I think this a balanced summary - copied from the Facebook Supporters Group
"Manly’s forward momentum has declined compared to last season and they’re losing the forward battle. Manly look constrained in attack, only gaining a few metres whilst the opposition is making huge gains. As first receiver, by the time Jake gets the ball then looks and passes to a running player, the opposition is already in their face."
"Is Jake being properly utilised? Jake’s defence is top notch solid averaging over 45 tackles per game, but to no fault of his, he is stifling Manly’s attack."
"Throughout both games, Manly looked sluggish, going sideways and nowhere. Frustration then creeps in which results in errors and dumb plays. It’s a snow-ball affect. Add to the fact that Turbo is heavily marked and contained, then their’s no-one setting up or scoring tries like our wingers enjoyed last season. It is obvious that Manly are simply playing flat, restricted and predictable footy."
"The opposition teams have used the off-season to study how to shut down Turbo and Manly and we’re seeing it with our own eyes. It’s easy to turnaround and fix with a few tweaks, but they need to start quick, without errors and respect the ball and most importantly eliminate the bottleneck to allow the attacking traffic to flow. I love Jake as a player, but he’s a better player when he’s running straight and hard into the opponent’s gaps."
"Same goes with Croker. How refreshing was it to see him dart out the way he did and having the Roosters back pedalling? But unfortunately all that good work is then undone as they fall back to the same restricted and predictable pattern again in the next few plays."
"Mr fix it man “Walker” injects some energy and spark to the team and improves the shape and direction adding another dimension to Manly’s attack. His speed and sharpness as first receiver has the opposition scrambling in defence, but all that is too late as the damage was done in the first 20 minutes. If Manly can get to a quick start, then Walker being subbed in later compliments the team."
"Many supporters are complaining about the right edge as cracks are starting to form. Well, if Manly can increase their intensity and line speed to win the forward battle, then these weaknesses would not be exposed. The big boppers like Paseka and Taupau need to bend the line and in attack they need to be a handful to contain, just like Mole who pushes hard and has players hanging off him whilst he is making metres."
"I enjoyed seeing Davey getting a run. He didn’t look out of place. A welcoming addition to the team. Des will have to make some tough roster decisions in the next few weeks with the addition of Aloia and let’s not forget Sipley. So rotating and resting forwards each week may be a good option."
"History does repeat itself and we find ourselves in the same predicament as last year. If we keep doing more of the same, we will continue to get the same result. Losing is a habit. I feel next week’s game against the Bulldogs will be the springboard needed to lift. It’s time to break that habit and show the NRL we are contenders for the NRL premiership. Go Manly!"