1. Brett Stewart: Someone (Barrett or Brett himself) needs to come clean on what is going on here. Is it simply that Brett's lower back/hamstring is so bad (another non event 6 runs for 50 metres) he can only play in 2nd gear and is therefore only out there to lend experience? Or is there something more going on mentally? Enough is enough and the fans deserve better than watching one of the greatest Manly players in history look like a lame duck passenger week after week.
2. Jorge Taufua: 16 runs for 145m looks like a great game. In reality he's looking more like a reserve grade winger every week. Surely any first grade winger has to be able to leap off the ground to catch high balls, which Jorge is seemingly incapable of doing, and making key tackles on the goal line. We need a Semi badly.
3. Tom Trbojevic: Imagine how good he would be on two fit legs. Might as well get the surgery done now before it gets worse and be right for next season.
11. Lewis Brown: Not a centre and should NEVER be picked there. Too small and hopelessly ineffective. A bench sub at best if required by injury. An excellent reserve grade player out of his depth in the top grade.
4. Brayden Wilame: An excellent reserve grade player out of his depth in the top grade.
19. Pita Godinet: An excellent reserve grade player out of his depth in the top grade.
7. Apisai Koroisau: 6 runs. Why? Surely can offer way more even behind a badly beaten pack.
8. Darcy Lussick: Much improved running hard at the line. 13 runs for 136 metres and 28 tackles in a 44 min stint.
9. Matt Parcell: Star of the future needing time and a better pack. Hope the injury isn't bad.
15. Josh Starling: An excellent reserve grade player out of his depth in the top grade.
10. Marty Taupau: Felt like a curiously quiet game in his much needed return yet the stats say 15 runs for 153 metres and 26 tackles in 71 mins. Get him wider running off DCE please.
12. Jamie Buhrer: Love him to death and never stops trying, but is there room for a back rower of his diminutive size? Nonetheless also excellent stats 17 runs for 136 metres and 36 tackles. Unfortunately the 4 missed tackles were costly but that's where you question the coach playing a guy of his size for 80 mins.
13. Jake Trbojevic: If we had 5 Jake's up front we'd be in the top 4. Incredible stats 20 runs for 160 metres and 50 tackles, simply herculean. Plus the stress of captain. Surely Brett would be better placed at captain. Or is it his unanswered mental side doesn't allow it?
5. Matthew Wright: Barrett needs to explain why a reserve grade winger was taking up a bench spot, and obviously only got 15 mins. Can Feliti Mateo be THAT bad he can't get a bench spot in an injury crisis this deep?
14. Blake Leary: An excellent reserve grade player out of his depth in the top grade.
17. Siosaia Vave: 14 runs for 128 metres? Tick. Fitness (gut)? Questionable. But hey a Fifita/Hindmarsh is not a problem.
18. Liam Knight: 3 pens in 15 mins before getting hooked. An excellent reserve grade player out of his depth in the top grade (but in obv fairness needs way more time and will improve hugely)
Summary:
Missing: Lyon, DCE, Walker, Matai, Myles, Lawrence. That's 6 superstar players, ok 5 plus Nate. Any team is going to lose with that lot out.
Liability: See "An excellent reserve grade player out of his depth in the top grade". At least 6 of them playing last night. Any team is going to lose with that lot in.
Tragedy: Broken Brett. Something has to give.
Coach: Jury is still out for mine. Attack: regardless of the massive injury toll there's an alarming lack of anything, 5 tackles and a mid field bomb doesn't cut it. Defence: Goal line fragility x 1000.
Asst Coach: I'd love to be proven wrong, but Cartwright just smacks of a guy collecting the pay check at a club he couldn't give a hoot about.
Fitness trainer: If this Ferris bloke is so good why do we look out of gas so often?
Result: 3rd last and deservedly so.
Bright side: Thanks to guys like Jake T and Jamie B we never give up and don't lose 46-0 like the Roosters. As long as we keep trying there's hope.
What to do: Face facts, retire the oldies, make a call on Brett, recruit size in the forwards and a couple of Semi type tall wingers, and start working on 2017 now.
2. Jorge Taufua: 16 runs for 145m looks like a great game. In reality he's looking more like a reserve grade winger every week. Surely any first grade winger has to be able to leap off the ground to catch high balls, which Jorge is seemingly incapable of doing, and making key tackles on the goal line. We need a Semi badly.
3. Tom Trbojevic: Imagine how good he would be on two fit legs. Might as well get the surgery done now before it gets worse and be right for next season.
11. Lewis Brown: Not a centre and should NEVER be picked there. Too small and hopelessly ineffective. A bench sub at best if required by injury. An excellent reserve grade player out of his depth in the top grade.
4. Brayden Wilame: An excellent reserve grade player out of his depth in the top grade.
19. Pita Godinet: An excellent reserve grade player out of his depth in the top grade.
7. Apisai Koroisau: 6 runs. Why? Surely can offer way more even behind a badly beaten pack.
8. Darcy Lussick: Much improved running hard at the line. 13 runs for 136 metres and 28 tackles in a 44 min stint.
9. Matt Parcell: Star of the future needing time and a better pack. Hope the injury isn't bad.
15. Josh Starling: An excellent reserve grade player out of his depth in the top grade.
10. Marty Taupau: Felt like a curiously quiet game in his much needed return yet the stats say 15 runs for 153 metres and 26 tackles in 71 mins. Get him wider running off DCE please.
12. Jamie Buhrer: Love him to death and never stops trying, but is there room for a back rower of his diminutive size? Nonetheless also excellent stats 17 runs for 136 metres and 36 tackles. Unfortunately the 4 missed tackles were costly but that's where you question the coach playing a guy of his size for 80 mins.
13. Jake Trbojevic: If we had 5 Jake's up front we'd be in the top 4. Incredible stats 20 runs for 160 metres and 50 tackles, simply herculean. Plus the stress of captain. Surely Brett would be better placed at captain. Or is it his unanswered mental side doesn't allow it?
5. Matthew Wright: Barrett needs to explain why a reserve grade winger was taking up a bench spot, and obviously only got 15 mins. Can Feliti Mateo be THAT bad he can't get a bench spot in an injury crisis this deep?
14. Blake Leary: An excellent reserve grade player out of his depth in the top grade.
17. Siosaia Vave: 14 runs for 128 metres? Tick. Fitness (gut)? Questionable. But hey a Fifita/Hindmarsh is not a problem.
18. Liam Knight: 3 pens in 15 mins before getting hooked. An excellent reserve grade player out of his depth in the top grade (but in obv fairness needs way more time and will improve hugely)
Summary:
Missing: Lyon, DCE, Walker, Matai, Myles, Lawrence. That's 6 superstar players, ok 5 plus Nate. Any team is going to lose with that lot out.
Liability: See "An excellent reserve grade player out of his depth in the top grade". At least 6 of them playing last night. Any team is going to lose with that lot in.
Tragedy: Broken Brett. Something has to give.
Coach: Jury is still out for mine. Attack: regardless of the massive injury toll there's an alarming lack of anything, 5 tackles and a mid field bomb doesn't cut it. Defence: Goal line fragility x 1000.
Asst Coach: I'd love to be proven wrong, but Cartwright just smacks of a guy collecting the pay check at a club he couldn't give a hoot about.
Fitness trainer: If this Ferris bloke is so good why do we look out of gas so often?
Result: 3rd last and deservedly so.
Bright side: Thanks to guys like Jake T and Jamie B we never give up and don't lose 46-0 like the Roosters. As long as we keep trying there's hope.
What to do: Face facts, retire the oldies, make a call on Brett, recruit size in the forwards and a couple of Semi type tall wingers, and start working on 2017 now.
