The scales of Reuben.

[bigd1972]

Reuben needs to go back to tackling school via the wing. Centre is too much for him to handle.

 

[mosto]

I even thought he turned the corner as a centre in the previous dogs game only to get found out against the sharks the following week. I just see Talau and Koula as preferable with Saab and Garrick specialist wingers and Lehi heir apparent to turbo who should be nursed along and not bludgeoned because he is mentally a first grader while still physically catching up.

Give Lehi exposure, ten to fifteen games a year, or play him as HIA cover but don't wear his body out at this young age, save him from himself, because at twenty three he could be Stephen chrichton, or a broken, slow, smart regular first grader.

Seibold needs to check his own ambitions with this kid. Falaoulo and Paulo are adequate replacements and more expendable cannon fodder for long term club aspirations.

Take it easy Max.

Brilliantly said mate. In a fully fit team, Lehi should be having another year against men in NSW Cup. He has done exceptionally well this year but is clearly still growing. Ideally, he has a year of growth playing against men in NSW Cup with the odd call up to NRL. This is my concern with bringing back the old NYC. Happy for it to be third tier but previously kids were being blooded from it, and skipping what is effectively reserve grade, when they weren’t ready. It hampered more careers than it developed.

 

[The Insomniac]

Rueben was woeful tonight. He's no centre, as many on this thread have already pointed out. Roosters did exactly what they did to him 3 weeks ago. So why is it obvious to everyone with the exception of our coaching staff ?Someone has to face the music on this.

 

[XV-1]

perhaps BUT Rubens D is pretty shocking. I was listening to Bloke in a bar match review of our bulldog win and they almost fell off their seats when after such a great win Garrick had missed 8 tackles.... A top centre can miss 2 perhaps 3 at maximum in this day and age.

Seibold has a lot to answer for, for continuing to pick Garrick at centre, but seemingly not able to coach Garrick how to slide in defence.
Garrick has played all of 2024 at centre. His attack is excellent.
His defence has not improved and is the absolute worst in the NRL.

 

[HK_Eagle]

I would even go as far as shopping him to get a decent edge forward and an Alpha prop.

I actually agree. I love Garrick, but it’s just all wrong with his pay and position. As a winger on a more modest pay check, I would walk to hell and back to defend him. In the current set up he is detracting from the value of the team and not adding to it. Shopping him now while he still has some sheen and gloss could be a smart move.

 

[HK_Eagle]

I even thought he turned the corner as a centre in the previous dogs game only to get found out against the sharks the following week. I just see Talau and Koula as preferable with Saab and Garrick specialist wingers and Lehi heir apparent to turbo who should be nursed along and not bludgeoned because he is mentally a first grader while still physically catching up.

Give Lehi exposure, ten to fifteen games a year, or play him as HIA cover but don't wear his body out at this young age, save him from himself, because at twenty three he could be Stephen chrichton, or a broken, slow, smart regular first grader.

Seibold needs to check his own ambitions with this kid. Falaoulo and Paulo are adequate replacements and more expendable cannon fodder for long term club aspirations.

Take it easy Max.

I think this summation is bang on, TEE. My thoughts exactly

 

[Dion Johnson]

I actually agree. I love Garrick, but it’s just all wrong with his pay and position. As a winger on a more modest pay check, I would walk to hell and back to defend. In the current set up he is detracting from the value of the team and not adding to it. Shopping him now while he still has some sheen and gloss could be a smart move.

It’s more what remuneration he is earning for the rewards that has the squad unbalanced, I think Ben T could be a decent right edge centre, doesn’t fatigue as much playing there.

 

[HK_Eagle]

It’s more what remuneration he is earning for the rewards that has the squad unbalanced, I think Ben T could be a decent right edge centre, doesn’t fatigue as much playing there.

Yeah. I don’t think that is Ben’s best position long term, but I do think he generally sures up the defence better on that side than Garrick ever has.

 

[wombatgc]

I even thought he turned the corner as a centre in the previous dogs game only to get found out against the sharks the following week. I just see Talau and Koula as preferable with Saab and Garrick specialist wingers and Lehi heir apparent to turbo who should be nursed along and not bludgeoned because he is mentally a first grader while still physically catching up.

Give Lehi exposure, ten to fifteen games a year, or play him as HIA cover but don't wear his body out at this young age, save him from himself, because at twenty three he could be Stephen chrichton, or a broken, slow, smart regular first grader.

Seibold needs to check his own ambitions with this kid. Falaoulo and Paulo are adequate replacements and more expendable cannon fodder for long term club aspirations.

Take it easy Max.

That’s exactly how Lehi should be managed. As much as I’m a fan of his, I’ve seen plenty of young players end up busted because of poor man management.

 

[CRPSI eagle]

I’ve been getting rubbished all season about banging on about how sheet Garrick is and now all of a sudden we can all see it.
He is embarrassing to our past great centres

 

[HK_Eagle]

I’ve been getting rubbished all season about banging on about how sheet Garrick is and now all of a sudden we can all see it.
He is embarrassing to our past great centres

I think the majority of posters have agreed with this view most of the season. Sure, there have been a few games where he’s showed promise and we’ve been open to the idea he could grow into the role, but generally… we’ve all been pretty much against the move.

 

[XV-1]

I’ve been getting rubbished all season about banging on about how sheet Garrick is and now all of a sudden we can all see it.
He is embarrassing to our past great centres

Not from me 😁

 

[The Insomniac]

I’ve been getting rubbished all season about banging on about how sheet Garrick is and now all of a sudden we can all see it.
He is embarrassing to our past great centres

Morgan Harper sends his regards.

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

Let the dust settle. Not Rueben's best night but over the season just as many people point out the foibles in DCE's defence - it's likely their combination and lack thereof that causes most of the problems on that side. Can it be fixed? It has to be!
Whole off-season focus should be on bringing Manly's defence up to top 4 standard, and no doubt this will involve some tinkering with squad and team selections.

 

[silvereagle]

Let the dust settle. Not Rueben's best night but over the season just as many people point out the foibles in DCE's defence - it's likely their combination and lack thereof that causes most of the problems on that side. Can it be fixed? It has to be!
Whole off-season focus should be on bringing Manly's defence up to top 4 standard, and no doubt this will involve some tinkering with squad and team selections.

Love your optimism SER8. Most of the defensive wobbles on that right side have to do with DCE. Yes Garrick is somewhat soft with his tackling but bigger issue all to do with lack of defensive structure and confidence in that structure. After 27 rounds of same issue and still no fix, I am not that sure will be remedied in the off-season.

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

After 27 rounds of same issue and still no fix, I am not that sure will be remedied in the off-season

No I'm not sure either. But I'm sure someone will try to fix it!
Can't help thinking a shortage of mobility in the middle actually has a fair bit to do with Manly's problems out wider and mediocre defensive record in general.

 

[silvereagle]

No I'm not sure either. But I'm sure someone will try to fix it!
Can't help thinking a shortage of mobility in the middle actually has a fair bit to do with Manly's problems out wider and mediocre defensive record in general.

I think we have more chances of fixing the defence issues out wide than fixing the much bigger forward issues in the middle. Particularly given we have only just extended the contracts of a couple of the big slow middles. Interesting decision from our Recruitment.

My strong recommendation to Tony Mestrov would be to sign RCG. I don't know the cap situation but I would be finding the dollars to sign this guy. That one decision I think would make a massive difference to our middle forwards next year. A few other obvious changes badly needed but I am sure the coaching will eventually figure that out.

 

[Frogz]

I’ve been getting rubbished all season about banging on about how sheet Garrick is and now all of a sudden we can all see it.
He is embarrassing to our past great centres

And I've been standing right there with you mate. He is not a centre. never has and never will be.

 

[EOL now nesting on the GC]

Yeah what does Seibold and the coaching staff know. Week 2 of the finals with Reuben at centre all year.

They don't know. Much obviously

 

[Frogz]

Seibold has a lot to answer for, for continuing to pick Garrick at centre, but seemingly not able to coach Garrick how to slide in defence.
Garrick has played all of 2024 at centre. His attack is excellent.
His defence has not improved and is the absolute worst in the NRL.

He runs around in circles in defence, has no idea. A great winger.