I think we need some accurate perspective here of what was achieved this year.
We finished equal first with the front row and forwards who everyone seems to think are in need of replacement! Surely that's not a bad effort from a supposed bunch of amateurs if you've read most of the posts about what we need to improve.
Come the finals we had four of our six starting forwards injured or suspended for the final/s (okay Gift was out from April). What team could ever hope to achieve much in the finals with that scenario? Yet, with what we had we still won more games than 14 other teams and yet we are called light weight up front etc etc. and barring a ref's call we probably would have beaten the Panthers again to make the GF.
Yes, we were run all over by Souths in the last two games we played against them and the Bullodogs in our last round against them, but not in the finals, except for the first half. We should have won, but for a Pink jersey error!
I think Turbojet and maybe Sao will prove revelations in 2015 and i predict that Turbojet will be playing for NSW in 2016, providing his injury is okay. I see he and Woods as the NSW front row for a lot of years coming.
With regards to the backs, Hiku has already shown his potential in the finals last year at fullback. He may not be the quickest, but he is deceptive. His defence is strong and he is reasonably safe under the high ball, but for his height, and in real terms the high ball into the in goal is a lottery anyway. It's up to the close in defenders to put pressure on the kicker to negate an accurate kick, just like they did against the Bulldogs when Reynolds kicked the ball into the ref (an absolute travesty and don't you bet unless the rule is changed, this will be a new tactic in 2015 and why wouldn't you). He has good hands, can pass left or right so is a good distributor of the ball and i think he can kick with both feet (not sure on this one).
I agree that his best position for Hiku will probably be centre and after Lyon retires, you'll probably see Gutherson in the centres as well, with JT at fullback or JT at 5/8 and Gutherson at Fullback, if Foran flies the coup. I don't see JLJ in the picture really.
I agree with previous posts that Jorge was playing injured and obviously lost his confidence and it will come back in pre-season and he'll return a better player.
There were quite a few of the new guys on one year contracts last year so who knows who will be staying of them.
Clearly there is a split in the group even though there have been denials and it appears Foz is torn between the groups. He's played a lot of years with the guys in one group but admires those in the other group and has befriended them. Who knows?
I really hope Foz stays and sees the benefit of playing with DCE and hopefully relationships with other NZ players like Hiku and other potential NZ players as a benefit, who nare at Manly, but time will see.
