In some ways it is a surprise people have taken so long in other respects not surprising. It is because of such a well rounded skillset many are easily impressed to distraction from focusing or analyzing his poor delivery from a structure and science behind the game standpoint.
I argued this here at the very start of his career and was laughed down like i had some kind of agenda against DCE, many here kept placing DCE above Cronk which is laughable to say the least.
I actually think as DCE slows down his game will improve(he will be forced to focus on more efficient delivery methods of his skillset and science behind his game) and will be a great purchase for the Dolphins.
The sad thing is this year i actually saw elements of DCE's game where you could see someone had a word to him or he is thinking about his game in more detail to be effective. The loss against Cronulla(in small parts of the game) at Shark Park to me showed DCE was thinking about taking the line on more and squaring up his lines for more effective outside back plays.
The risk for Manly is getting sucked into this "potential" he has to offer which i feel is possible but not at Manly. Even if DCE reaches more of his potential Manly are at the stage now of having to groom players for the next decade and should of taken the punt on the best up and coming half or develop through our system while retaining Foran or Walker or both.
DCE should of went to the Broncos or Dolphins and i'm sure he would be playing great at either squad to the point Manly fans would be saying "oh look what we are missing" but that would be a short term way of thinking.
To me it would be a win win situation, Manly finally develop a new spine and way of playing to take us forward, DCE gets refreshed and starts to play in a more mature composed manner due to age and speed, Manly's cap space is greatly improved, DCE retains a high contract also moving on.
I actually rate DCE and from a coaching standpoint he is the type of player skillset wise and fitness wise most coaches would love to develop, i just feel he either doesn't take it on board enough or Des has been too lazy to address his flaws or our technical staff can't see it or have no idea how to address his ineffective delivery methods.
You could be right about him as a player and with regard to his playing future, however for me there is another aspect to the equation, it’s not the skillset, his fitness, his longevity or having the formula that most coaches would be happy to work with, it’s the man himself, yes his a clean skin and has a quality most clubs would envy, but its his place among his peers, his team mates, that stands out as the primary issue.
There‘s plenty of past history that exposes it, pretty much started after the 2011 premiership and the fallout with some of the senior playing group that had taken under s to help us win that premiership, I remember the headlines, “pay me what I’m worth” followed by Titans debacle and the 10 year contract, choc and to a lesser extent Mason, who both publicly aired their thoughts about Chez, I’m sure there would be many others that have remained silent in terms of speaking out publicly, the earlier Qld origin group JT, Cronk, Smith and others who lets say didn’t warm to the bloke.
As a senior player, captain, on field leader and being the highest paid player in the game, can you honestly say his team mates look up to him, follow him as an inspirational leader? I think not, actually I think it’s the exact opposite, it’s become so toxic, I can’t see how we move forward under his leadership, it’s obvious Des has his back, which perhaps is correct, but not to the point of where things currently stand, its more than just the divide in the group, his personal form, on field decisions, his leadership and on field respect are all but gone, it’s not that hard to read the room, its both tragic and embarrassing for our club.
Its well and truly time for a shake out, I was looking forward to DCE‘s tenure ending and the club being able to build into a new era. I can’t understand why we extended him and I can’t see his extension being tenable moving forward, especially given recent circumstances. There’s no repairing our club at present without some massive changes, to think that next years playing group is all but locked under the same leadership structures and without some quality replacements is pretty depressing. I wish the clean out and rebuild would start now, from the top Down. Forget the ownership and the admin it’s not for sale, but the Coach, Captain and the playing group need to be rebuilt and should be addressed ASAP, starting with our captain and our coach, it’s over and I’m dredging next year if we stick with the current status quo.
