thought it might be time to join in this epic thread.
i'll start with a confession...i too am a fan from the team north of the border, but im not here to talk rubbish or troll. enjoyed most of the thread, and if I often lurk opposition forums to see how they travelling, you guys are close to the best one I've read. ive never actually regged for another forum, so that says something about your forum. Some are pretty trashy - eels, bulldogs etc.
ill give you my view on Manly - i really didnt like them as a young bloke, through the 90's..maybe it was the continued success that pissed me off, or a combo of that plus some whingey players. and that continued through the 2000's with Des' seige mentality and stuff...but by around 2013 i actually really began respecting what he'd built and the way your team played. the back line skills and ability to score out wide was incredible and i was firmly rooting for you guys through that semi final series and GF. Now Toovey, who's arms raising antics i had grown to detest is my favourite part of 360, and cant believe the pressure on him considering your injuries and the squad your working with. Wish him all the best and hope he gets to keep the gig.
how i view the titans? - a club that started with great community goodwill and crowds was let down by really poor coaching, poor recruitment and even poorer management from the CEO. Most of us were glad the NRL stepped in so that we could reboot, retool and come again in a better structure. We cop alot of crap for poor crowds, but comparative to foundation clubs and super successful clubs...we should be one of the last clubs under pressure for crowd performance.
Our squad? we have a proper recruitment guy on board for maybe 8 months...and he has done great things already. brought in some astute buys in Pettybourne, Burr, Mosely, and will continue to drag us into this century with our recruiting.
As for Myles... he isn't worth worth 450k - 500k. He might be to you guys as you need some older heads maybe, plus he does increase DCE chances, but watch closely and next year you will find a slow, lethargic player who absolutely makes a lot of tackles, but is more concerned with being funny to the refs. slowest play the ball in the NRL. dont say i didnt warn you. plus...if you do lose DCE, Myles has readily admitted that he was close to the final straw that got DCE there...cant believe more of you aren't pissed at him.
I was excited by the signing of chez as it gave even more validation that we are here to stay, but i still put myself in your shoes and could understand the disappointment at losing a kid you brought through and is a modern champion. it seems you are suffering from poor management at times also.
i think this has gone on so long and been so badly managed that no matter who DCE ends up with, he will have lost a little bit of his shine. He could have stated his commitment to his word of moving to GC or been clearer that he was thinking about staying with Manly. The team that gains his services though will most likely be crying at the GF every other year...champagne problems eh?
the other team has at least some reason to be bitter. you guys cos he has strung you along like he was maybe staying and could have put you out of your misery a while ago (i know stating he agreed to join us was telling..but he has had ample opportunity to address it), and us as we let Sezer go based on DCE which leaves us pretty screwed.
Lastly, while it was bold to go after your star half, i think Annesley has been pretty classy and respectful, announced it at start then has kept quiet and let it all run its course for better or worse. unlike the media in general and a few like gordie and locky who have put weird pressure on... the Titans in general have stayed out of it, even though they have the most to lose from a backflip.
long post..sorry lads. any questions?
