Game Day: Storm v Manly [Round 16, 2020]

[HoldenV8]

Sadly all our backs looked pedestrian today against the quicker opposition .
Our season is well and truly over as we can not compete for a top 8 spot with this inconsistent lot
I know it is not the end of the world and there is always next season but I feel a sense of emptiness.

The only back with any pace available right now (maybe?) is Garrick. And he looked slow next to Addo-Carr.

 

[HoldenV8]

None of our second rowers playing centre wlll pass the ball, they ALL step inside

We've been saying that all year unfortunately, although at least Thommo does occasionally pass the ball. Garrick for his part has been starved of much quality possession all year playing outside of Siro (and Suli).

 

[HoldenV8]

As another poster mentioned earlier, perhaps leave Hoppa at centre for the next game or two until he gets a little more match fitness before looking to shift him into FB for the last couple of games. Leave Funa at FB until we can swap him and Hoppa. And yes, I would look at giving Shu a run at 5/8. We have zero to lose now, just 4 dead rubbers coming up and it's against pretty mediocre opposition

Schuster to 5/8, Cust to hooker and Levi to the bench (no Croker in the 17) might not be such a bad thing.

And I agree, leave Hopoate either at centre or wing until he gets match fitness, then swap him and Funa. I really can't see (I hope I'm right actually) Turbo coming back in 2020 (and will be very pissed off if he does play Origin, especially if he gets injured again and is forced to miss part of 2021), and Walks won't be back this year either so I would definitely keep Hopoate and Funa in the side until the end of the year.

 

[40 nil]

Funny

Not Found | Fox Sports Videos

www.foxsports.com.au

 

[simon64]

This year is over. In fact, realistically, it ended 3 or 4 weeks ago.

We can't go into 2021 with the same lack of pace we have this year. We need to go into the market and add to our backline.

What struck me too is how little creativity we have with the ball. It's astounding how bad we are.

We have 4 guys out. 5 of you count Elliot. We should be able to cover these injuries but our depth is so bad we just fold. I'll be really disappointed if Des doesn't have a hit list for new recruits.

On the upside, at least Sydney FC did the right thing by me going back to back. They've provided me with something to cheer about while Manly go through some sort of existential crisis.

 

[globaleagle]

I had tipped melb all week in our tipping comp, but game day, and being an eternal optimist, and liking those other positive comments led me to changing my tip at the last moment.

ah well.

At least it's not raining...wait....

fml

The try from Marty to AFB shows just how easy it can be. Hopefully some newbies get blooded and when everyone is fit and healthy it'll be good to watch.

 

[40 years an eagle]

I really can't see (I hope I'm right actually) Turbo coming back in 2020 (and will be very pissed off if he does play Origin, especially if he gets injured again and is forced to miss part of 2021),

If Tom chooses to play SOO after missing almost all this season his contract should be set on fire.

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

Overall, I don't think there is enough 'footy smarts' in our team. We are missing the players who provided this last year - Turbo, Fainu, Walker. The team IQ tends to lift when any or all of these players are available. DCE & Jake have smarts, but need more partners....

Totally agree. Dumb plays that lose possession on tackle 1 are the prime example. Possession is key, the team knew that, yet did it anyway. Cust and Funa are inexperienced yet still should know better after the benefit of being in our squad for the last couple of years. Also Garrick trying to run around someone on our own line, just go forward 3 metres is better than being dragged back to give them another set.

How to urgently import some footy smarts into a team? Recruitment has to look at that, just as much as speed, size, aggression, decent character. We are lacking in smarts right now. Storm's famous big 3 were successful for being smart as much as anything else.

 

[manly al]

Outplayed and crueled again with unforced errors but to their credit showed some good spirit and effort . Score did not seem to reflect these better aspects .Still getting burnt on the edges , inexperience partly responsible but why the continued poor communication and lack of positional adjustment , i really can "t explain . Realize that it does make it hard when possession flows are against them but will continue to struggle in attack with the present structures around the ruck area . At least on some limited occasions they were trying a few different things but now surely time to bring in Schuster , reinstate Haumole , persevere with young Hoppa .maybe also Metcalfe . Can "t realistically replace quality players like Tom and Walker but can certainly put in players with ability and promise who can in every likelihood offer something better or begin to develop their potential .

 

[sheridanstand78]

I felt the effort was better than the previous week. We had two great chances at 0-0 and 6-14 to be right in the game and as our season has gone they were frittered away and like a good team does the Storm punished us for those errors and we got exposed by their speed and strength.

Our defence is so disjointed and exposed as our right side especially was all at sea as clever kicks and passing allowed their fast backs to out flank us time and time again. I was really disappointed in the 1st and 3rd tries we conceded through just simple missed tackles, to me that was unacceptable!!

The season is done, its time to rest injured players and give some of the younger players a chance. We need to blood these boys and be ready for next season.

Des has defended and stuck with these players and after 5 straight losses there is no where for him to hide now. Failure to do this will just worsen our situation!

 

[nightster]

We need two hyper running second rowers that set up their outside men and can tackle, we need some spine with creativity, we need speed on the outside I think I may have mentioned it before but I'll say it again ...... we are SLOOOW across the ground and between the ears ...

 

[manly al]

No doubt those two missed opportunities to initially go maybe 6 up and then just after half time to bring the score back to most likely 14 - 12 were significant . Probably would not have changed the outcome or resulted in a Manly win but would have made the game more interesting and who knows really . Talk about having a season when your luck is out and so many things continue to go against you .

 

[The Wheel]

A few pics from yesterday to enjoy

Best pics Rd 16: Sea Eagles vs Storm

Check out some of the best snaps taken from Sunday's clash against the Melbourne Storm at Sunshine Coast Stadium. Pics: NRL Photos.

www.seaeagles.com.au

 

[The Who]

No doubt those two missed opportunities to initially go maybe 6 up and then just after half time to bring the score back to most likely 14 - 12 were significant . Probably would not have changed the outcome or resulted in a Manly win but would have made the game more interesting and who knows really . Talk about having a season when your luck is out and so many things continue to go against you .

I don't think it had anything to do with luck. As soon as Melbourne moved the ball to their backline they had us beaten for pace and skill. They created an overlap at will.
It was the same story the previous week against Souffs.

 

[manly al]

I don't think it had anything to do with luck. As soon as Melbourne moved the ball to their backline they had us beaten for pace and skill. They created an overlap at will.
It was the same story the previous week against Souffs.

Was more referring to not having some of our key players available and on a regular basis for the majority of [ or all of ] this season . Turbo , Walker , Suli , Fauni and other unhelpful disruptions . Guess that it is also fair to say regardless of any replacement"s efforts , a second rate or inexperienced spine can only invariably result in some second rate performances for Manly . Some very dubious team selections when things were repeatedly not working and some disjointed play all round and no real intent to change things definitely seemed to be working against some better outcomes also .

 

[ManEagle]

We had our chances, we couldn't get the pill down over the line when we had the limited opportunity to do so. Just didn't have the smarts nor the finesse to capitalise on some uncharacteristic errors from the Storm while they made us pay for every error.

Starting to come around to Biff's #foran21 thought, just to get some more smarts and show the younger ones like Cust, Shoe, Funa and Hoppa a different way to that of DCE.

 

[manly al]

We had our chances, we couldn't get the pill down over the line when we had the limited opportunity to do so. Just didn't have the smarts nor the finesse to capitalise on some uncharacteristic errors from the Storm while they made us pay for every error.

Starting to come around to Biff's #foran21 thought, just to get some more smarts and show the younger ones like Cust, Shoe, Funa and Hoppa a different way to that of DCE.

Did you see how how Foz went last night ? Team had been going well enough and competitively enough when Walker has been at 6 . and then Turbo creates so much doubt and is a constant threat when on the paddock , Turbo at the back Walker at 6 and Suli and Albert in the centers with Brad as a bench utility . [ and surely the injury afflictions will ease up soon to allow some stability ] That is the combo in the backs i would like to see to compliment D C E . As for an effective 9 and no Fauni again , still a problem but probably still long odds to have Foz returning

 

[simon64]

I don't think it had anything to do with luck. As soon as Melbourne moved the ball to their backline they had us beaten for pace and skill. They created an overlap at will.
It was the same story the previous week against Souffs.

100% right. It looks like we're playing with 10 players we are caught short so often.

Watching the top teams, that never happens. Whatever system we are playing, it needs scrapping.

 

[Bearfax]

100% right. It looks like we're playing with 10 players we are caught short so often.

Watching the top teams, that never happens. Whatever system we are playing, it needs scrapping.

Tend to agree. As has been mentioned several times on these sites, Des seems to contract his play to the centre leaving the outside backs struggling. May work when you have players like Lyon, Matai, Brett Stewart, Robertson etc who were fast and positionally astute. But this side does not have that pace...yet. As has been mentioned, the backline is pedestrian. Garrett is quite quick and Funa, though being outpaced by Addo (probably the fastest in the game) is quite quick. Hopa hopefully will regain that speed he had in the juniors and Burbo looks quite fast. There's potential. But at present it certainly looks like the wrong tactic is being used for this side. Maybe Des needs to get Anderson on the wing. He's fast. Miski is fairly quick and seems quite smart. Hard to defeat a team of fast giants that the Storm seem to draw on year after year.

 

[davohan123]

If Tom chooses to play SOO after missing almost all this season his contract should be set on fire.

Yes most in here would be angry if he does not play with us again this year but decides to risk it with SOO.
I think the blues have had more game time from Tom than manly has.