Parks n Harper - you have competition

[BOZO]

Parker got Some really good early ball with space and just looked ****house tbh. He always gets stopped. He’s good close to the line thoUgh.

The Parker try scoring perspective

Parker runs good lines and scores from 5 metres out when he get a great pass from our play makers and his momentum gets him over the line

When Parker is not near the try line and has the ball he gets stopped because he lacks speed and footwork .

Also with out Tommy there were very few try assists to our wingers by our centres and that is another liability

I am not personally Anti Parker or anti any Manly player

I am Anti Manly the Greatest club of all being 2nd best

 

[maxta]

The Parker try scoring perspective

Parker runs good lines and scores from 5 metres out when he get a great pass from our play makers and his momentum gets him over the line

When Parker is not near the try line and has the ball he gets stopped because he lacks speed and footwork .

Also with out Tommy there were very few try assists to our wingers by our centres and that is another liability

I am not personally Anti Parker or anti any Manly player

I am Anti Manly the Greatest club of all being 2nd best

I reckon you Bozo my friend are as passionate a Manly supporter we could find across the universe....also agree with much of the opinions in relation to speedy backs and high expectations
What makes it tricky....we have been thin on centres in recent times and Parker for a reason, including solid defence most times, has earned his position
Thing is, we have genuine challengers to take his position in 2022 and the argument you have made based on speed for a couple of years- becomes real.
What I mean is speedy players don't automatically qualify for NRL and in fact most those fast kids leave the game at 16yo when they can't run around an entire team at junior level
Thing is in 2022 these young players challenging for a top spot at Manly, have the speed and "ability" to make your vision real

 

[Shoe1]

If we do an experiment next week and put turbo and koula in the centres for first grade how would they go?

Conversely how would Parker and Harper go against Canberra’s b team centres? I suspect brad would be significantly stronger than junior centres.

 

[BOZO]

Thing is in 2022 these young players challenging for a top spot at Manly, have the speed and "ability" to make your vision real

The 2022 season shapes up to an exciting year indeed feathered friend Maxta

So much talent to look forward to .

In 2011 Des injected the team with calves blood to win the Premiership

This year Des needs to inject the team with young talented blood and revive the 2021 team that only thrived when Tommy was playing a major role scoring and setting up all our tries

We cannot just rely on Tommy . We must be come more than just a one man team
We all have seen what happens when they shut down Tommy

 

[47MVEagle]

Thank you for your centres Benchmark perspective

You talk about balance and balance is a very important factor for competent player to have in any position

Parker may be sound in defence when the defensive line is compressed but when the faster players have room to move in the clear the slowest centre in the NRL is left clutching at thin air.
Speed is a liability is defence

Also competent centres have the balance of attributes in both defence and attack
and the slow one dimensional Parker who also has no elusive footwork or power line breaking ability and is also liability in attack

The moral of the story
We need to rise from last years Manly is a one Player Tommy team and get more dynamic play from other players
To go one better and win the title what belongs to us
as 2nd best is not a Manly team

Thank you for your opinion feathered friend.

I disagree with your opinion & believe it is based on a strawman argument.

The moral of the story?

Opinions based on fact as opposed to strawmen are more likely to be taken seriously.

 

[Brisbane Tragic]

Totally agree mate - except reckon Weekes would be an electric halves option...he actually gave good service to outside backs and had good offloaded and support play.....definitely not your Adam Reynolds half to control a game but an absolute nightmare for defence around the middle all day, Super utility who could play Fullback - centre or halves....thought clearly the best 1st trial but a youngster who doesn't need pressure expectations....Unlimited future for him along with many others

I thought Weekes played great - no way is he a Centre - looks like a very very good half/five eighth

 

[Brookie Bob]

Parker may be sound in defence when the defensive line is compressed but when the faster players have room to move in the clear the slowest centre in the NRL is left clutching at thin air.
Speed is a liability is defence

I do recall reading about the sprint trials at Manly one year - I believe it was in the last 3 years - and Brad Parker's results were not slow. In fact I recall reading he was in the top 3 fastest players in first grade, after Tommy and someone else (Garrick?) over 100 metres at the time. Obviously this was before Saab and Koula.

I think calling Parker the slowest centre in the NRL is inaccurate. Tom Opacic (?) at Parramatta is no gazelle, and the Cowboys centres have been nothing flash. I can't recall a true speedster in the centres at the Tigers or Bulldogs recently, and when Staggs is off the field, Brisbane's centres look ordinary.

Does he step and beat players on the outside? Not often. Maybe that's what you're thinking of. Parker tends to step back in off his left foot, and not use an in and away to go around his opposing centre - as Killer used to. Do I wish he was able to frequently do the latter? Yes. However.....

Parker is 100 kgs and 193 cms (that's about 6 foot 4 inches), and strong. I don't think he will ever be the next Phil Blake, Johnny Mays, Johnny Gibbs or Kerry Boustead off the mark. He does a hard job well, has (usually) good reads in defense, he's a local junior, is a team player liked by his team mates, and importantly doesn't cost the club an arm and a leg - so that we can retain the big crop of outstanding talents coming through.

Perhaps in terms of team dynamics, Parker is good value for Manly at the moment, and maybe that's all he needs to be.

 

[EOL now nesting on the GC]

Funny isn't it. Lots of talk above about 'we can't win a comp with xxxxxx'.
Its only 12 months ago it was ' we can't win a comp with DCE or we can't win a comp with our forward pack or we can't win a comp with our depth'.....

Well I say we can't win a comp until we just do.

I say within the next 24 months we will be premiers and that could very well be with Parker and Harper in the 3/4 line.

All this BS about not being able to beat the big teams is just that. BS.

Take out the first 4 rounds last year and look at facts. In the regular season we almost beat the panthers in Bathurst. We Almost beat the storm.

Come finals yes the storm spanked us but that was more about finals experience. Had The ball bounced the other way in the rabbits match with the disallowed try we would have been in that game up to our nuts.

All those talking about Lionel and Parker forget about all the good work they do. Even with turbo at his best Garrick doesn't score any where near the tries last year Had Parker not run those lines.

Remember the amazing David Fafita? Mr unstoppable? Well Lionel shut him down in both games last year against the GC.

Remember Saab flashing away down the field. Often it was Lionel that put him away.

Our boys will be good enough mark my words

 

[maxta]

Funny isn't it. Lots of talk above about 'we can't win a comp with xxxxxx'.
Its only 12 months ago it was ' we can't win a comp with DCE or we can't win a comp with our forward pack or we can't win a comp with our depth'.....

Well I say we can't win a comp until we just do.

I say within the next 24 months we will be premiers and that could very well be with Parker and Harper in the 3/4 line.

All this BS about not being able to beat the big teams is just that. BS.

Take out the first 4 rounds last year and look at facts. In the regular season we almost beat the panthers in Bathurst. We Almost beat the storm.

Come finals yes the storm spanked us but that was more about finals experience. Had The ball bounced the other way in the rabbits match with the disallowed try we would have been in that game up to our nuts.

All those talking about Lionel and Parker forget about all the good work they do. Even with turbo at his best Garrick doesn't score any where near the tries last year Had Parker not run those lines.

Remember the amazing David Fafita? Mr unstoppable? Well Lionel shut him down in both games last year against the GC.

Remember Saab flashing away down the field. Often it was Lionel that put him away.

Our boys will be good enough mark my words

Very good calls....and if last years centres are there, or replaced by a worthy candidate - truth is last year we were just a year shy....Will really give it a shake in 2022

 

[40 nil]

I do recall reading about the sprint trials at Manly one year - I believe it was in the last 3 years - and Brad Parker's results were not slow. In fact I recall reading he was in the top 3 fastest players in first grade, after Tommy and someone else (Garrick?) over 100 metres at the time. Obviously this was before Saab and Koula.

I think calling Parker the slowest centre in the NRL is inaccurate. Tom Opacic (?) at Parramatta is no gazelle, and the Cowboys centres have been nothing flash. I can't recall a true speedster in the centres at the Tigers or Bulldogs recently, and when Staggs is off the field, Brisbane's centres look ordinary.

I agree with all the positive points you've made about Parker's game & his value to the team.

However, I would find it hard to believe that he has finished in the top three over 100 metres in the last few years (unless some players were absent). In 2018, apart from Turbo, Tom Wright, Kelly, Walker and probably even Matthew Wright would be ahead of him. In 2019, apart from Turbo & Garrick, I think Suli, Walker, Elliot, Funa & Miski would all beat him. Jorge has slowed significantly in recent years, so maybe they would level peg these days. Talau (Tigers) & Farnsworth (Broncos) would easily cover Parker for pace. In 2022, I doubt Parker would be faster than any of the specialist centres in other teams.

IMO, when Parker makes line breaks, it is mostly because of the excellent ball he receives rather than his ability to beat his man. I don't remember him scoring a long range try (maybe he has?) and I don't remember him running more than 30 metres to score a try (maybe he has?). The one time I thought he showed good pace was he scored a try from a Garrick kick in the first round match v. Eels last year.

Pointing out that Parker isn't naturally fast isn't a criticism of him as a player. He works very hard at his game & plays to the best of his ability. He is an integral member of the team until he loses his position to a better player.

 

[Waz13]

Funny isn't it. Lots of talk above about 'we can't win a comp with xxxxxx'.
Its only 12 months ago it was ' we can't win a comp with DCE or we can't win a comp with our forward pack or we can't win a comp with our depth'.....

Well I say we can't win a comp until we just do.

I say within the next 24 months we will be premiers and that could very well be with Parker and Harper in the 3/4 line.

All this BS about not being able to beat the big teams is just that. BS.

Take out the first 4 rounds last year and look at facts. In the regular season we almost beat the panthers in Bathurst. We Almost beat the storm.

Come finals yes the storm spanked us but that was more about finals experience. Had The ball bounced the other way in the rabbits match with the disallowed try we would have been in that game up to our nuts.

All those talking about Lionel and Parker forget about all the good work they do. Even with turbo at his best Garrick doesn't score any where near the tries last year Had Parker not run those lines.

Remember the amazing David Fafita? Mr unstoppable? Well Lionel shut him down in both games last year against the GC.

Remember Saab flashing away down the field. Often it was Lionel that put him away.

Our boys will be good enough mark my words

Look what happened in the Souths game when Parker wasn’t there and Suli in. I too think this years team can push for the premiership if we stay fit. I’m less sold on Harper but he has earnt first shot in the right. It’s beyond me how some get so excited about a couple of kids who’ve never had a sniff of first grade when they do ok against the magpies nsw cup team. Don’t get me wrong it was nice to see, however playing first grade marking up against seasoned players is a different ball game. Sone of those kids will get their shot this year, but it will only be through injuries and filling in I feel.

 

[Eagle 1]

Look what happened in the Souths game when Parker wasn’t there and Suli in. I too think this years team can push for the premiership if we stay fit. I’m less sold on Harper but he has earnt first shot in the right. It’s beyond me how some get so excited about a couple of kids who’ve never had a sniff of first grade when they do ok against the magpies nsw cup team. Don’t get me wrong it was nice to see, however playing first grade marking up against seasoned players is a different ball game. Sone of those kids will get their shot this year, but it will only be through injuries and filling in I feel.

Also getting covid could play a big part in team selections, so in this respect it's good to have some serious depth in the fwds and backs, for once.

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

I don't remember him scoring a long range try (maybe he has?) and I don't remember him running more than 30 metres to score a try (maybe he has?). The one time I thought he showed good pace was he scored a try from a Garrick kick in the first round match v. Eels last year.

Can you remember Steve Matai running more than 30 m to score? I can't!

 

[40 nil]

Can you remember Steve Matai running more than 30 m to score? I can't!

Yes, there are at least a couple in this highlights video. In many of Matai's short range tries he beat several defenders on his way to the line - no way Parker would have scored these. With all due respect to Brad, we can't really compare him to one of Manly's all time great centres.

 

[PONTIAN SEA EAGLE]

The Parker try scoring perspective

Parker runs good lines and scores from 5 metres out when he get a great pass from our play makers and his momentum gets him over the line

When Parker is not near the try line and has the ball he gets stopped because he lacks speed and footwork .

Also with out Tommy there were very few try assists to our wingers by our centres and that is another liability

I am not personally Anti Parker or anti any Manly player

I am Anti Manly the Greatest club of all being 2nd best

They’ve been many try assists to the backs from foz & dce bozo not only by tom.

 

[BOZO]

I do recall reading about the sprint trials at Manly one year - I believe it was in the last 3 years - and Brad Parker's results were not slow. In fact I recall reading he was in the top 3 fastest players in first grade, after Tommy and someone else (Garrick?) over 100 metres at the time. Obviously this was before Saab and Koula.

Good morning feathered friend I hope all is well and you have an awesome day

I never recall Parker ever being the top 3 fastest players in our club. Ever !

I have been a very proud Manly supporter of the Greatest club of all which was made Great by dominant players since the 70s and I can say that Brad is one of our slowest and less dynamic centres I have ever seen .

Any one that has eyes can see how slow he is in the open where no one can hide against the pace of the game

when was the last time he scored a try from 30m out of the line through pace , footwork and breaking tackles ?
He does not have the pace and the flair to so

I am so thrilled to have a player in our squad with so much talent and Speed like Koula and his defence in sound as well

If Koula is not a better prospect than Parker I am a Koala bear

 

[BOZO]

Can you remember Steve Matai running more than 30 m to score? I can't!

You have a very short memory feathered friend

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

Can you remember Steve Matai running more than 30 m to score? I can't!

Yes, there are at least a couple in this highlights video

There are only 2 ... in a career highlight package!.
First is about 40m (at 2m 43s in the vid) after he stops and the defence stops. The commentator called it one of the more bizarre tries you'll see, I agree!
Second one (4m 01s) after Snake put him into the clear 38m out.
But you miss the point if you think I am comparing Parker to Matai, I certainly am not.
Merely making the point was that you can be successful at centre even if you aren't fast enough to score long range tries, because obviously there are many other facets of centre play that are also important.

 

[BOZO]

They’ve been many try assists to the backs from foz & dce bozo not only by tom.

Are you serious feathered friend

We were known as a one player Tom team for good reason

When they shut down Tom they shut down Manly

This season we have to overcome the one Man team factor and other player have to rise above their 2021 form

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

If Koula is not a better prospect than Parker I an a Koala bear

Koalas are not bears

edit - by the way I don't disagree that Koula may be a better 'prospect' but he still needs to earn his NRL stripes. There's no substitute for experience when it comes to NRL.