The scales of Reuben.

[Scorpio]

For all of the criticism, here are some of his stats from last night:
1 try
1 line break
2 try assists
2 line break assists
5/6 goals
16 runs for 143 metres
4 tackle breaks

Yes the 8 missed tackles were a concern, but absolutely zero reason to drop him. He'll only keep improving.

 

[HoldenV8]

Good post. The M-W club still assert that ‘Roadie’ played over 200 FG premiership games.

Back in Batty's day, pre-season and midweek cup games were counted as full on first grade games. But for actual premiership games, Batty only played 198 in maroon and white.

 

[EOL now nesting on the GC]

For all of the criticism, here are some of his stats from last night:
1 try
1 line break
2 try assists
2 line break assists
5/6 goals
16 runs for 143 metres
4 tackle breaks

Yes the 8 missed tackles were a concern, but absolutely zero reason to drop him. He'll only keep improving.

Last night was a pretty good outing. His only problem is his bad and good are a long Way apart. Don't get me wrong I think he's a very good player (obviously he plays NRL) but gee sometimes he does some dumb **** that just beggars belief.
When he was on the wing he had less chance to stuff the budgie.

 

[TokyoEagle]

Fun Fact:

Reuben Garrick needs just 7 points to move into 3rd outright on Manly's all time point scoring list. After tonight he sits on 1,148 points (77 tries, 420/526 goals (76.92%)). Garrick has currently played 133 games.

Currently 3rd is former fullback Bob Batty (198 games from 1959–71) who scored 1,154 points (40 tries (3 ppt), 501 goals, 18 field goals).

Adjusting for today's points (4 point try and not that it counts much, 2 point FG beyond 40 etc), Batty would be on 1,194 points while adjusting for the pre-1983 try of only 3 points, Reubs would be on 1,071.

There should definitely be an adjustment to the number for those who played prior to 83 in their points totals, etc. Surely they can show both scores and add notes to confirm.

 

[HoldenV8]

There should definitely be an adjustment to the number for those who played prior to 83 in their points totals, etc. Surely they can show both scores and add notes to confirm.

TBH I disagree. Its not a players fault if they happen to play in an era where points scored for certain things are different. And it would clog up stats with sometimes unnecessary crap.

 

[TokyoEagle]

TBH I disagree. Its not a players fault if they happen to play in an era where points scored for certain things are different. And it would clog up stats with sometimes unnecessary crap.

Adjusted scores with actual scores in brackets. I am not sure it causes any problems.

IMO, the most important point would be to be comparing apples to apples.

 

[Terry Zarsoff]

Back in Batty's day, pre-season and midweek cup games were counted as full on first grade games. But for actual premiership games, Batty only played 198 in maroon and white.

There were no “midweek cup games” in the 1960s. The inaugural Amco Cup game was played in 1974, more than two years after Batty retired.

I remember, because I turned 13 in 1974. In other words, not long after “Batty’s day”.

You and the NSWRL may well be right, he might have only played 198 top grade premiership games.

But then why the discrepancy of 5-7 games* between their total and Manly’s, if the old pre-season competition games (like the Craven Cup) are (as you say) included? And why does the Manly club not accept that judgement?

Surely between his FG debut and his retirement before the season started in 1972, he would have played more like 20-30 (at least) pre-season games, not including trial matches. Not five or seven. So that his “full on first grade games” should be more like 220+. Not 205.

*Manly claimed he played 203 FG games for many years. More recently, someone has bumped it up to 205.

 

[Top End Eagle]

He has now become a very good first grade centre....but sheesh it took a whole year.

It was always going to be hard with no experience playing their for seven years and none at the top level. But he was always a natural footballer, not just a super talented athlete like say Saab who has (improved exponentially) admitted he did extras like the boxing match to work on his first carries.

Lehi who is a footy savant and knows where to be three plays before men twice his age is a perfect foil for Reubs defensively and I hope they stick with that combo.

Campion goal kicker too.

 

[Top End Eagle]

Um...Dan? Can I retract the above post please 😬

I had hoped they'd stick Lehi with Garrick.

Putting him with a Rookie winger, who he have an absolute gobful to at one stage when he was walking backwards and had a try scored against him was ridiculous.

Lehi could play front row and cope. He would have been my choice to swap to cover Saab.

But far out. I hate bagging players but I'll make an exception Garrick has been terrible this year. If Ramien was a right centre Manly would have lost by sixty today. Fitzgibbon clearly has seen what some of us smart enough have been railing against all year.

 

[CRPSI eagle]

Young Iro run rings around him this afternoon. Can not understand how he is picked every week, his defence is rubbish and offers very little in attack. I think he makes players around him nervous.
Kola should be our right centre with either Garrick or Saab on the wing.
Then Seibold has audacity to blow up when picks the wrong team.
Simpkin should be our starting hooker.

 

[Michael Clare]

Simpkin offers us something different ... speed; both in passing and defence.

 

[XV-1]

He has now become a very good first grade centre....but sheesh it took a whole year.

It was always going to be hard with no experience playing their for seven years and none at the top level. But he was always a natural footballer, not just a super talented athlete like say Saab who has (improved exponentially) admitted he did extras like the boxing match to work on his first carries.

Lehi who is a footy savant and knows where to be three plays before men twice his age is a perfect foil for Reubs defensively and I hope they stick with that combo.

Campion goal kicker too.

That aged well 😂

 

[Scorpio]

Young Iro run rings around him this afternoon. Can not understand how he is picked every week, his defence is rubbish and offers very little in attack. I think he makes players around him nervous.
Kola should be our right centre with either Garrick or Saab on the wing.
Then Seibold has audacity to blow up when picks the wrong team.

Whoever plays right centre is going to have a very difficult job so long as DCE keeps sprinting out of the line in defense, tackling no one and creating an overlap on the outside. It happens every game and the centre/winger get the blame for it when they can't shut it down.

 

[Top End Eagle]

That aged well 😂

Like a fine prawn

 

[mave]

Whoever plays right centre is going to have a very difficult job so long as DCE keeps sprinting out of the line in defense, tackling no one and creating an overlap on the outside. It happens every game and the centre/winger get the blame for it when they can't shut it down.

Yeah, agreed.

I also watched Garrick literally walking as Iro ran straight past him, leaving Clayton with a 2 v 1 to deal with.

Very, very poor stuff.

 

[joeboy]

I agree that cherry is part of the issue, but Garrick is the biggest defensive issue we have

 

[maxta]

There are no escape cards based on today's game
Every loss ppl challenge the same players, but personally reckon today was simply an " off day" and if there's not a Massive improvement, shot 1st week of finals
Terrible performance and if the Fortress is the Manly advantage.....no comment

 

[Scorpio]

Yeah, agreed.

I also watched Garrick literally walking as Iro ran straight past him, leaving Clayton with a 2 v 1 to deal with.

Very, very poor stuff.

The Bulldogs are going to flood that wing with traffic all afternoon on Sunday, so I hope they figure something out.

 

[Hibyemama]

yeah, koula is so good, he can play superbly at centre, wing fullback.
let turbo rest another week, with koula, bulldogs are going to get flocked. koula would make THE FLASH (from Marvel) looks snails pace. Koula is strong, probably stronger than nelson asofa from the storm. Koula is extremely talented. Today against the sharks, koula is my mom. he scored a great try too. In koula we trust. i am very confident that we will win the premiership from 7th, because koula, in tina turners words - simply the best- better than all the rest. better than cliffy Lyons with his sleight of hand. koula is a much better fullback than turbo- that, i know.

 

[Pete W]

Whoever plays right centre is going to have a very difficult job so long as DCE keeps sprinting out of the line in defense, tackling no one and creating an overlap on the outside. It happens every game and the centre/winger get the blame for it when they can't shut it down.

I find it a little bemusing that a lot of posters single out Garrick when our right edge defence has been a significant liability for us over many seasons. There has been one consistent during this time, none other than DCE. Yesterday was yet another example of our halfback making it virtually impossible for his outside men to have any chance whatsoever of shutting down incoming raids. I don't even cringe any more, I've been so desensitised to his freak outs. No one, including himself, has a clue as to whether he will hold or rush in