Young Hoppa - Gotta be in top 17 in 2025

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Mal Cochrane

I'm not really Mal Cochrane...
I think more Garrick wants to play centre and made it clear to the club, and the club then decided if they could see Garrick as a centre and therefore pay him centre money instead of winger money.

But at the end of the day, after the club made that decision, it is still up to seibs each week to pick his best team in each position, and not be hamstrung with a player demanding to play a position. It's just where Garrick wanted to play and be paid accordingly and manly obliged.
 

CRPSI eagle

Reserve Grader
Hoppa is must for the 13 starting position along side Tommy Talu
Hoppa is a generational player, you find ways to have players of this ability in your team, he would play left wing and continue to build his first grade career.

The same way Turbo developed while Snake was in the 1 jumper, you just find a way to have him in the starting 13, it means making a tough call on another player then that’s what it’s got to be, I would have him over Saab and Garrick on form.
its a no brainer he starts. He is a genuine star and will only be better in 2025. Let’s not risk losing this Hoppa!
 

Dion Johnson

Bencher
Premium Member
Tipping Member
Hoppa is must for the 13 starting position along side Tommy Talu

its a no brainer he starts. He is a genuine star and will only be better in 2025. Let’s not risk losing this Hoppa!
Absolutely!!

On Tommy Talau he was a really good this season and alongside Koula they would be the starting centres on form, at 24 years of age I dont think we have seen Talau reach his ceiling yet.
 

G-land Express

Reserve Grader
An off season in the weights room and fills out a bit he could be our version of Papenhuyzen. Move Turbo to centre with Koula, Garrick and Talau on wings. For in game injury re-shuffle could even move to 5/8.
 

bringbackbeaver

Reserve Grader
Can’t keep them all and need cash for second rower or prop IMO

1. Turbo
2. Gaz
3. Talau
4. Hoppa
5. Koula

Depth is Clayton. I’d let Saab go.

Alternatively we could make Talau bench cover . I think Koula would go well on the wing. Along with Gaz. Hoppa will be a gun centre one day and maybe sooner than we think
 

Bearfax

Grizzly old fart
Bringing Hoppa in via the wing and sometimes full back is ideal but some time in reserves to further develop his skills and build up a little, wont hurt. He has great natural talent and is one of those players who seems to almost always make the most effective play, but he has been copping some heavy stuff from opposition players trying to dampen his confidence. Much depends upon how he develops over the off season.

As for Garrick, if this kid was so poor at centre how did he get a selection ahead of Koula and Talau in the Prime ministers X111. Certainly his goal kicking helped but if you check the stats for attack and defense, Garrick's figures are little different from the other two, though Talau was enjoying his try scoring feats on the wing. So the negativity about this player is conjectural and based on personal perspectives. From my perspective, only Hoppa shades him of all our three quarters, for common sense play and seemingly making the most effective decision in each play. Garrick looks to me more mature in his play than the other two, but then he's 27 while Talau is 24 and Koula is still the baby at 22. For now, as a personal perspective, I like Garrick anywhere in the team. The other two will get better though.
 
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manly al

First Grader
Really can not underestimate Saab 's overall value to the side and pretty much a given to hold down one wing spot though a bit of a concern with being a bit susceptible to injury lately .
Club no doubt has recognized his value as well with that longer term deal recently
Guess it is going to come down to how long Lehi would be prepared to playing on the wing .[ though sure that he would be capable of playing in most backline positions
Think he is only 19 now and even with the expectation that Turbo could go another 3 seasons or so at the back [ and hopefully well and heaps of game time ], could work out until the opportunity to move to his no doubt better position as a full back .
And would have to include some better pay grade level .
Lot of unknowns coming up and would also include how much longer D C E is going to kick on and his not inconsiderable contract to free up more funds
 

JakeyB789

Reserve Grader
As for Garrick, if this kid was so poor at centre how did he get a selection ahead of Koula and Talau in the Prime ministers X111. Certainly his goal kicking helped but if you check the stats for attack and defense, Garrick's figures are little different from the other two, though Talau was enjoying his try scoring feats on the wing. So the negativity about this player is conjectural and based on personal perspectives. From my perspective, only Hoppa shades him of all our three quarters, for common sense play and seemingly making the most effective decision in each play. Garrick looks to me more mature in his play than the other two, but then he's 27 while Talau is 24 and Koula is still the baby at 22. For now, as a personal perspective, I like Garrick anywhere in the team. The other two will get better though.
I think Talau must be carrying some sort of injury for him not to make the Samoan team, and Koula is playing for Tonga too so neither were really options for the PM's 13 anyway. But being picked by morons like Fittler and Albo in a team with players such as Sean Russell and Alex Seyfarth is hardly a measure for success either. Garrick's performance in that game mirrored a lot of what we saw from him this season, only this time he wasn't even going against NRL level opposition.

This discussion has come up a number of times since Lehi came into first grade but the fact is we only had them all fit and available for one game, vs Cowboys in Townsville where Lehi was on the bench. And in that game Lehi came on for Saab who limped off with 15 to go. There will be plenty of opportunities for him when you consider how much time Tom and Saab regularly miss.

100% agree with the OP's point that Lehi has to be in 17 each week, with all fit in round 1 next year I'd have him at 14 as cover (with Talau centre and Garrick wing) and straight into the starting lineup when the inevitable injury happens. But I wouldn't be relying on this keeping him/his dad happy, or being signed to 2026/27 as we all know contracts mean squat these days. Someone will eventually have to go at some point to free up a permanent spot for him, and my pick would EASILY be the 700-750k winger who thinks he's a centre.
 

Darknstormy

Reserve Grader
This will upset people here, but the guy is at Manly until at least 2026, and from something Seibs said, he might be signed until 2027. He was monstered by the Dogs and Roosters in the finals, whereas Talau had great games. There's no rush to give him a starting 17 spot. He should grow into his own body, and grow his own game, and not be shunted out, when there is a person there already (Talau).

For the sake of consistency, and Hopoate's own development, as playing him at fullback in NSW cup will develop and prepare him and the team better for a Turbo injury, Talau should be getting the starting wing spot. Garrick and Koula should be the centres, and if that is changed, it should be a move for getting Koula into games.

This was Garrick's first year playing in the centres since 2018. Given he has a representative jersey at centre now, and we made the 8, I think everyone is just looking for an excuse for team-wide issues, and the whipping boy without Parker, Harper, Schuster, etc, becomes Garrick. He will improve, like he always has, at wing, fullback, and now centre.
I didn’t realise it takes a first grade player years to learn to defend…the guy is a weak defender always has been and always will be unfortunately…he is fast but can’t pass or tackle
 

MW66

Reserve Grader
Really surprised by this. At their respective ages and experience I would have Koula at 1 and Young Hoppa at 18. I love young Hoppa but surely based on current levels of experience and physicality Koula would be in front. Talk about a baptism of fire against the Kangaroos!
 

SeaEagleRock8

Sea Eagle Lach
Premium Member
Tipping Member
Really surprised by this. At their respective ages and experience I would have Koula at 1 and Young Hoppa at 18. I love young Hoppa but surely based on current levels of experience and physicality Koula would be in front. Talk about a baptism of fire against the Kangaroos!
Hoppa hasn't really put a foot wrong, positionally, decisions in defence, catching bombs. Koula is a more dynamic runner but only when he gets an opportunity, he has not yet always managed to make opportunities himself but I do expect him to be even better next season. Such a shame he was smashed out of the semi final just when his confidence was on a high from his brilliant try.
 

ricardo

Bencher
The perceived dilemma will not be an issue as we will always have injuries.

My preferred backline:

1 Turbo
2 Hoppa/Talau jobshare
3 Garrick (after some defensive training lol)
4 Koula
5 Saab

Along with a strong forward pack, who did show their potential a number of times in 2024, we will compete at the pointy end of the season. Don't forget we went pretty far this year, deservedly. Another year's experience under the belt and we can go far.
 

Phobia

Reserve Grader
The perceived dilemma will not be an issue as we will always have injuries.

My preferred backline:

1 Turbo
2 Hoppa/Talau jobshare
3 Garrick (after some defensive training lol)
4 Koula
5 Saab

Along with a strong forward pack, who did show their potential a number of times in 2024, we will compete at the pointy end of the season. Don't forget we went pretty far this year, deservedly. Another year's experience under the belt and we can go far.
My hope with Garrick is that this season was a reality check for him. He was average as a winger before 2021, and average as a fullback before 2022. I'd give him next year again before reversing the experiment. We made the 8. Our weakest link was the team switching off and giving away field position, not Garrick missing the tackle, causing a try from that surrendered position.
 

Ohgeez

Reserve Grader
My hope with Garrick is that this season was a reality check for him. He was average as a winger before 2021, and average as a fullback before 2022. I'd give him next year again before reversing the experiment. We made the 8. Our weakest link was the team switching off and giving away field position, not Garrick missing the tackle, causing a try from that surrendered position.
I like Garrick, he is a decent attacker but he’s simply a terrible defender. We just can’t afford that at centre where players get the most 1 v 1 situations in the game, he even got steam rolled by some reserve grade PNG player the other day. It’s honestly punishing to watch & can’t see why anyone would want it to continue when we could have Talau or Hoppa play there
 
Team P W L PD Pts
24 19 5 243 44
24 17 7 186 40
24 16 8 275 38
24 16 8 222 38
24 15 9 89 36
24 14 10 96 34
24 13 10 113 33
24 12 12 -40 30
24 12 12 -127 30
24 11 13 -1 28
24 11 13 -126 28
24 10 14 -70 26
24 9 14 -62 25
24 8 16 -168 22
24 7 17 -155 20
24 7 17 -188 20
24 6 18 -287 18
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