The Daly Cherrygraph

[MadMarcus]

I wonder what would have happened if DCE never played for Manly.

I assume we probably would have kept Trent Hodkinson.

Would we have still won 2011? I think so.

Would we have won 2013? Probably not.

Would we have had more cap space to keep the glory team together a bit longer? Yes.

Would that have been a good thing? Hard to say. Gift and Choc were both busted at their new clubs, so from a roster perspective it was probably for the best that they left. But I believe that culturally we still haven’t recovered and DCE should take some responsibility for his contribution to the club’s poor culture.

Overall, I don’t think the club’s results over the last 15 years would have been much different. They may have been better, they may have been worse.

If you asked the question “what if Brett Stewart never played for Manly?”, “what if Geoff Toovey never played for Manly?” or “what if Cliff Lyons never played for Manly?” I think the answers would be far more definitive.

 

[Ron E. Gibbs]

I wonder what would have happened if DCE never played for Manly.

I assume we probably would have kept Trent Hodkinson.

Would we have still won 2011? I think so.

Would we have won 2013? Probably not.

Would we have had more cap space to keep the glory team together a bit longer? Yes.

Would that have been a good thing? Hard to say. Gift and Choc were both busted at their new clubs, so from a roster perspective it was probably for the best that they left. But I believe that culturally we still haven’t recovered and DCE should take some responsibility for his contribution to the club’s poor culture.

Overall, I don’t think the club’s results over the last 15 years would have been much different. They may have been better, they may have been worse.

If you asked the question “what if Brett Stewart never played for Manly?”, “what if Geoff Toovey never played for Manly?” or “what if Cliff Lyons never played for Manly?” I think the answers would be far more definitive.

Interesting "What Ifs", MadMarcus.

I'm not sure about Hodkinson. I think he was preferred (by Des) over Cherry and was then poached by the Bulldogs, which is why DCE eventually got his shot.

But I also wonder how DCE's career would have played out if he'd never made the top grade here. He debuted in a really strong side, in a team well and truly on the rise, and was able to win a premiership in his first year. That would not have happened if he hadn't come through at Manly and wound up somewhere else. He was not a "generational talent", and it's not like other clubs were lining up to poach him from the lower grades.

Would he have got a starting role in another NRL club? Would he have made much of an impact on the NRL as a whole? Or would he have bounced around from club to club, never tasting success, and be selling real estate on the Sunshine Coast by now.

I think he wants the experience and ease of being at a strong club again - and who can really blame him for that? Hence going to the Roosters. But he still might want to stop and consider what this club has done for him and his career every once in a while.

 

[CoreyWaddellSuperFan]

I wonder what would have happened if DCE never played for Manly.

I assume we probably would have kept Trent Hodkinson.

Would we have still won 2011? I think so.

Would we have won 2013? Probably not.

Would we have had more cap space to keep the glory team together a bit longer? Yes.

Would that have been a good thing? Hard to say. Gift and Choc were both busted at their new clubs, so from a roster perspective it was probably for the best that they left. But I believe that culturally we still haven’t recovered and DCE should take some responsibility for his contribution to the club’s poor culture.

Overall, I don’t think the club’s results over the last 15 years would have been much different. They may have been better, they may have been worse.

If you asked the question “what if Brett Stewart never played for Manly?”, “what if Geoff Toovey never played for Manly?” or “what if Cliff Lyons never played for Manly?” I think the answers would be far more definitive.

All valid questions looking back, but gosh I'm looking forward to a Manly team without him.

Three more games

 

[madmax]

DCE article on FOX…….again. Seriously I’m over reading about him. At the end he says again he has no regrets leaving!! Well mate we at Manly have no regrets about you leaving also. Just go FFS!

 

[The '47ers]

DCE article on FOX…….again. Seriously I’m over reading about him. At the end he says again he has no regrets leaving!! Well mate we at Manly have no regrets about you leaving also. Just go FFS!

Let it go then mate, just don't read the article!
He's living rent free in your head.

 

[Rafferty]

Let it go then mate, just don't read the article!
He's living rent free in your head.

His lived rent free for 15 years…….

 

[Bearfax]

In a side like Melbourne,I feel he would be considered easily one of the very best players this generation. Same with Penrith, Sydney City. He was an exceptional talent otherwise how is to QLD selectors continuously brought him into their side, despite his unpopularity owing the the Titan's action. He was our regular test half. And this when he is playing in a side barely able to make the 8. Are the state and test selectors such bad judges? The suggestion about Hodkinson having an impact seems unlikely given Manly only just got into 8th spot the preceding year, with Foran in the side and much the same side that played in 2011. In tests he was a 76% winner. In SOO in a side that had many of their best retired, he still had a 50% win ratio.

The money issue never seems to go away, even though it was the Manly clubs poor recruitment action that brought DCE back. Understand he was being offered $1.3 million a season at the Titans for 4 years (not much less was offered by Cronulla). Would he cop the criticism and return to Manly for much less. In fact it was less ($1.25 per season but over 10 years). Manly were offering far less (about $750,000 a year I understand) in initial negotiations before THEY withdrew the offer in order to chase Foranwho when then joined Parramatta for $1.2 million per season over 4 years

Other players have walked out of Manly, without notice. Fulton, Vautin, Foran, Watmough but they weren't criticised. DCE said he was leaving 12 months before, giving Manly time to seek an alternative, and he was conscious young Walsh was on the rise, yet he's demonised.

Sorry, but I just cannot fathom the negativity about this player who I think gave his all, was rarely injured and was captain. 350 games, awards everywhere, yet not good enough. ?????

 

[mave]

If you act like a fkwit, there can be no suprises when people treat you like a fkwit.

 

[mickqld]

I can't wait for the surprise, surprise announcement that he's signed to the rorters. Then I can really let fly on what I think of him. Till rhen he's a Manly player whom I'll criticise for playing badly or praise for playing well.

 

[47MVEagle]

This narrative that he’s leaving because he wants one last chance at winning another premiership before he retires grates on me - he was happy to hang around on lucrative coin for a fair few mediocre years under Barrett & Des, I’m not buying that as his true reason for leaving & think the rumour that he doesn’t rate Seibold has been conveniently reverse-engineered as the reason by Seibold haters.

We didn’t hear a peep out of him during the travesty that was Barrett, yet now we’re supposed to believe Seibold’s coaching ability is his reason, when we finished 7th last season & were looking likely in the first 4 rounds this season (apart from the Wahs loss, where DCE admitted he went away from Seibold’s game plan)?

IMO, he spat the dummy when the club wouldn’t re-sign him for 2 more years on big $$$, nothing more, nothing less.

 

[Cochrane]

That's fine Bearfax, its your opinion and everyone has a right to have one.

I also see some people have gripes that dont align with mine and which I dont agree with, but that is their opinion.

I have no issues with dce taking the money he was offered. However what comes with that is responsibility to be that player. He could be brilliant, but too often at club level erratic or missing.

I have no issues with players leaving Manly, though I might get disappointed.

Players that pull the 100% Footy with Weidler leaving the club to be scrutinised with journalists and punters easily able to read between the lines of what he was selling doesn't sit right with me.

If he moved on from manly in a normal respectful manner, for me id remember him as a player who could do freaky things, but always frustrated me with his lack of game management when needed, and playing the game no matter what the scenario was, just throwing the dice at the craps table. No hard feeling though.

The fact many have hard feelings show the way dce has played and the way he left is on the nose for many people, more than those that support him like yourself. Their opinion is valid too.

 

[robbiea]

In a side like Melbourne,I feel he would be considered easily one of the very best players this generation. Same with Penrith, Sydney City. He was an exceptional talent otherwise how is to QLD selectors continuously brought him into their side, despite his unpopularity owing the the Titan's action. He was our regular test half. And this when he is playing in a side barely able to make the 8. Are the state and test selectors such bad judges? The suggestion about Hodkinson having an impact seems unlikely given Manly only just got into 8th spot the preceding year, with Foran in the side and much the same side that played in 2011. In tests he was a 76% winner. In SOO in a side that had many of their best retired, he still had a 50% win ratio.

The money issue never seems to go away, even though it was the Manly clubs poor recruitment action that brought DCE back. Understand he was being offered $1.3 million a season at the Titans for 4 years (not much less was offered by Cronulla). Would he cop the criticism and return to Manly for much less. In fact it was less ($1.25 per season but over 10 years). Manly were offering far less (about $750,000 a year I understand) in initial negotiations before THEY withdrew the offer in order to chase Foranwho when then joined Parramatta for $1.2 million per season over 4 years

Other players have walked out of Manly, without notice. Fulton, Vautin, Foran, Watmough but they weren't criticised. DCE said he was leaving 12 months before, giving Manly time to seek an alternative, and he was conscious young Walsh was on the rise, yet he's demonised.

Sorry, but I just cannot fathom the negativity about this player who I think gave his all, was rarely injured and was captain. 350 games, awards everywhere, yet not good enough. ?????

Yes ,not good enough.
Didnt win us jack after being gifted his only premiership on the back of a great team.
Never has carried the team on his back and won games on his own ,like a captain should.
Inconsistent his whole career.
GTFODCE.

 

[Brookie1973]

I can't wait for the surprise, surprise announcement that he's signed to the rorters. Then I can really let fly on what I think of him. Till rhen he's a Manly player whom I'll criticise for playing badly or praise for playing well.

Yep, the longer he has delayed making the inevitable announcement, the more embarrassing and humiliating it will be when it comes. Going to go down like a lead balloon, amongst both sets of supporters.

 

[Terry Zarsoff]

In a side like Melbourne,I feel he would be considered easily one of the very best players this generation. Same with Penrith, Sydney City. He was an exceptional talent otherwise how is to QLD selectors continuously brought him into their side, despite his unpopularity owing the the Titan's action. He was our regular test half. And this when he is playing in a side barely able to make the 8. Are the state and test selectors such bad judges? The suggestion about Hodkinson having an impact seems unlikely given Manly only just got into 8th spot the preceding year, with Foran in the side and much the same side that played in 2011. In tests he was a 76% winner. In SOO in a side that had many of their best retired, he still had a 50% win ratio.

The money issue never seems to go away, even though it was the Manly clubs poor recruitment action that brought DCE back. Understand he was being offered $1.3 million a season at the Titans for 4 years (not much less was offered by Cronulla). Would he cop the criticism and return to Manly for much less. In fact it was less ($1.25 per season but over 10 years). Manly were offering far less (about $750,000 a year I understand) in initial negotiations before THEY withdrew the offer in order to chase Foranwho when then joined Parramatta for $1.2 million per season over 4 years

Other players have walked out of Manly, without notice. Fulton, Vautin, Foran, Watmough but they weren't criticised. DCE said he was leaving 12 months before, giving Manly time to seek an alternative, and he was conscious young Walsh was on the rise, yet he's demonised.

Sorry, but I just cannot fathom the negativity about this player who I think gave his all, was rarely injured and was captain. 350 games, awards everywhere, yet not good enough. ?????

Vautin for one was forced out by the salary cap. Plus I don’t think incoming coach Lowe liked Vautin’s outspoken attitude.

 

[hozza]

D$E the great car salesman should be buying the left side attack 500 beers for turning it on for him….

 

[Bearfax]

That's fine Bearfax, its your opinion and everyone has a right to have one.

I also see some people have gripes that dont align with mine and which I dont agree with, but that is their opinion.

I have no issues with dce taking the money he was offered. However what comes with that is responsibility to be that player. He could be brilliant, but too often at club level erratic or missing.

I have no issues with players leaving Manly, though I might get disappointed.

Players that pull the 100% Footy with Weidler leaving the club to be scrutinised with journalists and punters easily able to read between the lines of what he was selling doesn't sit right with me.

If he moved on from manly in a normal respectful manner, for me id remember him as a player who could do freaky things, but always frustrated me with his lack of game management when needed, and playing the game no matter what the scenario was, just throwing the dice at the craps table. No hard feeling though.

The fact many have hard feelings show the way dce has played and the way he left is on the nose for many people, more than those that support him like yourself. Their opinion is valid too.

See this is where I disagree strongly. He is the one player in this team who has shown commitment. He may be slowing down this year but he's the oldest first grader around. What do you expect? The fantasy point system testifies to his commitment through stats that have him regularly one of Manly's top three. The Dally M top players included DCE 2021 (5th) 2022 (7th) 2023 (2nd) 2024 (3rd). That's including every other player in the comp. Only once 2021 was another Manly player (Turbo) ahead of him. These are supposedly experts of the game picking them. And yes you can challenge, but where's the facts

He may be erratic at times. He may over play his game but he's holding together a team with only a hand full of top players and coaches who seem to struggle with the concept of strategic defensive patterns. As Fulton stated time and again, the first issue of business is defence. Get that right and you're better able to control your game. That's not DCEs fault. He's one of the best defensive halfbacks in the game.

No player, no matter how great, is going to win you games without those issues being addressed. I read the criticism and its all over the shop about DCE. Some say commitment, some are angry that he may sign with SC (while other stars did exactly the same and were never heavily blasted about it), some say he kicks poorly, some say he makes the wrong decisions, some say he takes the big money, yet it was virtually identical to what Foran left the club to play with Parramatta for etc etc. They seem to blame him for a whole range of issues that in fact many others do and seem to be overlooked, not because they are better, but because they are more liked. You look for fault you'll find it, but why are you looking for fault in the first place. To show because you dont like him, its justified. I'm sorry i just don't see it. I'm reading nothing but conjecture and an emotional reaction but little tangible fact. Many just don't like him but the reasons are vague. So admit it. Its not because he is not a champion player. Its because you don't like him.

 

[Cochrane]

Lol Hozza, he had a crack today and thats what we like to see. I know many wish for this type of effort more consistently, but with the season nearly over we should just take it when we get it.

Was on with the goalkicking today too!

 

[Sorry]

Foran - my time’s up, I’ll be hanging up my boots come season’s end.
Chaser - I won’t be at Manly next year and I am going to play this out for as long ss I possibly can because at the end of the day it’s about me and me only

 

[hozza]

Lol Hozza, he had a crack today and thats what we like to see. I know many wish for this type of effort more consistently, but with the season nearly over we should just take it when we get it.

Was on with the goalkicking today too!

Mate it’s not under 12. Having a crack? Lol yeah nah.
He was ok. Goalkicking was good….

Left side attack ( not Dalys side), absolutely destroyed the Phins. Hammered them. Game completely different if they didn’t..

But Bear and yourself can fanboi away…. lol

Counting the seconds till the great Carsalesman is gone. 😜

 

[Cochrane]

Bearfax, I respect your views. My views have been expressed many times. I don't like Cam Smith either, but recognise he was a champion

In another thread I just spoke positive about his game today, but doesn't change my view of his career at manly.

I ask you to respect my views also and don't tell me to admit that its just because I don't like him.

I don't have the same view as you for the same reasons ive been posting about for at least over 6 years. Those posts expressed my frustration and slow decline of my thoughts of him as a player. The way he went about things earlier this year just stinks as a captain and could have been done much better for him and the club.