The squad takes shape

[manly al]

I hope it’s not the case but the longer this goes on the more I think he might just not come back even if found not guilty.

still got plenty of time on his side [ is he only 23 or so ] to re establish himself as a good footy player one would think . Just the problem of still having him in Manly 's cap [ still have to pay him regardless i think or is there a discount there , not sure ] Maybe if he can be available for the last 6 or so games next season , might have some ides of what he can still offer . Once his trial date had been drawn out well into next season , no doubt has bought in a lot more uncertainties of his future role at Manly . Hope that he can still contribute something very worthwhile for Manly but not counting on it .

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

still got plenty of time on his side [ is he only 23 or so ] to re establish himself as a good footy player one would think . Just the problem of still having him in Manly 's cap [ still have to pay him regardless i think or is there a discount there , not sure ] Maybe if he can be available for the last 6 or so games next season , might have some ides of what he can still offer . Once his trial date had been drawn out well into next season , no doubt has bought in a lot more uncertainties of his future role at Manly . Hope that he can still contribute something very worthwhile for Manly but not counting on it .

Must admit I’ve almost written him off.

Not in a guilty / not guilty sense just the fact that we as a club have to move on.

 

[rmd]

One thing Manly doesn’t want to is be held to ransom by some player’s manager, and in the case of the Fainu’s, Olakauatu, Schuster and Saab it’s the same manager as it is for Suli and therein potentially lies the unrest ‘Buzz’ reported with Suli leaving.

Manase Fainu introduced both Olakauatu and Suli to Manly along of course with his talented brothers and he has a relationship with Saab who was best friends with Keith Titmus (also Tartak). Upset one and you potentially upset all of them, so it’s a big risk.

Unfortunately Tartak currently holds the cards of up to seven of the players who will be crucial to Manly’s future and with one leaving, it potentially becomes a domino affect.

It comes down to ‘man management’ and how well Des, Humphreys and their team can convince players that their best future is at Manly, as opposed to Tartak telling them that where you get the most money is your best future, so he can reap greater commissions.

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

One thing Manly doesn’t want to is be held to ransom by some player’s manager, and in the case of the Fainu’s, Olakauatu, Schuster and Saab it’s the same manager as it is for Suli and therein potentially lies the unrest ‘Buzz’ reported with Suli leaving.

Manase Fainu introduced both Olakauatu and Suli to Manly along of course with his talented brothers and he has a relationship with Saab who was best friends with Keith Titmus (also Tartak). Upset one and you potentially upset all of them, so it’s a big risk.

Unfortunately Tartak currently holds the cards of up to seven of the players who will be crucial to Manly’s future and with one leaving, it potentially becomes a domino affect.

It comes down to ‘man management’ and how well Des, Humphreys and their team can convince players that their best future is at Manly, as opposed to Tartak telling them that where you get the most money is your best future, so he can reap greater commissions.

For this Tartak character to have more influence on those players than Des has, he'd have to be a regular Svengali. And he's not, so I'm not concerned.

 

[swoop]

Did you see him fill in for the Raiders? That's why they don't want him and why they gave Savage and Rapana a run at 1 at the back end of the year...and they started winning.

Yes I did see him fill in at the raiders and played pretty well I thought, that's why I mentioned him.

 

[Stewbojevic]

Yes I did see him fill in at the raiders and played pretty well I thought, that's why I mentioned him.

I must admit I probably only watched the highlights of the games he played, but seemed to go alright.

In saying that, he must’ve been doing something wrong because Klokstad was out most of the year and they dropped him.

 

[swoop]

I must admit I probably only watched the highlights of the games he played, but seemed to go alright.

In saying that, he must’ve been doing something wrong because Klokstad was out most of the year and they dropped him.

He had some pretty good games them had a shocker and was dropped, then Rapana and Klokstad took over, Rapana was playing out of his skin kept the no1 jersey.

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

So , I wonder if our squad is complete ( apart from the one spot they always leave ) or is there a surprise waiting for us by November ??

 

[Smokin Joe]

One thing Manly doesn’t want to is be held to ransom by some player’s manager, and in the case of the Fainu’s, Olakauatu, Schuster and Saab it’s the same manager as it is for Suli and therein potentially lies the unrest ‘Buzz’ reported with Suli leaving.

Manase Fainu introduced both Olakauatu and Suli to Manly along of course with his talented brothers and he has a relationship with Saab who was best friends with Keith Titmus (also Tartak). Upset one and you potentially upset all of them, so it’s a big risk.

Unfortunately Tartak currently holds the cards of up to seven of the players who will be crucial to Manly’s future and with one leaving, it potentially becomes a domino affect.

It comes down to ‘man management’ and how well Des, Humphreys and their team can convince players that their best future is at Manly, as opposed to Tartak telling them that where you get the most money is your best future, so he can reap greater commissions.

I am sure it was Tartak or whomever Schuster's manager may be that convinced Josh to stay to be coached by Des for less money because it was better for his development.Doesn't sound like he is all that bad,pretty sure all we have done for the Fainu family and Gauc will hold us in good stead.Saab seems pretty happy at the moment as well.

 

[rmd]

I am sure it was Tartak or whomever Schuster's manager may be that convinced Josh to stay to be coached by Des for less money because it was better for his development.Doesn't sound like he is all that bad,pretty sure all we have done for the Fainu family and Gauc will hold us in good stead.Saab seems pretty happy at the moment as well.

I really hope you are right Smokin Joe however Sione Fainu’s delayed signing does worry me as I would have thought it fait accompli.

I have a friend who is a player manager and his response to having a large group of star players in one team in terms of negations is ‘Yeah baby, bring the money to daddy’.

They use each player off against the next to obtain the highest income possible.

Yes, their interest is for their client and as a player, that’s what you want however, if they’ve got four Aces in their hand and outside of that unless you have a another winning hand like a straight flush, which is a akin to a premiership ring, potential origin or Kangaroos selection, which means even more potential dollars, they command the ante in the bidding.

 

[mickqld]

So , I wonder if our squad is complete ( apart from the one spot they always leave ) or is there a surprise waiting for us by November ??

We are haven't signed Sione Fainu yet which worries me that there is possibly an issue around letting Suli go. I hope we haven't got unrest and players thinking they should say who is or isn't signed. Suli had ample time to prove himself and he didn't.

 

[The better Robbo]

We are haven't signed Sione Fainu yet which worries me that there is possibly an issue around letting Suli go. I hope we haven't got unrest and players thinking they should say who is or isn't signed. Suli had ample time to prove himself and he didn't.

My personal opinion is that Sione Fainu is slightly/massively overrated on this forum. Not sure he turns out to be a top NRL player. Happy to be proven wrong but if his last name wasn't Fainu, im not sure we talk about him in the same way.

 

[Disco]

My personal opinion is that Sione Fainu is slightly/massively overrated on this forum. Not sure he turns out to be a top NRL player. Happy to be proven wrong but if his last name wasn't Fainu, im not sure we talk about him in the same way.

Yeah I'm 50/50 on Sione, could go either way.

Best of luck to him

 

[double hoops]

I still wonder if Walker is part of Manly's future next year. A bench utility and a rep centre must be very different pay packets. Be surprised if some club isn't willing to have a punt and pay more, put it that way.

 

[winnyason]

My tip is Keppie starts upfront and bullemor or Jake swap

 

[The Who]

With many posers insisting The Shoe will remain as a second rower next season, I wonder what we are going to do with Bully and Davey? Both would seem surplus to our needs.
Our front rowers are/will be: Al, Kapow, Tent and Keppie (with Lance, Sippers and DeLuxe in reserve).
Our second rowers will apparently remain the same: The Shoe and Guaca. Both play 80 minutes, so where does it leave our other second rowers Bully, Davey and Burbo? Presumably Bully has been recruited to play off the bench....

On paper we have more than enough front rowers and second rowers. That must be the case because we sacked the promising Tenterfield.
Yet we only have one specialist 5/8, Foran. That's why I believe we should allow The Shoe to become our No. 1 5/8, with Foran providing cover in case of injury.

 

[Tragic Eagle]

It not easy to keep the whole squad happy. I don't know what the offer from manly to Walker is but his manager is not doing his relationship with this club any good in view of the way they have looked after him up until now. It's time to pay the piper even if it is a one year deal. Suli signing with the Dragons was really a win win for both Moses and the club because he wasn't a regular starting center here. Great player when on but inconsistency has been his down side. As far as Fainu is concerned the club has shown him and his family great loyalty and support so I would be disappointed if Suli leaving outweighs that. You can't meet everybody's needs.

 

[Tragic Eagle]

I am concerned that Foran is staying a year too long and he will be 32 next year. If we loose Schuster because Des keeps playing Foran ahead of him at the end of his career it will be a major major stuff up. Foran has a role in the 30 but he is not my starting 5/8. We need to look to the future and not fall back onto old bad habits.

 

[The better Robbo]

With many posers insisting The Shoe will remain as a second rower next season, I wonder what we are going to do with Bully and Davey? Both would seem surplus to our needs.
Our front rowers are/will be: Al, Kapow, Tent and Keppie (with Lance, Sippers and DeLuxe in reserve).
Our second rowers will apparently remain the same: The Shoe and Guaca. Both play 80 minutes, so where does it leave our other second rowers Bully, Davey and Burbo? Presumably Bully has been recruited to play off the bench....

On paper we have more than enough front rowers and second rowers. That must be the case because we sacked the promising Tenterfield.
Yet we only have one specialist 5/8, Foran. That's why I believe we should allow The Shoe to become our No. 1 5/8, with Foran providing cover in case of injury.

Yes OR Schuster to centre. Didn't really rate him as a backrower to be honest. He had a few good moments and tackled well but our team dynamic was way off last year with Jake, Walker and Schuster in the forwards. We are weak in the backs and have a wealth of forwards so for me Schuster to centre makes sense.

 

[40 nil]

My personal opinion is that Sione Fainu is slightly/massively overrated on this forum.

Sione was voted the best player in the Blues 2019 Under 18s SOO team.

Both teams were full of talent with several players already starring in the NRL. At least 9 players from each squad have played NRL. There is no reason why Sione can't emulate them. He is said to have good ball playing skill and is very mobile for a front rower - see his try @ 2:09 & chase @ 3:07 in the highlights reel below

NSW Bradman Best (Newcastle Knights); Mitchell Black (Newcastle Knights), Oliver Clements (Central Coast Roosters), Sione Fainu (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles), Matthew Feagai (Illawarra Steelers), Max Feagai (Illawarra Steelers), Siua Fotu (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles), Noah Griffiths (Bathurst Panthers/Melbourne Storm), David Hollis (Parramatta Eels), Sam Hughes (Parramatta Eels), Trey Mooney (Parramatta Eels), Viliami Penisini (Parramatta Eels), Joshua Schuster (Manly), Tyrell Sloan (Illawarra Steelers), Jayden Sullivan (Illawarra Steelers), Jackson Topine (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), Ben Trbojevic (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles), Alec Tuitavake (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles), Junior Tupou (Canberra Raiders), Kaeo Weekes (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles).

QLD Xavier Coates – Tweed Seagulls, Juwan Compain – Tweed Seagulls, Harrison Graham – Wynnum Manly Seagulls, Reece Hoffman – Wynnum Manly Seagulls, Jack Howarth – Easts Tigers, Joshua James – Norths Devils, Alofiana Khan-Pereira – Burleigh Bears, Trent Loiero – Sunshine Coast Falcons, Jack Martin – Ipswich Jets, Fanitesi Niu – Souths Logan Magpies, Brendan Piakura – Tweed Seagulls, Tristan Powell – Burleigh Bears, Jake Simpkin – Wynnum Manly Seagulls, Hamiso Tabuai–Fidow – Townsville Blackhawks, Carsil Vaikai – Tweed Seagulls, Sam Walker – Ipswich Jets, Reece Walsh – Tweed Seagulls, Toby Sexton – Tweed Seagulls

2019 SOO under 18's highlights

HIGHLIGHTS | CABE NSW Under 18s v QLD Under 18s | NSWRL

Queensland and NSW do battle in the annual Under 18 curtain-raiser match before Holden State of Origin game one at Suncorp Stadium

www.nswrl.com.au

2019 SOO under 18's full replay (game starts @ 11:57)

Queensland v New South Wales Under 18s | NSWRL

In the leadup to the State Of Origin opener at Suncorp Stadium, watch the curtain-raiser between the Queensland and New South Wales under 18s

www.nswrl.com.au