Under pressure list - no particular order to this:
1) Lachlan Croker
This guy is just under pressure not to get injured or regress to his early-2021 form. We have Lawton as a backup 9 I guess, but that wasn't how Des used Karl last year. With our lean stocks in the number 9 stocks, we have no buffer for a 9 out of form or carrying an injury (Frog's had some pretty awful injuries). But Fainu..? Would love to see him back sure, but reality bites and Croker is all our eggs in that 9 basket right now.
2) Josh Aloiai
Did he have a standout game last year? I honestly can't remember him doing anything that stood out (maybe that's a good thing...). As a high-profile multi-year signing last year I maybe expected more. If a Prop-move for Jake is on the cards (although who plays lock then...), then Josh A might be one who needs to muscle up a bit - especially with a young Keppie, Tent & Bullemor champing at the bit, Boyle needing a career-defining year, and Marty/Sipley the only older props in the team.
3) Andrew Davey
Comes into a team stacked with 2nd-rowers carrying high expectations - after an unlucky end to 2021. Has to compete with some of the more popular players with supporters for a spot (Guac, Schuster, Lawton, Burbo) - if he keeps any of those out of the team and doesn't nail it, there will be questions asked, like in 2020. Also it seems like if he has bad luck again and cops a big injury, it might be terminal to his career. Heart only gets you so far if the body breaks down.
4) DCE
I thought he had a stellar year last year on an individual level. His leadership qualities though when they are backs against the wall need to extend beyond slotting that high-pressure play/Field-goal to win the match. He isn't a "trench-warfare" type leader. He ices those high-pressure situations that reap high-level accolade, sure. I'm a bit torn on this, as it sounds petty to say - but it's not those highlight reel moments that we need from him - well not always. Sometimes I feel like we need him to do
what Turbo did to Tent against the Eels and not be afraid of the consequences of players maybe not liking him - park the diplomacy and rip out some timely fire-ups Daly.
5) Dylan Walker & Kieran Foran (Tied, for same reason)
Playing for their contracts / future. Both with an injury-plagued history. Great players at their prime no argument, and both had great impact in 2021 in their own ways. As it stands today, I can't see either of them with our club in 2023. I would however also be completely fine with both of them finishing up their careers at Manly (as long as it wasn't mainly spent in the injury ward). Maybe even taking up role with the club post-retirement... although I would keep both of them on a tight leash post-footy.
