Outside the box

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I was thinking who else in our squad could be a back up 9. IF Fainu is not cleared to play then our hooker depth is basically 3 ex halves and no other specialist hooker on the books. I've read that Harper used to play in the halves so obviously has some ball skills. Could he be used as a Smokey as a utility? He certainly has the speed and fitness to play there and could be electric off the bench for 20 mins. Kurt Mann did a similar role for Knights after all their injuries. I'm not saying I think it should happen but say Foran and Cust went down with injury, we really only have Croker and no one else..
 
I was thinking who else in our squad could be a back up 9. IF Fainu is not cleared to play then our hooker depth is basically 3 ex halves and no other specialist hooker on the books. I've read that Harper used to play in the halves so obviously has some ball skills. Could he be used as a Smokey as a utility? He certainly has the speed and fitness to play there and could be electric off the bench for 20 mins. Kurt Mann did a similar role for Knights after all their injuries. I'm not saying I think it should happen but say Foran and Cust went down with injury, we really only have Croker and no one else..
Love the idea in attack- but defensive workload is a massive changeup....Harper definitely a huge attacking threat and will feature somewhere
 
Id like a back rower that's on the bench trained up ready to go. This is where Siro little bro would be the perfect bench utility. He's played hooker, and in the halves. Schuster is our obvious, but if we can believe what we hear he has been promised that he has first crack at 6 next year.

Jetski played it one game last year didn't he?

If Walker stays why not throw him in at 9 during pre season. He has spent how many years trying to learn to be a ball player, and he has come a fair way. He has the speed. It is just his defence which may need some work. But he doesn't seem to struggle with d at 6, so he may surprise.
 
I was thinking who else in our squad could be a back up 9. IF Fainu is not cleared to play then our hooker depth is basically 3 ex halves and no other specialist hooker on the books. I've read that Harper used to play in the halves so obviously has some ball skills. Could he be used as a Smokey as a utility? He certainly has the speed and fitness to play there and could be electric off the bench for 20 mins. Kurt Mann did a similar role for Knights after all their injuries. I'm not saying I think it should happen but say Foran and Cust went down with injury, we really only have Croker and no one else..
I'm all for the out of box thinking, and as somebody else mentioned, Harper could possibly be a threat in attack playing there. However, given his struggles defensively out wide, I just cannot see him holding up the middle defensively.
 
I was thinking who else in our squad could be a back up 9. IF Fainu is not cleared to play then our hooker depth is basically 3 ex halves and no other specialist hooker on the books. I've read that Harper used to play in the halves so obviously has some ball skills. Could he be used as a Smokey as a utility? He certainly has the speed and fitness to play there and could be electric off the bench for 20 mins. Kurt Mann did a similar role for Knights after all their injuries. I'm not saying I think it should happen but say Foran and Cust went down with injury, we really only have Croker and no one else..
I doubt his defence is up to it
 
Oh, and while we are thinking out of the box, I have a thought. We should look at a designated second dummy-half on the field as the same time as our hooker. Specifically, I want somebody trained to be fully alert to the dummy half darts and following closely behind to take control of the ensuing dummy half play. Far too often, I have seen random guys jump in after the hooker has gone for a run and been tackled, only to really mess things up next play, either with a wayward pass or a pass to the wrong person. It was Waddle jumping into dummy half today and throwing that ridiculous harbour bridge pass to nobody that was the pivotal turning point in the match. And it happens way too often IMO. It's like the team has never sat down to consider and plan for the scenario of what to do when the dummy half goes for a run and gets tackled. Our structure goes to $hit at these times.
 
Oh, and while we are thinking out of the box, I have a thought. We should look at a designated second dummy-half on the field as the same time as our hooker. Specifically, I want somebody trained to be fully alert to the dummy half darts and following closely behind to take control of the ensuing dummy half play. Far too often, I have seen random guys jump in after the hooker has gone for a run and been tackled, only to really mess things up next play, either with a wayward pass or a pass to the wrong person. It was Waddle jumping into dummy half today and throwing that ridiculous harbour bridge pass to nobody that was the pivotal turning point in the match. And it happens way too often IMO. It's like the team has never sat down to consider and plan for the scenario of what to do when the dummy half goes for a run and gets tackled. Our structure goes to $hit at these times.
This seems an example of poor preparation and attention to detail in training drills. One of many many examples, such as not being off-side at a kick-off, calling when under a bomb, talking to the player next to you, not turning your back on a 20m tap, the list goes on.

I don't expect a head coach to be telling players this stuff but the head coach has to be aware and make sure someone is delegated to drill the basics into all the members of the squad. Do the better drilled sides simply have more coaches because they can afford it? Possibly, but this is an area we need drastic improvement.
@:mad::mad:
 
As a fan id love to be a fly on the wall this off season. Oooh man its going to be tough. Hope its not a hot summer. Nah screw them. They had winter off

Roles and responsibilities would be my theme
Team first , team second and team third.
Id make every player prepare a dossier on what the number on there backs means, every week i would re visit that and make each player stand in front of the team and deliver there own verdict on wether they met the expectations they themselves set out. Accountability within the group to eachother

Bloody hell, my son does something similiar in grade 10 with his parents and teachers about his goals, weaknesses and what help he may need to meet his own expectations.

Big boy pants for many of our players is required.
 
I'm all for the out of box thinking, and as somebody else mentioned, Harper could possibly be a threat in attack playing there. However, given his struggles defensively out wide, I just cannot see him holding up the middle defensively.
From what I've seen Harper's actual tackling is fine, in fact he's made some very effective one on one tackles. His issue seems to be defensive reads as he too often makes the wrong decision on whether to jam in or slide. Defending in the middle, he wouldn't have to make defensive reads so much as just tackle what's coming at him.
 
As a fan id love to be a fly on the wall this off season. Oooh man its going to be tough. Hope its not a hot summer. Nah screw them. They had winter off

Roles and responsibilities would be my theme
Team first , team second and team third.
Id make every player prepare a dossier on what the number on there backs means, every week i would re visit that and make each player stand in front of the team and deliver there own verdict on wether they met the expectations they themselves set out. Accountability within the group to eachother

Bloody hell, my son does something similiar in grade 10 with his parents and teachers about his goals, weaknesses and what help he may need to meet his own expectations.

Big boy pants for many of our players is required.
One things for sure mate , after this year we desperately need a new way of doing even the basics.

It’s been mentioned elsewhere but we are mentally SHOT, a great start yesterday , a mistake is made ( heads droop) , another one is made ( heads now on navels ) and effectively , and we all knew it, in 5 minutes that game was gonski!!

That’s not Manly , that’s not our culture.

****ed if I know what’s wrong but apart from injuries , and a weak depth roster something is seriously amiss with our team.
 
One things for sure mate , after this year we desperately need a new way of doing even the basics.

It’s been mentioned elsewhere but we are mentally SHOT, a great start yesterday , a mistake is made ( heads droop) , another one is made ( heads now on navels ) and effectively , and we all knew it, in 5 minutes that game was gonski!!

That’s not Manly , that’s not our culture.

****ed if I know what’s wrong but apart from injuries , and a weak depth roster something is seriously amiss with our team.

At the beginning of last season i made a post that the camp looked very unsettled. Ill try find it later. Anyway results shut me up last season. Anyway here we are and its not all about ability

When des seems to expect and accept mediocrity , there is a big issue
 
At the beginning of last season i made a post that the camp looked very unsettled. Ill try find it later. Anyway results shut me up last season. Anyway here we are and its not all about ability

When des seems to expect and accept mediocrity , there is a big issue
As I say , something is amiss but no idea what it actually is.
 
Best hope is that JDB beats his case and they do away with the stupid rule keeping MF from playing. However if this does occur is the thinking that MF will come in and solve this problem? He had a great 2019 and we made the correct decision in keeping him but I’ve been thinking a bit more around his situation and expectations moving forward. In 19 he burst onto the scene essentially playing as an impact player role off the bench. It will be a lot tougher for him playing big minutes in the middle which will likely dull is impact. He’s also had a full year out of the game in which time it has completely changed with the new 6 again rules. There’s also the “2nd year syndrome” to consider. I’m certainly keen to see him back and will be glad to see the back of DL, I just hope MF comes back and has the impact we hope for. I believe we will certainly need a bench utility to cover for him if and when he does comeback.
 
Team P W L PD Pts
3 3 0 48 6
3 2 1 45 4
3 2 1 28 4
3 2 1 22 4
3 2 1 15 4
3 2 1 14 4
2 1 1 13 4
3 2 1 10 4
2 1 1 6 4
3 2 1 -3 4
3 1 2 0 2
3 1 2 -5 2
3 1 2 -15 2
3 1 2 -22 2
3 1 2 -36 2
2 0 2 -56 2
3 0 3 -64 0
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