HoldenV8
Journey Man
Sorry for the lateness with this. Was watching the Aussie's win the first Ashes test at Edgbaston 
Anyway, in 2019 its.....
Manly - 2
Knights - 0
Does that mean we win the FA Cup? 😛
Tom Trbojevic 7/10 - Even when he's having an off day he's still above average. But what impressed me most was his positional play at the back. A Snake's influence to be sure.
Jorge Taufua 7/10 - The Knights tried to put him under pressure with kicks, and he answered strongly. But what did that poor bin do to Jorge?
Brad Parker 7/10 - Very solid with the ball and even more so in defence. Scorpio has turned into one of the best defensive centre's in the NRL this year.
Moses Suli 7/10 - Strong running again from the big boy. And one of them set up the space for Marty's try.
Reuben Garrick 7/10 - Missed a few shots on goal, not that it mattered. Scored a ripper of a try and backed up to score a second. Could have had 3 but actually overran a tiring DCE.
Dylan Walker 7/10 - Getting his hands on the ball more has done him the world of good. Not as exposed defensively and he's running straight rather than sideways.
Daly Cherry-Evans 8/10 - Once again DCE controlled the game out there and gave Pearce a lesson in how to play halfback. Gave 3 try assists and almost bagged one himself. Normally would have too I reckon.
Addin Fonua-Blake 8/10 - Yet another very strong performance from AFB with the ball and in defence.
Api Koroisau 6/10 - A bit underdone which was expected, but stood up to the defensive pressure early.
Martin Taupau 8/10 - Marty is easily in career best form and got himself a well deserved 4 pointer.
Joel Thompson 9/10 - I thought he was our best out there just shading Marty and DCE. Would love to see him stay at Manly for 2020.
Curtis Sironen 7/10 - Siro continues to show that right now he is one of the games best back rowers.
Jake Trbojevic 7/10 - Seemingly didn't run much, but that's because he was often at first receiver. Made a team high 31 tackles despite only playing 70 minutes.
Manase Fainu 8/10 - Api soaked up the early pressure and when Manase came on he provided the magic. Right now he is only behind Smith and Cook as the best #9 in the NRL.
Corey Waddell 6/10 - Has slowed a bit since his good early showings, but he's not doing anything wrong.
Morgan Boyle 6/10 - Morgan is growing on me a bit. Des has shown faith in him and he is getting better. Not quite as good as last week, but one thing I am liking is that he's giving away less penalties.
Taniela Paseka 7/10 - The big boy is going good right now and I thought he was very good in defence on Saturday.
After the high of the win against Melbourne, Manly were supposed to be on a downer against the Knights on Saturday arvo. We were supposed to be fatigued and didn't the Fox commentator hammers that point during the game. But with Donny back running the fitness side of things we have become one of the fittest sides in the NRL while at the same time Des has instilled a toughness in this squad that was sadly lacking just 12 months ago. It was Manly who ran out the game strongly while the Knights continued their slide down the ladder.
I must admit that I groaned 3 weeks ago when Des named Dylan Walker at 5/8. I understood why, because we definitely needed Brad Parker's defence in the centres on the left, but I groaned nonetheless because we've all seen that one before and its not worked out well. However.....this time I am happy to say that so far I was wrong. Walker still isn't an organising or passing 5/8 and probably never truly will be, but his running game there, straight running no less which is much better than sideways, has added another dimension to this team. He's creating space that Thommo, Parker and Jorge can take advantage of, partly because I think some defenders underestimate his pace.
Lets hope it not only continues like that, but improves and gets a lot better.
We didn't play near our best on the weekend, yet we still won 30-6 and showed that we are genuine premiership contenders, as if the win over Melbourne didn't already show that. A lot picked a Newcastle win, but the reality is that other than Ponga scoring, the Knights were never really in the game and that actually allowed Des the luxury of sitting both Jake and DCE on the bench for the final 10 minutes for well earned rests.
Can we beat the Warriors in Auckland this Friday evening? You bet your arse we can......and we will.
Anyway, in 2019 its.....
Manly - 2
Knights - 0
Does that mean we win the FA Cup? 😛
Tom Trbojevic 7/10 - Even when he's having an off day he's still above average. But what impressed me most was his positional play at the back. A Snake's influence to be sure.
Jorge Taufua 7/10 - The Knights tried to put him under pressure with kicks, and he answered strongly. But what did that poor bin do to Jorge?
Brad Parker 7/10 - Very solid with the ball and even more so in defence. Scorpio has turned into one of the best defensive centre's in the NRL this year.
Moses Suli 7/10 - Strong running again from the big boy. And one of them set up the space for Marty's try.
Reuben Garrick 7/10 - Missed a few shots on goal, not that it mattered. Scored a ripper of a try and backed up to score a second. Could have had 3 but actually overran a tiring DCE.
Dylan Walker 7/10 - Getting his hands on the ball more has done him the world of good. Not as exposed defensively and he's running straight rather than sideways.
Daly Cherry-Evans 8/10 - Once again DCE controlled the game out there and gave Pearce a lesson in how to play halfback. Gave 3 try assists and almost bagged one himself. Normally would have too I reckon.
Addin Fonua-Blake 8/10 - Yet another very strong performance from AFB with the ball and in defence.
Api Koroisau 6/10 - A bit underdone which was expected, but stood up to the defensive pressure early.
Martin Taupau 8/10 - Marty is easily in career best form and got himself a well deserved 4 pointer.
Joel Thompson 9/10 - I thought he was our best out there just shading Marty and DCE. Would love to see him stay at Manly for 2020.
Curtis Sironen 7/10 - Siro continues to show that right now he is one of the games best back rowers.
Jake Trbojevic 7/10 - Seemingly didn't run much, but that's because he was often at first receiver. Made a team high 31 tackles despite only playing 70 minutes.
Manase Fainu 8/10 - Api soaked up the early pressure and when Manase came on he provided the magic. Right now he is only behind Smith and Cook as the best #9 in the NRL.
Corey Waddell 6/10 - Has slowed a bit since his good early showings, but he's not doing anything wrong.
Morgan Boyle 6/10 - Morgan is growing on me a bit. Des has shown faith in him and he is getting better. Not quite as good as last week, but one thing I am liking is that he's giving away less penalties.
Taniela Paseka 7/10 - The big boy is going good right now and I thought he was very good in defence on Saturday.
After the high of the win against Melbourne, Manly were supposed to be on a downer against the Knights on Saturday arvo. We were supposed to be fatigued and didn't the Fox commentator hammers that point during the game. But with Donny back running the fitness side of things we have become one of the fittest sides in the NRL while at the same time Des has instilled a toughness in this squad that was sadly lacking just 12 months ago. It was Manly who ran out the game strongly while the Knights continued their slide down the ladder.
I must admit that I groaned 3 weeks ago when Des named Dylan Walker at 5/8. I understood why, because we definitely needed Brad Parker's defence in the centres on the left, but I groaned nonetheless because we've all seen that one before and its not worked out well. However.....this time I am happy to say that so far I was wrong. Walker still isn't an organising or passing 5/8 and probably never truly will be, but his running game there, straight running no less which is much better than sideways, has added another dimension to this team. He's creating space that Thommo, Parker and Jorge can take advantage of, partly because I think some defenders underestimate his pace.
Lets hope it not only continues like that, but improves and gets a lot better.
We didn't play near our best on the weekend, yet we still won 30-6 and showed that we are genuine premiership contenders, as if the win over Melbourne didn't already show that. A lot picked a Newcastle win, but the reality is that other than Ponga scoring, the Knights were never really in the game and that actually allowed Des the luxury of sitting both Jake and DCE on the bench for the final 10 minutes for well earned rests.
Can we beat the Warriors in Auckland this Friday evening? You bet your arse we can......and we will.
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