The Elephant in the room

[Ryan]

Tapau has never impressed me.

Statistically he's one of the best props in the entire league, and was known as the strongest front row tandem with AFB in the game a few years running.

 

[Terry Zarsoff]

Statistically he's one of the best props in the entire league, and was known as the strongest front row tandem with AFB in the game a few years running.

Agreed. Paradoxically, that does not mean I have to rate him.

 

[Shoe1]

It's interesting as hoppa snr was alluding to something similar late last year (and yes I believe he is a noob). But maybe there was some substance?

He was upset that his son didn’t get a 500k offer

 

[Fibro Eagle]

Just on Fox Game show some breaking news regarding Des Hasler coming up

 

[winnyason]

Statistically he's one of the best props in the entire league, and was known as the strongest front row tandem with AFB in the game a few years running.

I think he and Paseka should start, Aloiai was only solid

 

[SeaEagle21]

Just on Fox Game show some breaking news regarding Des Hasler coming up

Heard that too and had to rewind to hear if i was hearing things..

 

[Fibro Eagle]

Heard that too and had to rewind to hear if i was hearing things..

Stay tuned I’d say

 

[hozza]

Heard that too and had to rewind to hear if i was hearing things..

I did the exact same thing

 

[Ryan]

Heard that too and had to rewind to hear if i was hearing things..

Hopefully stepped down

 

[Highflier]

I did the exact same thing

there is nothing on foxsports website ??

 

[SeaEagle21]

there is nothing on foxsports website ??

I have been refreshing like a mad man lol

 

[Fibro Eagle]

I have been refreshing like a mad man lol

Just checked Twitter Facebook nothing

 

[Vyssini]

They just announced that Des will be pulling on the boots again to play hooker against Souffs

 

[hozza]

Anyone? Anything? I keep going between channels and the website

 

[SeaEagle21]

Looks like it'll be discussed at half time of the saints v sharks game fmd

 

[Highflier]

They just announced that Des will be pulling on the boots again to play hooker against Souffs

hillarious,
stand up comedy is missing one of its true geniuses

 

[Fibro Eagle]

Maybe they just want more viewers to watch the dragons v sharks

 

[jbb/james]

Why did it get to that position?

I think Manly’s problems are much deeper than that and have their genesis around the Superleague era. The club’s administration stayed loyal to the ARL and thus Arthurson, but it was probably a quixotic decision.

Around the same time Bob Carr decided to allow pokies into pubs, which hit an already ageing leagues club badly. The rest is history on that front.

The club has never taken full advantage of the opportunity offered by Norths’ demise. I don’t know if that is due to a lack of strategic vision, lack of money, or both. Probably both.

The usual array of massive egos off the field have unwittingly (or perhaps wittingly) played a role. Enough said. We know their names. More a bit later.

We had a 2005-14 renaissance, courtesy of a confluence of events after Fulton’s first bad choice as a replacement coach was eased and Hasler took over. A smart, united board and some savvy recruitment on and off the field, resulted in two more titles.

Then Des wanted out. Then the ownership wars started. One owner left and was replaced by another who also ran up against the Penns. The Penns won out. What a great outcome. The new coach had to go for backing the rival faction. Then someone decided Foran wanted to stay and DCE wanted to leave. See hozza’s post. Fulton was brought in and ‘masterminded’ a massive overs contract to keep the latter. Our cap has been constrained ever since.

Fulton brought in Barrett, a costly and failed experiment. He let Gutherson go. Apparently he had dodgy legs. Ironic. Wouldn’t he be handy right now?

Then Fulton apparently stuffed up on the 3rd party front. What a mess. Des came back. 2019 - was it a false dawn? The T Bros joined DCE in the millionaires’ club. Then COVID hit. The rules changed, the team was caught flat footed.

So we have arrived at the new reality. Will Manly-Warringah recover? I think so. But when, who knows.

This sounds like a billy joel song. So who did start the fire

 

[Ryan]

It'll be this amazing new Hooker signing guys. Or potentially Fainu presenting guilty now or something

 

[SeaEagle21]

Hopefully stepped down

Foz would be deflated, another club he followed him to and he pi$$es off again lol