The Jake Conundrum

[Mark from Brisbane]

Firstly let me acknowledge he’s a Manly legend ( already ) and there’s no way you can doubt his absolute passion for the club or his desire to win.

However, if his salary is to be believed ( and I know that often this can be exaggerated) then at $950k per annum he’s certainly taking a big slice of the cap for a forward.

His defence is first class , even if he gives away a few 6 agains but in this last season you could see him starting to miss a few & make a few mistakes, so I think age is starting to catch up.

In my very humble opinion, and I’ll freely admit I know **** all really about the modern game , but I think we need a better lock than what he’s providing.

Which then means Jake to the prop rotation.

I doubt there will be many that will argue with this , however there are two questions

1) will Seibold have the balls to make this choice.
2) if he did , who takes on the 13 role.

Thoughts everyone

 

[The Who]

Jurbo should be one of the four props in our 17. Try to use him for the first 20 and last 20 minutes of each match.
There are many ageing players who are no longer worth their halcyon salaries, but Jurbo has definitely earned his over the years. If every player had his dedication and love for the club then we'd win more matches.
As for who should play lock... good question. Burbo, Jake Arthur, Jazz/BFB? I've no idea. Hopefully we'll unearth a good 'un because Manly has usually had world-class locks.

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

Jurbo should be one of the four props in our 17. Try to use him for the first 20 and last 20 minutes of each match.
There are many ageing players who are no longer worth their halcyon salaries, but Jurbo has definitely earned his over the years. If every player had his dedication and love for the club then we'd win more matches.
As for who should play lock... good question. Burbo, Jake Arthur, Jazz/BFB? I've no idea. Hopefully we'll unearth a good 'un because Manly has usually had world-class locks.

Out of all those Jake Arthur would be my choice , and it’s clear he’s not next up as half ( although would no doubt step up should Daly get injured ).

The jury is out on Burbo

Not sure where Jazz fits.

 

[Brookie Bob]

Jake to prop? Yes.

Jazz Tevanga and Nathan Brown are both listed as locks on the club website.

Brown has good hands, good defence - but has not played 'Jake' minutes in games so far. He will be 32 on the 1st of March 2025 - most players don't get greater endurance with age....

Jazz is a year and a half younger than Nathan Brown. I have no real idea on his all round game. I've heard he brings enthusiasm and penalties/ dropped ball in equal measure. I hope I'm wrong about the latter.

Jake Arthur? Tall enough - but big enough for the forwards? Hopefully he is more than the 82 kgs he's listed at on the Manly teams site.

Chee Kam for a smokey? Hard to say - he's older than Brown.

Burbo? Needs to work on being a consistently impactful second rower.

Let's hope that Caleb Navale likes up to his potential: Sea Eagles sign Caleb Navale for three years

 

[eaglebuzz]

Navale is probably the best prospect but he might need some more time to grow into the role.

Jake is definitely not giving us $950k in on-field value. I absolutely want him in the squad but he desperately needs a pay cut.

 

[Heckenberg]

I think Arthur or navale are Smokey’s for a bench spot. Jake turbo will probably be named at 13 and play 60-70 minutes but will find himself playing more of a prop role. Tevaga to cover prop/hooker off the bench for mine. Honestly think Simpkin probably needs to be in the mix at some stage for us to be competitive though. Croker just ain’t it.

 

[Dion Johnson]

My thoughts on Jake is playing 80 minutes is his worst enemy, getting 50-60 minutes out of Jake should be the vision.

Jake’s physique doesn’t look to have changed over the years and it doesn’t look like he is carrying extra kilograms, his leg speed has definitely been affected with the speed of the game.

His running game has been influenced by going for a quick play the ball when he runs with ball in hand, he gets his body positioned to hit the ground on his stomach to enable this and not run to break tackles or look to offload, hoping this strategy gets binned and he just returns to his old running game.

His efforts and defending are still quality, playing alongside Tent looks to balance the pack with Brown or Navale at 13 for me.

 

[double hoops]

Jake's Seibs security blanket with defence. Same with Frog.

Neither are the problem in defence.

But both those players playing more than 50 mins a game limits their ability and limits this team.

For this team to move forward, our coach needs to have faith in others. And really if these blokes aren't here to share the love in the ruck. Why did Seibs get them in or keep em.

Brown.
Tevaga.
Simpkins.
Arthur.
Waddell.
Matterson.
Navale.
CKT.

 

[Marto1970]

Brown/ Matterson? ball playing locks or Naval / Jazz / Waddell combination of these . Naval looks like he has some speed im hoping he gets a run next year .We dont have any 80min forwards apart from Jake

 

[Frogz]

Matterson should be playing Ron Massey, at best.

 

[sheridanstand78]

Firstly let me acknowledge he’s a Manly legend ( already ) and there’s no way you can doubt his absolute passion for the club or his desire to win.

However, if his salary is to be believed ( and I know that often this can be exaggerated) then at $950k per annum he’s certainly taking a big slice of the cap for a forward.

His defence is first class , even if he gives away a few 6 agains but in this last season you could see him starting to miss a few & make a few mistakes, so I think age is starting to catch up.

In my very humble opinion, and I’ll freely admit I know **** all really about the modern game , but I think we need a better lock than what he’s providing.

Which then means Jake to the prop rotation.

I doubt there will be many that will argue with this , however there are two questions

1) will Seibold have the balls to make this choice.
2) if he did , who takes on the 13 role.

Thoughts everyone

Jake is a great servant to the club and his defence is outstanding.

I am with you in that the time has come to seriously question if we are getting value from him playing lock.

I would like to see Jake play a role at prop forward and playing 50-60 minutes a game. He could potentially interchange with Nathan Brown who is a capable lock, with good footwork and an offload.

We lack zip around the ruck. Our halves do a great job and if we had a more mobile 13 it would be an extra threat to opposition defences and it would take the heat off our 6,7, and 9.

When his detail expires in 2026, I would hope that the club consider that we need to assess if he is still worth 950K a season. My guess is probably not.

The team we have has capability and if we are serious about challenging for the title, we need improvement from our 13, our 9 and our centres.

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

Jake is a great servant to the club and his defence is outstanding.

I am with you in that the time has come to seriously question if we are getting value from him playing lock.

I would like to see Jake play a role at prop forward and playing 50-60 minutes a game. He could potentially interchange with Nathan Brown who is a capable lock, with good footwork and an offload.

We lack zip around the ruck. Our halves do a great job and if we had a more mobile 13 it would be an extra threat to opposition defences and it would take the heat off our 6,7, and 9.

When his detail expires in 2026, I would hope that the club consider that we need to assess if he is still worth 950K a season. My guess is probably not.

The team we have has capability and if we are serious about challenging for the title, we need improvement from our 13, our 9 and our centres.

For me it’s , 9 , 13 & another dynamic edge.

Just a hard worker that can play 80 minutes in the edge role would be fine.

Burbo “ might “ develop but I think he’s not there yet.

Talou & Kola should be centres , Garrick on the wing.

But if we had a good 9 and a younger , faster , 13 I reckon we’d be streets ahead of last year.

 

[madmax]

Brown/ Matterson? ball playing locks or Naval / Jazz / Waddell combination of these . Naval looks like he has some speed im hoping he gets a run next year .We dont have any 80min forwards apart from Jake

Ummmm how about Olakau’atu……our best forward by a country mile!

 

[madmax]

Maybe we start with Jake at prop for 20 mins 1st half & last 20 2nd half?
Paseka
Simpkin
Jrbo
Olakau’atu
Bully
Navale
Res: Arthur, Aloiai, Taukeiaho, Brown

I dunno just thinking out loud!

 

[Marto1970]

Ummmm how about Olakau’atu……our best forward by a country mile!

Yes he is but i was meaning middle forward. Which there is not many players that can play 80 in the middle consistently Jake was a freak really

 

[Cameron]

If Jake retires without a premiership manly has failed him.

In saying that his days as an 80 mins player should be over. There's only so many kms in the motor and this one has clocked up thousands for manly, NSW and Australia. I think 50-60 mins at prop will what need from jakey

 

[BOZO]

If Jake retires without a premiership manly has failed him.
In saying that his days as an 80 mins player should be over. There's only so many kms in the motor and this one has clocked up thousands for manly, NSW and Australia. I think 50-60 mins at prop will what need from jakey

Tom and Jake have been two of Manlys best products
and they both deserve a premiership win
But Sometimes we dont get what we deserve because of Circumstances
Circumstances like being at a place at the Wrong time with the wrong people
People at Manly have to step up after a decade of premierships winning decline

 

[silvereagle]

I raised the Jake "Conundrum" about 2 years ago under the title of "Jake - Mr In-Between". The issue of his seriously declining leg speed must be pretty obvious even to Jake. This raises other issues in terms of his contract worth and his position in the 17. Re the latter, I think there is only one position for Jake and that is as starting Prop for about 20-25 minutes. Same as his SOO position. That should then allow us to have 3 legitimate attacking middles punching holes down the middle. Something we have not had since Fonua Blake / Marty Kapow days. Seems so long ago.

 

[Eagle 1]

If Jake retires without a premiership manly has failed him.

In saying that his days as an 80 mins player should be over. There's only so many kms in the motor and this one has clocked up thousands for manly, NSW and Australia. I think 50-60 mins at prop will what need from jakey

Agree, his hit-ups these days are pretty much ineffectual, its akin to a catch and release motion. Still a good tackling machine tho. Jake should be used for the first 20min, knowing this, he'll give it his all like he always does but this time as a prop.

 

[jbb/james]

The game is passing jake by somewhat. He is the heart and soul of the side but for cap purposes he eats too much. Needs to just run the ball hard

Manly have 3 main players in the team that are fantastic footballers but dont adequately cover the positions they are paid to play. The fact that all 3 play key positions and 2 take up big chunks on the cap have hampered us for some seasons

Rules havnt helped jakes career as of late and that middle distributor role , well the less said about that the better,

Its up to jake from here to reinvent himself

Looks like a guy that might retire earlier than expected.