We have good players - just not in form

[maxta]

I know there's a few ordinary players in the Manly 17, but most clubs have this issue, apart from the Top 4 sides who can somehow fit all the stars in Pandora's box.....
My point being, it's partly about making your lessor players simply "do their job" and this allow's your star players "To Shine", but this is in actual fact, a 2 way street....
Instead of just concentrating the focus on how bad the Garrick, Parker and Goz ect are performing, what about the beast Suli playing up to the lofty standards he has already shown - went to Amazing form then gets ultra fit yet effort is in reverse, Sirro out now, but been damn ordinary for a bloke being mentioned in SOO talk only last season....the halves both DCE and Foz, if I hadn't seen them play, would have though they were not the Superstars we know they are and Tapau, well he went a Long way towards saving his status vs Souths so expecting him to keep the form from now.
I realise the teams in round 1 and 2 were simply no match for the Roosters or Souths, but they are a heap better than what we are seeing and just maybe, if our big name players can find the their Top form, the lessor name players who cop a ribbing each week may perfom admirally and better than we have come to expect.
Perhaps it's up to the Star players to lift this week and lift those blokes around them.
The old saying your only as good as your weakest link can be accurate, but also the level of these weaker players can improve dramatically with belief and confidence, which is what your best players should bring to a team wanting success.

 

[Woodsie]

Agree ... we have a pretty good roster ... but as a team we are playing busted ... in all aspects of the game.

Nothing will build confidence and performance more than a couple of wins ... but it better happen soon ...

 

[Fibro Eagle]

The squad is better than the one playing as a team
Just need a few wins in a row and it could be a turning point for the team

 

[The better Robbo]

The difference between a dud and a gun is just 1 week. Look at Ben Hunt. We definitely have the cattle, that is the least of our issues!

 

[susan]

We all hark back to 2019 in which a lot of these blokes went well and it’s easy to see a return to form.

Totally different game. After that first half from Storm in Rd 1 I said to my brother we are “ cooked” if Des follows his usual pattern.2020 revisit on the way.

Jake’s form slump started as soon as the game sped right up after Covid.It’s not a coincidence.
He looks like a cart horse amidst Ferrari’s. Only his big ticker keeps him in the hunt.13 is fast and mobile
See Radley Murray etc

All of a sudden Thommo was ordinary after covid. Still tough but older, slower and struggling with the speed.Again no coincidence.

Other guys who were ok / fringe players but not quite quick enough have been found out. Before their lack of pace was disguised in a slower game.See Suli , Parker , Tafua, Croker etc

Wrong cattle for the new game. Our guys are not that much worse as footballers, they are just playing a game that doesn’t suit them. It won’t get better till we realize that and field a side that can play the new rugby league.This is just rearranging the deck chairs.

There is no way the side that Des picked this week, even with Tommy back , will threaten the better sides.Get Fainu back and speed up the three quarters and we will start competing at least.That coukd happen this year if Des bites the bullet.

it’s going to take time, but unless they realize it now and mould the roster around the modern game it’s going to be a dark old decade of footy.

 

[Franko]

We have good players but they are playing for Workers and Flegg

 

[Remy]

We have such a strong roster, but they seem to be reliable on one player. With a roster like ours we really shouldn't be, but we are also playing quite buster, have been for years. And also add into effect the horrible selections from Des and the coaching staff. Like look at this full strenght 17 and tell me we can't push for a Top 4 spot:

Turbo
Saab
Suli
Walker
Harper/ Tuipolutuo
Foz
DCE
Paseka
Fainu
Taupau
Olakatau
Sironen
Jake

Schuster
Aloiai
Sipley/ Keppie
Davey

 

[madmax]

We all hark back to 2019 in which a lot of these blokes went well and it’s easy to see a return to form.

Totally different game. After that first half from Storm in Rd 1 I said to my brother we are “ cooked” if Des follows his usual pattern.2020 revisit on the way.

Jake’s form slump started as soon as the game sped right up after Covid.It’s not a coincidence.
He looks like a cart horse amidst Ferrari’s. Only his big ticker keeps him in the hunt.13 is fast and mobile
See Radley Murray etc

All of a sudden Thommo was ordinary after covid. Still tough but older, slower and struggling with the speed.Again no coincidence.

Other guys who were ok / fringe players but not quite quick enough have been found out. Before their lack of pace was disguised in a slower game.See Suli , Parker , Tafua, Croker etc

Wrong cattle for the new game. Our guys are not that much worse as footballers, they are just playing a game that doesn’t suit them. It won’t get better till we realize that and field a side that can play the new rugby league.This is just rearranging the deck chairs.

There is no way the side that Des picked this week, even with Tommy back , will threaten the better sides.Get Fainu back and speed up the three quarters and we will start competing at least.That coukd happen this year if Des bites the bullet.

it’s going to take time, but unless they realize it now and mould the roster around the modern game it’s going to be a dark old decade of footy.

Jake’s form slump started as soon as he got his $950k upgrade!!!!!

 

[ManlyTragic]

Our current 1 6 7 and 9 are crap .... that’s why we are coming last!

just sayin’

 

[Rafferty]

Hard to disagree with that, sad as it is, just read about how important no 1 is on the NRL, good read, slater nails it perfectly.
everyone bar DES seems to understand how import 9 is (I’m sure he knows, but his made a mess of it and seems to like sticking with his mess)
and our 6 and 7, dare I say it, are just to old, to slow, for the modern game, their time in the 6 & 7 is under a series cloud!

 

[Franko]

Jake’s form slump started as soon as he got his $950k upgrade!!!!!

How dumb are the manly recruitment guys, Jake and Tom had come out before upgrades and said they only ever dreamed of playing for Manly, they are locals. They were never going to leave, don’t know why we paid massive overs.

 

[anthonyb1965]

How dumb are the manly recruitment guys, Jake and Tom had come out before upgrades and said they only ever dreamed of playing for Manly, they are locals. They were never going to leave, don’t know why we paid massive overs.

Because they are special players and are representative quality?

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

Our 3.5 million players (3 of them )

Ones playing like ****

Ones hamstrings are ****ed

The other tries but his confidence is totally screwed.

Can you ever remember a time when Melbourne’s “ big 3” had this scenario???

No , I can’t either.

When the core is ****ed , the team is ****ed.

 

[Eagles4Life]

Because they are special players and are representative quality?

Do you mean were special players and were representative quality. Unfortunately, I think Tom's hamstrings will prevent him becming the superstar that we all expected him to become, and Jake's best days are behind him (He is simply not suited to the new rules as either lock or prop). I hope I am wrong but the signs are all pretty clear on both players.

 

[EOL now nesting on the GC]

Do you mean were special players and were representative quality. Unfortunately, I think Tom's hamstrings will prevent him becming the superstar that we all expected him to become, and Jake's best days are behind him (He is simply not suited to the new rules as either lock or prop). I hope I am wrong but the signs are all pretty clear on both players.

Some pretty big assumptions there mate.
Tigers said the same about Teddy as well. That worked out ****.

 

[maxta]

Also note that Penrith last night missing Cleary, Api and the fullback injured first half who was Penriths best player first 40 minutes, which is 75% of their spine....still toppled Storm through the other big players stepping up and in turn, the lessor lights lifted, to play to their capacity.
Strongly believe that if DCE, Foz, Kapow, Walker, Suli lift their game - the team will follow and raise their game.
Not become world beaters overnight, but at least compete every play and actually play like they can win the game.

 

[Tomay]

Yep but they are lacking a bit of leadership to keep them composed through the game. Our side spends 50 minutes a game in a panicked state.

 

[Chip and Chase]

Also note that Penrith last night missing Cleary, Api and the fullback injured first half who was Penriths best player first 40 minutes, which is 75% of their spine....still toppled Storm through the other big players stepping up and in turn, the lessor lights lifted, to play to their capacity.
Strongly believe that if DCE, Foz, Kapow, Walker, Suli lift their game - the team will follow and raise their game.
Not become world beaters overnight, but at least compete every play and actually play like they can win the game.

Storm without their first choice 9 and 1 as well.

I keep hearing on here that we can't win because we don't have our best spine on the park. Good teams and champion players lift and make the most of what they have. I don't see why we can't do the same, we have a very experienced international halves pairing that need to start taking games by the scruff of the neck.

 

[Stewbojevic]

Also note that Penrith last night missing Cleary, Api and the fullback injured first half who was Penriths best player first 40 minutes, which is 75% of their spine....still toppled Storm through the other big players stepping up and in turn, the lessor lights lifted, to play to their capacity.
Strongly believe that if DCE, Foz, Kapow, Walker, Suli lift their game - the team will follow and raise their game.
Not become world beaters overnight, but at least compete every play and actually play like they can win the game.

That was a quality game, the Storm v Panthers... you also need to keep in mind that the Storm were without Grant, Papi, Finucane, and Cam Smith from last year.

Both those clubs are just playing with confidence and competing on every play even with injuries.

In summary, we should be able to compete better than we have been with this squad.

 

[manly al]

Think that the point is still being missed that any side can not have two of their most influential players [ in Manly 's case Tom and Fainu and under performing halfs [ and vastly in D C E "s case ] and still expect to be playing at a optimum level . Then an ongoing injury list to exacerbate matters . Surely improving the defence short comings is not insurmountable as the regular clunky attack . Get the halfs playing at a necessary level including an effective kicking game and maybe half way there [ and no pun intended ] to being a contender again and i will follow the Sea Eagles through think and thin , the cycle will turn .