I’m not saying DCE is not at fault but it’s not all on him either. Take the try that was scored by Tupou in the second half last night as an example; it was a clever play and one that Manly has used off Olakau’atu on occasions this year, the lead runner (in this case, Crichton) takes the ball and spins at the line, before passing to a player that is wrapping around, to create the overlap. DCE has to bite on the lead runner there. If he holds, Crichton goes through untouched. The issue is that when Daly commits there, Garrick and Hoppa have to react quickly and make a split second decision. Instead, they hesitate and are exposed.
Sure, sometimes it’s Daly and not Ruebs, sometimes it’s Ruebs and sometimes it’s both of them. Either way, it’s an edge that was exposed in the very first try of the season in Vegas and across the span of five months, it was still being badly exposed.