[Resurrected] Turbo injury, healthy, injury, healthy, and dancer - updates

[Buddy Love]

Slater was better at kick returns, karate kicks, brain explosions and high tackles. Slater also worked up very good combinations with Smith & Cronk and played almost his entire career with a top 4 side.
Snake was a unique talent and overall a better player, by a small margin*.

*my opinion

I mean I get what he's trying to do but wtf is he thinking 🤣 not soccer billy boy. Another favourite slater moment was when Trex used him as a speed bump hehehe. I hated old Billy for ages but that game wolfman did his neck and how billy held him and told others to basically F off my opinion of him changed somewhat. I mean he's still a filthy cheat but the 40 nil made that all the better. Damn I miss those days

 

[Buddy Love]

Yes, the pre-knee injury Snake was a sight to behold. He used his guile to prolong what was a wonderful career. He was such a heads--up guy...one of my favourite moments was the try he laid on for Matt Ballin against Souths in the 2013 Prelim Final. He stood at dummy half and waved Ballin into position with his hand behind his back. Then he took a short side and held the ball up beautifully for Ballin to take the hole. It was sublime football.

It's also worth noting that in spite of his knee injuries, he was still fast enough to score an absolute pearler in the 2011 GF, running off an inside pass for DCE. He was always able to bring his best form to big games because he was a super competitor.

The guy definitely pulled off some of the best trick plays I've ever seen. The tunnel ball out the back was another and yes that 2011 GF try was awesome! I was in full Manly mode back in those days. 2013 broke me and nsw losing origin 10x now I don't even care about origin 😅

 

[silvereagle]

We could move Tom to centre and he could get injured anyway and/or not have the same impact. Without Tom at 1, we are probably no chance of jagging a long-odds premiership. For this reason, we might as well roll the dice. He might get injured, but at least we died trying. Tom at centre is akin to not really having a crack at glory. The reason we need him at 1 is not just about his touches of the ball. He provides great direction for everyone else in the team with his vision, and we need him to set the defence.

Koula is doing well at centre. Look across the NRL - how many other centres are torching oppositions with one on one brilliance every week? I feel that because of his speed, people are expecting him to have moments like the semi-final last year, week in, week out. Those opportunities are not being created for him. He can only work with what he is given. He has a strong carry and is much safer in defence than Garrick.

As for the pack, it’s limited. We knew that before a ball was kicked this year. We also need a 9.

Looks like the consensus is to leave Turbo where he is. Just as well I am not he coach as I would have most of you guys offside.....and Tom in the centre!!! Fingers crossed for the guy and for the team.

 

[LeonardCohen]

View attachment 29547
I mean I get what he's trying to do but wtf is he thinking 🤣 not soccer billy boy. Another favourite slater moment was when Trex used him as a speed bump hehehe. I hated old Billy for ages but that game wolfman did his neck and how billy held him and told others to basically F off my opinion of him changed somewhat. I mean he's still a filthy cheat but the 40 nil made that all the better. Damn I miss those days

The thing about Slater is that he was a ruthless competitor, not a bad human being. If he was playing for Manly, we’d have no problem with his antics. I recall Matai being one of the most (if not the most) hated player in the game at one point. I remember thinking he was the greatest competitor in the game at the time.

 

[jbb/james]

The thing about Slater is that he was a ruthless competitor, not a bad human being. If he was playing for Manly, we’d have no problem with his antics. I recall Matai being one of the most (if not the most) hated player in the game at one point. I remember thinking he was the greatest competitor in the game at the time.

Terry Hill even.

 

[globaleagle]

The thing about Slater is that he was a ruthless competitor, not a bad human being. If he was playing for Manly, we’d have no problem with his antics. I recall Matai being one of the most (if not the most) hated player in the game at one point. I remember thinking he was the greatest competitor in the game at the time.

Fair enough.

But Matai received a ton of suspensions, whereas when Slater would jump up and kick a player in the head whilst catching a bomb, the other player would be penalised for touching a 'jumper in the air'.

Maybe it's easy to be a delightful human when you have 5 contracts, 4 'third party' payments...

and a partridge in a pear treeeeeeeee

 

[IQofalimabean]

Slater played his entire career in the best team under the best coach. I dont think he could have got Manly to 4 grandfinals yet alone win one. And that's the kind of criticism you get when you never leave the storm and try your wares at a average club.

 

[LeonardCohen]

Fair enough.

But Matai received a ton of suspensions, whereas when Slater would jump up and kick a player in the head whilst catching a bomb, the other player would be penalised for touching a 'jumper in the air'.

Maybe it's easy to be a delightful human when you have 5 contracts, 4 'third party' payments...

and a partridge in a pear treeeeeeeee

He wasn’t the one with the whistle in his mouth.

 

[LeonardCohen]

Slater played his entire career in the best team under the best coach. I dont think he could have got Manly to 4 grandfinals yet alone win one. And that's the kind of criticism you get when you never leave the storm and try your wares at a average club.

See I would argue that he was a major contributor to the Storm being the best team. Personally, I hated him and agree that he was a grub but I can also see objectively that he was an out and out superstar. Some of his best games were grand finals. He wasn’t some guy riding on other people’s coattails.

 

[Waz13]

See I would argue that he was a major contributor to the Storm being the best team. Personally, I hated him and agree that he was a grub but I can also see objectively that he was an out and out superstar. Some of his best games were grand finals. He wasn’t some guy riding on other people’s coattails.

It’s argued by plenty that Slater is the greatest fullback of all time. He was a major contributor to the Storms success.

 

[jbb/james]

It’s argued by plenty that Slater is the greatest fullback of all time. He was a major contributor to the Storms success.

You could also argue that along with bellamy, smith and cronk , they set a standard and culture that most clubs never reach. Winning was the only thing, they pushed limits , boundaries and each other to greatness . No shortcuts and never let the team down

Slater was part of a great team that he helped build

Man i hated those bastards, and TBH that is a compliment to there abilities

Manly had that, but destroyed the culture and the succession planning and now we are trying to build it again , but with shortcuts

 

[Waz13]

You could also argue that along with bellamy, smith and cronk , they set a standard and culture that most clubs never reach. Winning was the only thing, they pushed limits , boundaries and each other to greatness . No shortcuts and never let the team down

Slater was part of a great team that he helped build

Man i hated those bastards, and TBH that is a compliment to there abilities

Manly had that, but destroyed the culture and the succession planning and now we are trying to build it again , but with shortcuts

Genuine question when was the last time they missed finals? Assume the year they got their points docked? Before that who knows.

 

[Budgie]

Back to Tommy, if you all don't mind ...

oh, alright, I'll settle all your other nonsense. Wombat was Manly's best ever fullback followed by Brett then Tommy.

Brett was better than Slater until the second knee and all the court stuff.

Now please, Tommy. His attack is second to none but the reason he's number three on the list of greats for me is his defensive instincts. I'm not sure that they're as good as they could be, despite coaching from Brett. I actually think young Hoppa has a better feel for defensive positioning. What do all you footy brains (and pretend footy brains) think?

 

[jbb/james]

Genuine question when was the last time they missed finals? Assume the year they got their points docked? Before that who knows.

I think someone said they missed it once in 20 years

 

[Rafferty]

Genuine question when was the last time they missed finals? Assume the year they got their points docked? Before that who knows.

Finals Appearances​

1998, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024

Only missed the finals 3 times in their club history, the answer to your question is 2010, which I believe was when they were docked for salary cap breach, otherwise it would go back to 2002

 

[Ralphie]

The thing about Slater is that he was a ruthless competitor, not a bad human being. If he was playing for Manly, we’d have no problem with his antics. I recall Matai being one of the most (if not the most) hated player in the game at one point. I remember thinking he was the greatest competitor in the game at the time.

I have witnessed behavior that would change your mind if you had also witnessed it.

 

[Waz13]

Back to Tommy, if you all don't mind ...

oh, alright, I'll settle all your other nonsense. Wombat was Manly's best ever fullback followed by Brett then Tommy.

Brett was better than Slater until the second knee and all the court stuff.

Now please, Tommy. His attack is second to none but the reason he's number three on the list of greats for me is his defensive instincts. I'm not sure that they're as good as they could be, despite coaching from Brett. I actually think young Hoppa has a better feel for defensive positioning. What do all you footy brains (and pretend footy brains) think?

Not a fan of the term so much, but Hoppa is a straight out “footy player” not blessed with blinding speed strength or size, but he seems to have those instincts and footy smarts. I think he’ll be our fb for a long time and may even take over this year on a permanent basis at some point.

 

[jbb/james]

Back to Tommy, if you all don't mind ...

oh, alright, I'll settle all your other nonsense. Wombat was Manly's best ever fullback followed by Brett then Tommy.

Brett was better than Slater until the second knee and all the court stuff.

Now please, Tommy. His attack is second to none but the reason he's number three on the list of greats for me is his defensive instincts. I'm not sure that they're as good as they could be, despite coaching from Brett. I actually think young Hoppa has a better feel for defensive positioning. What do all you footy brains (and pretend footy brains) think?

Tommy had this defensive presence a few years ago but it seems the intensity has dropped off all over the park , and fullback is part of that
Not into ranking but wombat is one of my all time faves

Both snake and wombat played in champion teams and were never the main playmaker in the side. Tom has more responsibility ,
Ponga probably in the same boat

 

[Ralphie]

Back to Tommy, if you all don't mind ...

oh, alright, I'll settle all your other nonsense. Wombat was Manly's best ever fullback followed by Brett then Tommy.

Brett was better than Slater until the second knee and all the court stuff.

Now please, Tommy. His attack is second to none but the reason he's number three on the list of greats for me is his defensive instincts. I'm not sure that they're as good as they could be, despite coaching from Brett. I actually think young Hoppa has a better feel for defensive positioning. What do all you footy brains (and pretend footy brains) think?

Disagree, the great Bob Batty would be third on my list, followed by Tom.

 

[Waz13]

Finals Appearances​

1998, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024

Only missed the finals 3 times in their club history, the answer to your question is 2010, which I believe was when they were docked for salary cap breach, otherwise it would go back to 2002

That’s a fair effort.