certainly seems to have good drive [ nailing Tedesco in his in goal was a real good sign ] , ball playing skills maybe could be fast tracked . Jjust have to see how much improvement Walker constantly brings to the ruck attack when he is on to place a big emphasis on finding someone there to offer something similar or close to it and some reasonable defensive ability .

 

[Brookie Bob]

Develop Zac Fulton as hooker to work in tandem with Croker.

Interesting - worth a thought

 

[maxta]

Rugged, powerful and has ball skills, plus can tackle... but a VERY specialist position to jump into, yes possible, but not an easy change up for a backrower to hooker.
The change of a halfback to hooker can work well in the modern game, as the instincts and heads up plays are already part of their skillset.
I reckon you will see Fulton more likely as an impact of bench like the Roosters game and personally with 2022 shot, would have liked him to get more game time to finish this season.

 

[XV-1]

Develop Zac Fulton as hooker to work in tandem with Croker.

Smart thinking 👍

What do you think of Zac Fulton training over the off season to play hooker?

Imo he has the body shape, drive, determination and guts to at the very least come off the bench and share hooking duties with Croker.

 

[BOZO]

Some people need to stop letting perfect be the enemy of good.

The enemy of good is not to strive and keep evolving and perfecting all positions on the field

Perfecting is to strive towards our legendary clubs benchmark of excellence

The Benchmark of excellence that wins Manly Premierships

 

[BOZO]

If you do not keep evolving

You get left behind