PRE-GAME DISCUSSION: Chooks v Manly [Round 1, 2021]

[jbb/james]

Can't afford one plodder in the team anymore, what with the repeat sets, and momentum. We have Garrick, Suli, Parker, Boyle, Keppie, Croker, Funa, Aloiai, Sironen, Jake who are relative plodders, or don't make too much impact.

We need to emulate the strong teams. Fast, big, mobile, lightning play-the-ball speed, great ruck control. Need to get on a roll. Play as a unit.

We make a few metres, play the ball slow (you could turn the Titanic faster than Taufua plays the ball).

In the modern game, you definitely need specialist players playing specialist positions. Then , you need to have mitigates if your specialist goes down (a ready made player to replace them). We don't have a single specialist Hooker at the club (that's not potentially going to prison), and we don't have one specialist fullback to replace Tom. That is such poor roster management.

Afford is the key here.

2 for 1 on plodders because of the shiney things that dont give much of a ROI

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

I agree with the need to try something different if plan A isn't humming by week three.

Yes , I’m two rounds the same , after that changes might need to happen.

 

[ManlyArmy]

I can deal with the starting line up, but that bench.... Jesus!

If you take out Funa and Boyle, and bring in Schuster and Keppie, then the side looks a whole lot better.

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

I can deal with the starting line up, but that bench.... Jesus!

If you take out Funa and Boyle, and bring in Schuster and Keppie, then the side looks a whole lot better.

Not disagreeing with you but I think we might have to give those chosen a chance first , after all we don’t know how things have gone down at training.

And don’t look at the trial as being a valid line in the form, as half the side was out and the others were being interchanged pretty quickly.

 

[ManlyArmy]

Not disagreeing with you but I think we might have to give those chosen a chance first , after all we don’t know how things have gone down at training.

And don’t look at the trial as being a valid line in the form, as half the side was out and the others were being interchanged pretty quickly.

Agree with you there.

Also for those wondering about Haumole, he was training away from the playing group at the Members Day as I can see why he hasn’t been picked for 1st grade. Most likely wouldnt meet the required fitness levels just yet.

 

[Ben]

Then i would presume at his basement dollar price we must get requests to release him weekly, sipley that is

the sips is a goer. I like him

Bring back Sipley! Way beyond me why he is constantly left out. He is as good as any starting prop we have and IMO has way more drive and leg speed before he receives the ball. Perplexing to say the least and what a waste of talent sitting on the sidelines

 

[Nambawan]

Don't have much confidence in this team selection - too many players who underperformed last year are still there - and despite mediocre performances in trial match. I particularly refer to Suli and 2nd rowers Sironen and Goziewski, and Boyle. Worry that Easts may towel them up on Saturday. Should Hasler continue to ignore Olakau-atu, then I for one will have lost confidence in Hasler's ability to select players according to logic and form.

 

[Kevinward777]

Don't have much confidence in this team selection - too many players who underperformed last year are still there - and despite mediocre performances in trial match. I particularly refer to Suli and 2nd rowers Sironen and Goziewski, and Boyle. Worry that Easts may towel them up on Saturday. Should Hasler continue to ignore Olakau-atu, then I for one will have lost confidence in Hasler's ability to select players according to logic and form.

It's been posted several times now that Haumole is not at the required fitness level just yet. Read the post directly above yours.

 

[BOZO]

Dear Des

Our spirits are down and our winless starved Manly community are going though winless withdrawals and we need a winning dose against the Roosters as much as a heroin addict needs another dose of heroin .

We need a win and I do not care how we do it even if means our players must carry samurai swords to cut the roosters to pieces this Saturday

Winning means everything to our proud club and our proud Manly people

WE NEED A WIN ROUND ONE AND MAKE OUR WAY TO NUMBER ONE AGAIN !!!

LETS DO IT !!!

 

[Brocky]

It's been posted several times now that Haumole is not at the required fitness level just yet. Read the post directly above yours.

Parker and Suli u have to be kidding, useless both of them. Team selection dies not look good at all.

 

[Pete the Eagle]

Dear Des

Our spirits are down and our winless starved Manly community are going though winless withdrawals and we need a winning dose against the Roosters as much as a heroin addict needs another dose of heroin .

We need a win and I do not care how we do it even if means our players must carry samurai swords to cut the roosters to pieces this Saturday

Winning means everything to our proud club and our proud Manly people

WE NEED A WIN ROUND ONE AND MAKE OUR WAY TO NUMBER ONE AGAIN !!!

LETS DO IT !!!

True this , however when's the last time we won the first round ?? its been a while i think , sorry if i got that wrong though.
But im concerned about the team going in this weekend.

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

True this , however when's the last time we won the first round ?? its been a while i think , sorry if i got that wrong though.
But im concerned about the team going in this weekend.

I’m more worried about losing the first 4 than the first 1.

I fully expect to lose the first game.

But we need to go down in a fight not in a whimper.

 

[mickqld]

Well after settling down and a nights sleep anyone feel different than yesterday ???

No. Just more confused.

 

[AlxFromNthNarra]

Regardless of our selections, one thing is clear to me - we are going up against a Rooters team in Round 1, no real form on the board that counts, with a brand new halves pairing, 2 hookers better than any of ours out injured, their mascot out (Radley, guy inspires others around him), Their captain on indefinite concussion leave...

If you got this gift against them mid-season, you would bloody take it.

 

[BOZO]

True this , however when's the last time we won the first round ?? its been a while i think , sorry if i got that wrong though.
But im concerned about the team going in this weekend.

When was the last time we have won first round is a good question

Records are meant to be broken and Round one is a great time to break them

 

[mickqld]

My guess is Haumole, Keppie, Sipley just haven't aimed up in pre season. I was unimpressed with Keppie last year, he seemed to struggle. If they aren't fit enough then the question is why. It falls on the strength and conditioning trainers then. Has the new speed of game passed by these people by.

 

[Ned]

I ran some numbers, I took the season average supercoach points from each player. I don't know how much everyone else reads into this but one thing I understand from this is we need a substantial improvement in performance (or equal drop from the rorters) from the average performance we got from these guys last year to have any chance. And I know it was just a trial but I didn't see that improvement against the tigpies, looked very similar to last years performance level to me.

 

[BOZO]

View attachment 17212I ran some numbers, I took the season average supercoach points from each player. I don't know how much everyone else reads into this but one thing I understand from this is we need a substantial improvement in performance (or equal drop from the rorters) from the average performance we got from these guys last year to have any chance. And I know it was just a trial but I didn't see that improvement against the tigpies, looked very similar to last years performance level to me.

On game day numbers mean nothing and wanting to win badly means everything

 

[frank stokes]

ST is going to be a gloriously happy forum Saturday night after we put 32 points on the rooters and win by 10....

 

[wombatgc]

Like others have said, I can't see why anyone is surprised by the team selections. Barring Tommy's injury, this was always the team Des was going to select. Am I concerned that we don't have a recognised hooker and that Croker is considered a first-grade footballer? Of course, but I'm not surprised - we've known this **** for months.

Regardless of whether Schuster sneaks into the side or not, this is what we've got, and if history any guide, Des won't deviate from it - win, lose or draw. I hope they all play great. Plenty of time to crucify them after the game if they don't

The game day thread is going to be an even bigger roller coaster ride than it normally is. Hold onto your hats ppl!