Pre-Game Raiders V Manly [Round 23, 2024]

[Rosko]

It has been said before and will be said again, but - this really is MIGOTY!

 

[master blaster]

So dogs fans booing him wasn't it?

You got me...

 

[The Wheel]

Rd 23 Sea Eagles Injury Report

Here is the latest Sea Eagles injury news from Manly's NRL Head Physiotherapist Chris Bailey leading into round 23 of the Telstra Premiership.

www.seaeagles.com.au

 

[ALinda]

Only one seat left in the Away Supporters' bay, so there should be lots of maroon and white fans cheering Manly. Will need them all to help get the win!

 

[Sir Pigman]

Round 23: Raiders v Sea Eagles | Sea Eagles

Round 23: Raiders v Sea Eagles

www.seaeagles.com.au

Smithies named for Raiders but went HIA.

Maybe they will challenge 11 day stand down.

 

[Pete W]

I hope they swap brown for toff in the 13. I think brown and bullemor off the bench together has worked really well all year. Don’t think Brown is big enough to start against fresh forwards. Has less impact with his running game.

Our middles look a little outgunned this week. Paseka needs to have a blinder

 

[Tragic Eagle]

Possession will be key.

 

[Sheikheagle]

Only one seat left in the Away Supporters' bay, so there should be lots of maroon and white fans cheering Manly. Will need them all to help get the win!

Ill be there 🥶

 

[Terry Zarsoff]

Okay , so the Frog , straight back in.

Feel sorry for Simpkin as I think he’s been going great guns , and interesting to see the Gordie 3 names as displaced him for the 14 spot.

It’s a fair side , but not easy away v Raiders

Whilst Croker’s defensive efforts are always welcome, I hope that he has taken note of how Simpkin’s crisper service from dummy half improved Manly’s attack.

Hopefully he tries to emulate it. Not holding my breath.

 

[ALinda]

Ill be there 🥶

Me too. I'll be rugged up, though it looks like Canberra's going to be reasonable weather-wise.

 

[AlxFromNthNarra]

Good matchup. Lots of interesting storylines to watch:

Simpkin vs Croker vs GCKT
Simpkin has arguably his weakest game for us against the Rooters, whether you like his first few games or not, that's the reality. He wasn't great against Easts. Whereas Gordie had his most minutes against the Rooters, and it was his strongest outing hands down - he was the Dummy-half on the field as we mounted a comback that almost won us the game. Also, Croker/Simpkin are more interchangeable with similar stat similarities. GCKT is our x-factor based on stats right now, and I'm ok with Simpkin getting a week off to consider his performance.

Hopoate back
..Is a big add for us. Brother Albert sits on the ressies for Canberra, and the mail is that we got the better of the 2 bruzzies on that one hands downs. I tend to agree - Lehi on Wing shifts Talau to Centre which is where I believe he belongs, whilst Lehi get's to add his surprising return run-metre workrate from a position he can handle. He deadset makes more post-contact meters than a guy his age/stature should be making. They will absolutely pepper this wing with the up-and-unders all night too - and Lehi will rise to the challenge and defuse them all. I think he is that good. I actually feel safer with him under most high balls than even 8ft-16in Saab.

No Aloiai
...Actually hurts. Can't believe i'm saying it. He was really good against a Newcastle pack that on-paper shat on us. Our backline was class vs the Knights who were half-baked sure, but someone had to dull the Knights forwards, and Josh was a major instigator of Pack dominance. We put 30+ on them before they even threatened us. Look at the Knights pack again - we had no right to mash them like we did without Paseka. We need to do that this week with a similarly daunting pack from the Raiders side, running at us in a bitterly cold Canberra setting. At least we have Taniela back, and Toff has been good this year. Ricky has messed with the Capital's favourite Ranga, and given he wants out I think it spells trouble for the Fwd motivation. Hopefully Paps has a trademark off-week and we just roll 'em thru the middle. We have a great record at Canberra and an axe to grind after that home-loss earlier in the year.

'Mole - A better Do'er than talker
He just sounded like he wasn't up for talk, just ready to murder them this weekend after 3-weeks of no footy thanks to Origin. Couldn't talk out any meaning for his Origin suspension to save his life, but I just feel he is a spring-loaded ball of fury ready to strike. Leave the talk, and give this guy the ball. He's in for a big end to this season, and being "dropped" from origin to become a bench-warming support pet is something that he will want to make a statement around. We have all moved on from Origin - 'Mole hasn't been given the chance to. I hope he takes that benching personally this weekend and destroys the Raiders. I suspect he will be on the tryscorers list by nights end.

First-pick Spine - for first time since May!
The DCE-Brooks-Turbo-Croker spine has not been available since that awful loss to Canberra - the only home-loss all year. We lost Croker at 60-mins mark, and didn't score again. Raiders scored twice and snatched it. This is the first time we get that spine back since that game in early May. We'll discover whether this is our best spine - we had a great record at the time of that injury/loss, having had only the 1 shocker against the Dragons at W'gong - which was a mistakeathon from our marquees. We have been lucky with Lawton (not getting injured), Simpkin's addition and GCKT's cameos being highly effective replacements - but to push for September impact we need our best team on the park. Time to see if this is still our best spine - and if it's not, we still have time to adjust. Canberra have an impressive spine too, built on youth and guile. Kaeo at the back they should know well, and Strange is a special half no doubt - but if a combo of DCE/Brooks/Turbo/Croker can't outsmart the Raiders spine at their ages, we have no business being at the sticky end of the finals period.

 

[Eagle 1]

whats he done now and how long out for ? .He seems to spend every other fortnight suspended or injured ,or is that my imagination?

I feel your pain and anguish Highflyer. I like the Preacher, but geez he spends a lot of time on the sidelines. Just hope its nothing serious as we need his impact at the business end of the season.

 

[maxta]

I've liked Simpkins game, but the pack Canberra have are very physical which is a big part of Croker auto selection at 9
Will need to defend well and at least match the middle and allow the Oka and Tom C factors to create big moments
Don't want to let these greens get a lead with momentum and play the chasing game
A big start this week is imperative

 

[Eagle 1]

Only one seat left in the Away Supporters' bay, so there should be lots of maroon and white fans cheering Manly. Will need them all to help get the win!

We have a big supporter base in Canberra, our fans will make themselves herd alright.

 

[Eagle 1]

I've liked Simpkins game, but the pack Canberra have are very physical which is a big part of Croker auto selection at 9
Will need to defend well and at least match the middle and allow the Oka and Tom C factors to create big moments
Don't want to let these greens get a lead with momentum and play the chasing game
A big start this week is imperative

Yeah, in attack they are pretty forward orientated, i noticed a lot of one out stuff from their forwards against the Doggies. Baptism of fire for Crokers comeback game I'd say.

 

[Eagle 1]

And they have something big planned for Pappa so they will be very keen to win it for him

And we've got something planned as well. Driving back to Sydney after the game with the 2 pts.

 

[EOL now nesting on the GC]

Time to call a spade a spade.
We all love how tough Croker is and kudos to him for his heart, BUT, for the past 4 seasons most on here have spoken the blinding obvious truth that we needed a specialist 9... on so many occasions his service was slow and telegraphed. He would often make silly basic errors that top 9's do not make, a lot of the time when we were in excellent attacking position. Yep he's a great defender but that is just a part of the puzzle.
Simkin has been excellent. Our fast crisp ball has lit up the attack. Yes last match was tought but to drop him completely to put in a guy that hasn't really played a match in 3 months is ludicrous.
God I hope Seibold has this one right because it screams foolish to me.

 

[eaglebuzz]

Unfortunately I think Simpkin played Croker back into the 9 with his lacklustre defensive effort against the Roosters. We got torn to shreds at the beginning of that match and it all started in the middle.

I'd have put him onto the bench but realistically GCKT is more suited to the 14 than Simpkin is.

I'm annoyed by this whole turn of events though because I think our attack is going to falter now.

 

[CRPSI eagle]

I've liked Simpkins game, but the pack Canberra have are very physical which is a big part of Croker auto selection at 9
Will need to defend well and at least match the middle and allow the Oka and Tom C factors to create big moments
Don't want to let these greens get a lead with momentum and play the chasing game
A big start this week is imperative

What if we got away to a 20 nil start😂

 

[Eagle 1]

Unfortunately I think Simpkin played Croker back into the 9 with his lacklustre defensive effort against the Roosters. We got torn to shreds at the beginning of that match and it all started in the middle.

I'd have put him onto the bench but realistically GCKT is more suited to the 14 than Simpkin is.

I'm annoyed by this whole turn of events though because I think our attack is going to falter now.

Its GCKT big chance to shine and show Seib's what he's capable of. Got a feeling he'll be getting a lot more minutes this game. Can't see Croker putting in a long shift against the bulker Faders pack after such a long layoff.