Will Siebs bring in Fainu at 6 when he turns 18?

[Bearfax]

I don't see why not. The current sixes we have been using haven't done anything to own the position

Oh how short a memory is. Schuster before his injury was instrumental in assisting Manly to defeat the Eels. A remarkable 3 try assists, pin point kicking, good defense. Haven't seen a Manly 5/8 do that in years. Injury stuffed up the following games, which wasnt his fault. Certainly there seems an issue now regarding getting back to peak fitness. But having been a leg injury, he couldnt run at training given a quad injury affects the hip, thigh and knee, which set his good efforts over the summer back some. Little wonder his running fitness diminished. Cant run on one leg. Certainly commitment may be an issue as alluded to by DCE and Seibs, but for pure talent we have no one comparable....at this stage

 

[mave]

Can have all the talent in the world.

But it's useless if you can't get on, then stay on, the field.

Brett Papworth springs to mind.

 

[Bearfax]

Can have all the talent in the world.

But it's useless if you can't get on, then stay on, the field.

Brett Papworth springs to mind.

Agreed. Should we say the same with Turbo who played less than half a season three times in his past five years. Schuster is still young and often young players take time for their body to toughen. Several young stars in the game lately have been injured for extended periods. Two examples Bradman Best 2020 11 games, 2021 17 games 2022 14 games, Ponga 2021 15 games, 2022 14 games this year only 3 games. Happens.

 

[mave]

Agreed. Should we say the same with Turbo who played less than half a season three times in his past five years. Schuster is still young and often young players take time for their body to toughen. Several young stars in the game lately have been injured for extended periods. Two examples Bradman Best 2020 11 games, 2021 17 games 2022 14 games, Ponga 2021 15 games, 2022 14 games this year only 3 games. Happens.

Yes, yes we should.

 

[Bearfax]

Yes, yes we should.

But does that justify criticism and looking elsewhere. Not every player remains injury free like DCE or Menzies who were rarely absent. Some of our best have been sidelined for extended periods. Brett Stewart (and I'm not referring to the court case here but rather injuries) for example. Some players are like thoroughbred horses, often susceptible to injury. But we've seen that without them, the quality in the team performance falls. Reliable and predictable dont win games. Those with the talent to make things happen, do. Give me a Schuster, Ponga etc any day

 

[mave]

But does that justify criticism and looking elsewhere. Not every player remains injury free like DCE or Menzies who were rarely absent. Some of our best have been sidelined for extended periods. Brett Stewart (and I'm not referring to the court case here but rather injuries) for example. Some players are like thoroughbred horses, often susceptible to injury. But we've seen that without them, the quality in the team performance falls. Reliable and predictable dont win games. Those with the talent to make things happen, do. Give me a Schuster, Ponga etc any day

Well we aren't winning games with them at the moment either. And those games we are winning have been ugly, ugly, ugly.
Source: the ladder.

Fans calling for looking elsewhere doesn't mean anything. We don't control anything. But we are well entitled to criticise , not that I'm doing much of that personally.

And Knights are a much better balanced side without Ponga, imo....and without fact checking, I'd be willing to bet there win % does not improve much with him playing, in fact I suspect they win more games without him.

 

[Scorpio]

Maybe so but to expect brilliance is ... shall I say... somewhat unrealistic. We've seen these young kids such as Tom Wright, Albert Hopoate, Weekes just to name three coming with high expectations struggle at first. Some fit in well but even they have problems. Koula has played well but not exceptional. Sua'ali'i has been good but he's also outside an outstanding back line. Generally it takes time. Too often many on this site look for immediate gratification and put down those who dont display brilliance straight away. In some sense that applies even to Schuster who has still only played a hand full of fist grade games at 5/8 yet already they are wanting to trade him off. All I'm saying is Latu Fainu may turn into something exceptional. But not today. Give him time.

This is a discussion forum, everyone can have their own opinion but it doesn't affect what happens with the player and club's performance.

And in my opinion...

The problem with Wright and Hopoate was not that they had a very ordinary first few games, it was that they then quit and/or went elsewhere instead of sticking around and working hard on improving. I hope Weekes will stick around and improve, but at the moment his performances have not commanded a first grade starting position - I don't think that's really a controversial opinion.

Fainu's case is different, in that he's on a 7-figure contract for the next 2.5 years... and we don't know if he'll even debut this year or next (or the year after), or whether he will be immediately good or not. We have missed the finals for 5 of the last 8 years and I think the fans want decent return on investment more than anything else. Time will tell if that will be the case here.

 

[Bearfax]

Well we aren't winning games with them at the moment either. And those games we are winning have been ugly, ugly, ugly.
Source: the ladder.

Fans calling for looking elsewhere doesn't mean anything. We don't control anything. But we are well entitled to criticise , not that I'm doing much of that personally.

And Knights are a much better balanced side without Ponga, imo....and without fact checking, I'd be willing to bet there win % does not improve much with him playing, in fact I suspect they win more games without him.

Points taken. The Parramatta and Storm games were pretty decent, though I've said for a while, the team without its stars is a middle order side. The team functions well when Schuster is on song. Same with Turbo. Without them, or with them playing injured, the team is dysfunctional. If Manly can get their top players in the side without having to change every week as has been happening, the balance will appear. I suspect the same would apply with Ponga. Takes time to develop the best pattern.

What's most concerning is the defense of this side suggesting changes are causing structural inefficiencies. First three games Manly missed 24, 24, 17, which is pretty decent. Then from the Newcastle game it went to 49, 42, 36, 28, 38, with the Storm match in the middle at 14. Unlikely to win if the side is regularly missing at least 30 tackles a match. That I suggest is one of the major issues.

 

[winnyason]

He can tackle tho, so that’s more than the current 6.

**** me please no

 

[Bearfax]

Well we aren't winning games with them at the moment either. And those games we are winning have been ugly, ugly, ugly.
Source: the ladder.

Fans calling for looking elsewhere doesn't mean anything. We don't control anything. But we are well entitled to criticise , not that I'm doing much of that personally.

And Knights are a much better balanced side without Ponga, imo....and without fact checking, I'd be willing to bet there win % does not improve much with him playing, in fact I suspect they win more games without him.

Points taken. The Parramatta and Storm games were pretty decent, though I've said for a while, the team without its stars is a middle order side. The team functions well when Schuster is on song. Same with Turbo. Without them, or with them playing injured, the team is dysfunctional. If Manly can get their top players in the side without having to change every week as has been happening, the balance will appear. I suspect the same would apply with Ponga. Takes time to develop the best pattern.

What's most concerning is the defense of this side suggesting changes are causing structural inefficiencies. First three games Manly missed 24, 24, 17, which is pretty decent. Then from the Newcastle game it went to 49, 42, 36, 28, 38, with the Storm match in the middle at 14. Unlikely to win if the side is regularly missing at least 30 tackles a match. That I suggest is one of the major issues.

 

[KNUCKLES]

Maybe so but to expect brilliance is ... shall I say... somewhat unrealistic. We've seen these young kids such as Tom Wright, Albert Hopoate, Weekes just to name three coming with high expectations struggle at first. Some fit in well but even they have problems. Koula has played well but not exceptional. Sua'ali'i has been good but he's also outside an outstanding back line. Generally it takes time. Too often many on this site look for immediate gratification and put down those who dont display brilliance straight away. In some sense that applies even to Schuster who has still only played a hand full of fist grade games at 5/8 yet already they are wanting to trade him off. All I'm saying is Latu Fainu may turn into something exceptional. But not today. Give him time.

But this is the dilemma isn't it... the players want the instant gratification in their bank accounts. With more money, comes more expectation, more accountability and more responsibility

 

[lsz]

I keep wondering what the impact of Covid and the lock downs has been on younger players

Most of them missed almost two years of game time

 

[mave]

I keep wondering what the impact of Covid and the lock downs has been on younger players

Most of them missed almost two years of game time

We aren't Robinson Crusoe in this regard.

 

[Wombat64]

Dessie would have ,,,,,, he loved blooding the youngsters

 

[Thewestisbest]

If he is up to the physicality, put him on the bench.

 

[ManlyTragic]

…. Oh another messiah like weekes!

 

[lsz]

We aren't Robinson Crusoe in this regard.

Was more of a general NRL comment here

 

[Bearfax]

But this is the dilemma isn't it... the players want the instant gratification in their bank accounts. With more money, comes more expectation, more accountability and more responsibility

Such is the state of highly paid sports people. Not just in RL. The market determines the value of a player and its a balancing act for the buyer and the receiver, that is who gets the better deal.

 

[47MVEagle]

Manly gave Latu this contract while all 4 brothers were at the club & Manase hadn’t yet been found guilty.

Now Manase’s in gaol & Sione’s at Wests Tigers, leaving only Samuela & Latu at Manly.

I hope the club’s investment of time & money in this family pays off, but the odds have slimmed a fair bit.

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

I hope the club’s investment of time & money

Yes a lot of money committed to Latu. But are we the only club who pay big money to outstanding kids?

Of course not. Although ... there probably aren't many clubs who put kids in their top 30 when they are too young to even play NRL!

Yes but you see, if they are in the top 30 then the NRL pays their wage, not Penn. This guy really knows how to save a buck! So what, give up a squad spot, give up a home game, it's all good for the bottom line.