Manly were flat tonight & Penrith were as sharp as a tack.
We played poorly without confidence. For example, not once did we try an early shift to get out of our end. I think many teams, including those outside last year's top eight, would have beaten us tonight.
Two positives: most will write us off for the year, saying there is no way we can win the comp and Bullemor - no current forward except our regular 14 (Walker) could have scored that try. Hopefully, he'll score a stack of tries this year.
By the end of the season, Marty may not be in the top seventeen, replaced by a younger front rower with more aggression & go forward.
I assume Des didn't bring Koula on tonight as the game was a lost cause early in the second half. No point in the young man getting bashed unnecessarily. Des obviously likes him, so he may start in the thirteen sooner rather than later.