Below is part of a column he has written about the first two games & the teams that have played( link to full story below):
SEA EAGLES
Don't go panicking just yet. It was always going to take time for this new-look Manly side to come together.
The easy thing to do here is to point out all the faults with their performance on Friday night. Anyone can do that.
The right attitude for Manly is to look at this game as a starting point and accept the reality that this is a very new team and there is still plenty of work to do. There are a lot of talented individuals in this line-up. Patience, perseverance and hard work are the key words here.
Before kickoff, I looked at the Manly side and could see up to a dozen personnel and positional changes in this team. They also have a new coach in Trent Barrett who has never coached in the NRL before. That's going to take time to bring together.
In many respects, despite the age and experience of a number of their individuals, Manly can be considered somewhat "immature" simply because they haven't been together long enough.
You can train as often as you like through the off-season, but it's not until you spend time together out on the field that you really start to form the unity and combinations necessary to win consistently at this level.
What made it more difficult for Manly was the fact that they confronted a Bulldogs team, most of whom have been together for a number of seasons under the same wily coach in Hasler.
Eagerly awaited return: Manly will feel more comfortable when Brett Stewart is fit to play. Photo: Getty Images
This is a team that has matured over the years. The players and coach know each other really well. They have worked together for a long time. It makes a huge difference when you're entering a new season.
For Manly to improve in the short term, though, their forwards need to come together a lot better as a unit. A lot better. It's no good trying to sugar-coat the bitter pill. The Bulldogs forward pack dominated them on Friday night and that was pretty much the beginning of the end.
Anyway, things will feel more comfortable when Brett Stewart is back from injury and the players have spent more time playing together.
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...nrl-season-20160305-gnbhq8.html#ixzz421w59Oe7
Follow us: @smh on Twitter | sydneymorningherald on Facebook
for all the crap he can go on about, he makes sense here.
SEA EAGLES
Don't go panicking just yet. It was always going to take time for this new-look Manly side to come together.
The easy thing to do here is to point out all the faults with their performance on Friday night. Anyone can do that.
The right attitude for Manly is to look at this game as a starting point and accept the reality that this is a very new team and there is still plenty of work to do. There are a lot of talented individuals in this line-up. Patience, perseverance and hard work are the key words here.
Before kickoff, I looked at the Manly side and could see up to a dozen personnel and positional changes in this team. They also have a new coach in Trent Barrett who has never coached in the NRL before. That's going to take time to bring together.
In many respects, despite the age and experience of a number of their individuals, Manly can be considered somewhat "immature" simply because they haven't been together long enough.
You can train as often as you like through the off-season, but it's not until you spend time together out on the field that you really start to form the unity and combinations necessary to win consistently at this level.
What made it more difficult for Manly was the fact that they confronted a Bulldogs team, most of whom have been together for a number of seasons under the same wily coach in Hasler.
Eagerly awaited return: Manly will feel more comfortable when Brett Stewart is fit to play. Photo: Getty Images
This is a team that has matured over the years. The players and coach know each other really well. They have worked together for a long time. It makes a huge difference when you're entering a new season.
For Manly to improve in the short term, though, their forwards need to come together a lot better as a unit. A lot better. It's no good trying to sugar-coat the bitter pill. The Bulldogs forward pack dominated them on Friday night and that was pretty much the beginning of the end.
Anyway, things will feel more comfortable when Brett Stewart is back from injury and the players have spent more time playing together.
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...nrl-season-20160305-gnbhq8.html#ixzz421w59Oe7
Follow us: @smh on Twitter | sydneymorningherald on Facebook
for all the crap he can go on about, he makes sense here.
