Pre-Game Manly V Dragons [Round 7, 2025]

[stoodamire]

Exactly what strength will Croker bring to Manly?

By not having Tevaga start lol

 

[Budgie]

Exactly what strength will Croker bring to Manly?

Defence. Keep up!

 

[Bomb Voyage]

This is the team I’d like to see if we expect Seibold to actually make changes

1. Lehi
2. Saab
3. Talau
4. Koula
5. Garrick
6. Brooks
7. DCE
8. Aloiai
9. Croker
10. Jazz
11. Haumole
12. Chee Kam
13. Navale
14. Simpkin
15. Bully
16. Patolo
17. TKO

 

[Seagles68]

Usually it's at Woolongong where we get hammered, but that curse has now gone.

If we get belted again at Brookie, I might get hammered.

 

[Rafferty]

If we get belted again at Brookie, I might get hammered.

Make sure you’ve got a few on ice………

 

[Seagles68]

Make sure you’ve got a few on ice………

I will have to wait till I get home coz it's too expensive at the ground 🤣

 

[Brookie1973]

If we get belted again at Brookie, I might get hammered.

I will probably get hammered either way. Actually, not probably.

 

[Brookie1973]

View attachment 29880

But in a troubling development, notices a large ice and plastic growth on said shoulder.

 

[Eagle 1]

But in a troubling development, notices a large ice and plastic growth on said shoulder.

Sieb's said it was a cork, and he should be fine. First time I've heard of a corked shoulder.

 

[Rafferty]

I will have to wait till I get home coz it's too expensive at the ground 🤣

They’ll be ready just in case mate…….lets hope they turn into the celebratory kind as opposed to the depressingly let’s get hammered kind…..

 

[Brookie1973]

Sieb's said it was a cork, and he should be fine. First time I've heard of a corked shoulder.

Maybe he said “cooked”

 

[aidan]

Won’t happen
As Chee Kam, Navale and Patolo are not in the top 30.

1. Tolutau Koula
2. Jason Saab
3. Tommy Talau
4. Reuben Garrick
5. Lehi Hopoate
6. Luke Brooks
7. Daly Cherry-Evans
8. Josh Aloiai
9. Lachlan Croker
10.Siosiua Taukeiaho
11. Haumole Olakau’atu
12. Ben Trbojevic
13. Jake Trbojevic

14.Jake Simpkin
15. Jazz Tevaga
16. Nathan Brown
17. Ethan Bullomer

Supplementary list (development) players can play from round 1 of the season. So if Seibold is serious, Navale and possibly Chee Kam will get named this week.

 

[JakeyB789]

Hopoate
Saab
Koula
Garrick
Talau
Brooks
D$E
Aloiai
Croker
Taukeaiho
Olakau'atu
Burbo
Jurbo

Simpkin
Tevaga
Bullemor
Brown

This is the team I expect to see but wouldn't be surprised if Seibold chooses to keep Sipley in there and wrongly persist with Tevaga at hooker over Simpkin. If he wants to get at least a little bit creative then I'd like to see Navale & Patolo in there over Brown/Sipley/Tevaga (TKO is going alright and can stay for now). Jake should move to prop and have a role similar to his NSW stint last year. Bully is definitely better as a middle off the bench but I'd even be tempted to put him at 12 so Burbo can move to the bench or ideally out of the side completely. Been such a tough watch this year that even Michael Chee Kam doesn't sound like a bad option.

I'm probably the most uninspired I've ever been by our team to be honest. A slow, old and underperforming pack with limited options to replace them. Look at the guys in our top 30 not mentioned here:

Faulalo/Schoupp/Vaega - don't mind all these guys but realistically they are 3rd, 4th and 5th in line for a backline position at full strength, and don't help our forward issues at all
Arthur - still only playing in the halves where he is not NRL quality, a move to lock has been touted but hasn't even been tried there yet in Cup because he's too small
Walsh - playing Flegg and is at least 2 years away from being ready
James/Matterson - career reserve graders that are never pushing for FG selection
GCKT - too small, defensive issues and can only play 14
Waddell - suspended this week which is somehow still a good thing, even with our lack of options

We're ****ed, really starting to feel the lack of cap space this year. At least there is a $1m silver lining coming off the books next year.

 

[Sea Eagle 4 Life]

Maybe he said “cooked”

Mmm cooked shoulder................of lamb:

 

[Ralphie]

Supplementary list (development) players can play from round 1 of the season. So if Seibold is serious, Navale and possibly Chee Kam will get named this week.

What on earth do we see in Chee Kam. He was rubbish the first time he was with us, was rubbish at the TigPies and the Wabbits. He is a journeyman who can't find a home because he is rubbish, and we take him back..............of course we did......................good grief.

 

[Bomb Voyage]

What on earth do we see in Chee Kam. He was rubbish the first time he was with us, was rubbish at the TigPies and the Wabbits. He is a journeyman who can't find a home because he is rubbish, and we take him back..............of course we did......................good grief.

He’s crap but I think Ben t is worse

 

[aidan]

What on earth do we see in Chee Kam. He was rubbish the first time he was with us, was rubbish at the TigPies and the Wabbits. He is a journeyman who can't find a home because he is rubbish, and we take him back..............of course we did......................good grief.

Not a lot to be honest. But I can’t stand watching Ben run out and do the same **** every week. Personally I’d actually have Navale play on an edge, he’s definitely more than capable. Has better acceleration and is more agile than Ben, and can also bust a tackle and break the line. Exactly what we need. Still think his best position is lock but it’s obvious Seibold isn’t going to move Jake anytime soon.

 

[Eagle 1]

What on earth do we see in Chee Kam. He was rubbish the first time he was with us, was rubbish at the TigPies and the Wabbits. He is a journeyman who can't find a home because he is rubbish, and we take him back..............of course we did......................good grief.

well, he was ...cheap !!

 

[Terry Zarsoff]

If we get belted again at Brookie, I might get hammered.

What if Manly are hammered at Brookvale? Will you get belted?

 

[Saabnaldo]

Few comments on what I think the team will be.

I think Haumole is fine from post-game pictures. Talau seemed a little underdone, but surely Croker is back.

1. Hoppa - one of our best, of course a 20 year old will make a few mistakes
2. Saab - I think he'll be fine
3. Koula - ???
4. Garrick - our second best this year
5. Talau - he'll get into form
6. Brooks - Out playing DCE lately
7. DCE - This guy is playing like he's got a contract elsewhere already.
8. Aloiai - Having a good year
9. Croker - Most underrated part of our team, middle defence will be FAR better.
10. Taukeiaho - doing a good enough job.
11. Olakau'atu - BEAST.
12. Ben - EXACT OPPOSITE.
13. Jake Trbojevic - I've put him here, but something needs to be done, he is not effective at all.
14. Tevaga - At his best as a middle, he is not a hooker, other than as a 10 minute fill in.
15. Bullemor - 3rd best
16. Brown - still has something to offer
17. Navale - Give him a shot! Sipley very much may be past it. Good culture guy but he's ineffective.

I think putting Taukeiaho on the bench for Brown at loc might be the play. Need a better balance of leg-speed and plodding (if that is a skill).

Brown has something to offer? What like giving me a headache?