Here's how I think a few things might pan out this year- just wondering what everyone else thought ...
Ladder position: 2nd- yes I’m being optimistic but I’ve thought about it and there is no way I will write the Eagles off based on the fact that there is a question mark over the forwards.
I also don’t think the loss of Kennedy will have as huge an affect as most tend to think. No doubt he was a champion player and did wonders for the club BUT it’s not the end of the world and hopefully a few players can now step up to the plate given the opportunity.
While we can all put the doom and gloom angle on it, I’d like to think it would be a good opportunity for the likes of Rose, Afamasaga, Watmough, Ballin and company to really shine this year.
Anyone who expected Manly to find a ready made replacement for Kennedy overnight was living in fantasy land (although Luke O’Donnell would be handy next year).
I really hope we can bring in a player who will prove himself (like Choc in 2005) instead having to buy some other clubs ready made player (hence having to spend a lot more $$$).
All up I am confident we will perform a lot more consistently this year and while I think our back line will sparkle, it will be the forwards that will hopefully shock a few people. What better motivation is there than people knocking you before a game has even been played.
Best back 2007: Orford: while Jamie Lyon is obviously the star import and big things are expected of him, that responsibility rested on the shoulders of Orford last year and with a bit of the pressure off I expect him to shine.
His form for us, while not bad, has been indifferent at times but I fully expect him to produce the form he was in at Melbourne before he left them.
With Lyon now in the equation the pressure on Orford to try spark something in attack will be lessened and hopefully this should improve his all round game and ability to guide the team around the park.
Best forward 2007: mmmmm….I’d love to say Afamasaga, but I’m going to go with Ballin to crack first grade full time and be praised up by commentators as a “ready made replacement for Danny Buderus in the Aussie team.†(here’s hoping anyway)
Average crowd at Brookvale: 17,045
Minor Premiers: Dragons (Barrett leaving will be a blessing in disguise for them)
Wooden spoon: Tigers (Marshall injured again early and the Tigers lose ten on the trot)
Success story of the year: Monday night football a success giving thousands of married men an excuse to go to the pub for that extra night, or inturn get Foxtel put on at home- it’s a win, win situation. Close second the two Friday night games….twice the reason to look forward to Friday nights.
Story of the year: Souths tell Russell Crowe to stay away from training after attempting to tell the players what lines to run- Russell gets the ****s and throws a phone at Holmes a Court and the press run with it- Rusty pulls out of Souths and decides to go back where he came from, getting behind NZ cricket.
Ladder position: 2nd- yes I’m being optimistic but I’ve thought about it and there is no way I will write the Eagles off based on the fact that there is a question mark over the forwards.
I also don’t think the loss of Kennedy will have as huge an affect as most tend to think. No doubt he was a champion player and did wonders for the club BUT it’s not the end of the world and hopefully a few players can now step up to the plate given the opportunity.
While we can all put the doom and gloom angle on it, I’d like to think it would be a good opportunity for the likes of Rose, Afamasaga, Watmough, Ballin and company to really shine this year.
Anyone who expected Manly to find a ready made replacement for Kennedy overnight was living in fantasy land (although Luke O’Donnell would be handy next year).
I really hope we can bring in a player who will prove himself (like Choc in 2005) instead having to buy some other clubs ready made player (hence having to spend a lot more $$$).
All up I am confident we will perform a lot more consistently this year and while I think our back line will sparkle, it will be the forwards that will hopefully shock a few people. What better motivation is there than people knocking you before a game has even been played.
Best back 2007: Orford: while Jamie Lyon is obviously the star import and big things are expected of him, that responsibility rested on the shoulders of Orford last year and with a bit of the pressure off I expect him to shine.
His form for us, while not bad, has been indifferent at times but I fully expect him to produce the form he was in at Melbourne before he left them.
With Lyon now in the equation the pressure on Orford to try spark something in attack will be lessened and hopefully this should improve his all round game and ability to guide the team around the park.
Best forward 2007: mmmmm….I’d love to say Afamasaga, but I’m going to go with Ballin to crack first grade full time and be praised up by commentators as a “ready made replacement for Danny Buderus in the Aussie team.†(here’s hoping anyway)
Average crowd at Brookvale: 17,045
Minor Premiers: Dragons (Barrett leaving will be a blessing in disguise for them)
Wooden spoon: Tigers (Marshall injured again early and the Tigers lose ten on the trot)
Success story of the year: Monday night football a success giving thousands of married men an excuse to go to the pub for that extra night, or inturn get Foxtel put on at home- it’s a win, win situation. Close second the two Friday night games….twice the reason to look forward to Friday nights.
Story of the year: Souths tell Russell Crowe to stay away from training after attempting to tell the players what lines to run- Russell gets the ****s and throws a phone at Holmes a Court and the press run with it- Rusty pulls out of Souths and decides to go back where he came from, getting behind NZ cricket.
