Ryan
Journey Man
Totally agree with your right to argue the quality on paper of our 1-7, however whatever squad Des ends up with is the one he will have to unite and improve...gradually & steadily.
Games are not won on paper, and it would be ludicrous to say in 2019, we will hit the ground as a favoured team.
That being said, what is your ****ing point? Apart from stating the obvious, as you tend to do, what debate would you like to engage in?
I support this team and believe 2019 will be the beginning of a successful recalibration of the club in general. I want to believe that we will have steady progress in achieving this goal. Furthermore, I believe Hasler can make it happen.
I don’t want to argue with you @Ryan , I would just prefer you stop banging your negative drum on some of the signings (on Barrett’s watch) that Des will inherit and attempt to extract their very best.
Playing semantics over the cards that have been dealt is petty and simplistic. Cheers
My point is our roster construction is an abomination. Saying Des will have a pack of no names beating the rest of the league because of some magical ointment t doesn't work.
Look at our backlines when we won Grand Finals. Look at The Roosters backline last year. Look at The Storms last year.
I absolutely love that Des is back, but I don't agree he'll be some automatic upgrade on Trent Barrett. In fact, he'll have the same forward pack, but a heavily regressed backline.
My point is that we need to be real in our expectations. People are making out Des is a magician. He's not. It took him years to rebuild our roster. Yes, I still love the Manly legend.
Regardless of why, Des agreed to release Kelly. The club decided not to resign Uate. The club decided on acquiring broken down and sacked players like Hodkinson and Suli.
We are STILL fumbling from one disaster to the next (Fainu, DCE, Hastings, Walker etc).
I disagree these days as well. Games ARE won on paper. The best rosters won, and were in the G.F. last year (why do you think they are always accused of cheating the cap).
I'm literally appalled by the quality of the players in our backline. Besides Tommy (and without Walker), I don't rate any of the others. Taufua should be retired. We have no centres for me to debate. Elgey is an unknown. DCE..I don't know tbh.