2004 v 2019

[Not Paul Kent]

It’s without doubt we are in a far better position in 2019 than in 2004 the last time Des took over.

2004 the only rep players we had were a former international out of form in Steve Menzies and an over the hill John Hopoate and Andrew Walker crossing more lines off the field than on it.

Fast forward to 2019.

We have:

The current Australian halfback

One of the best rep backs in the game Tom Turbo

The most complete forward in the game in jake Turbo

Two kiwis front rowers

A former origin centre in his prime Dylan walker

Some of the best up and coming kids, Garrick, Waddell, Amone, Anderson, Elgey

A coach with 5 grand final appearances.

One of the most polished NRL CEO’s

The leak is gone, the rookie is gone

When you list it all out we are in a bloody awesome position and string a few win together and listen to this back office bashing go quiet!

 

[mickqld]

It’s without doubt we are in a far better position in 2019 than in 2004 the last time Des took over.

2004 the only rep players we had were a former international out of form in Steve Menzies and an over the hill John Hopoate and Andrew Walker crossing more lines off the field than on it.

Fast forward to 2019.

We have:

The current Australian halfback

One of the best rep backs in the game Tom Turbo

The most complete forward in the game in jake Turbo

Two kiwis front rowers

A former origin centre in his prime Dylan walker

Some of the best up and coming kids, Garrick, Waddell, Amone, Anderson, Elgey

A coach with 5 grand final appearances.

One of the most polished NRL CEO’s

The leak is gone, the rookie is gone

When you list it all out we are in a bloody awesome position and string a few win together and listen to this back office bashing go quiet!

And we finished 2nd last. Wonder why were after a new coach. TB was an idiot . He could've hung on till year end and be sacked getting a full payout for the next 2 years.

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

But is the leak really gone????

 

[Terry Zarsoff]

But is the leak really gone????

Have media mates will leak. On orders from Scott and Rick.

 

[KNUCKLES]

No, he was a martyr who selflessly fell on his sword for the good of his players and the Manly club. Or something like that.

Whatta mad kent

 

[sheridanstand78]

There are many unanswered questions for me right now.

One thing that needs to happen, whoever takes the coaching job is to instil some badly needed discipline. The root of our poor form for the last four years is this and if it is Des I am sure he will be dealing with that front and centre.

As a club we badly need stability, I want to see Lyall Gorman continue to step up and communicate what the club is doing and ensure that announcements are factual rather than speculation.

I will renew my membership, once I know who the coach is? What changes are being made to avoid a repeat of this years disaster? and the draw and what games we get at Brookvale next season.

I pray that the dysfunction finally ends, it is time for our club to be a professional entity, failure to do this could lead to our peril!!

 

[BK13]

@sheridanstand78 100% agree with the discipline angle. And this is right across the whole spectrum of the club. We need to some this from all involved. And then, we can all be satisfied that no matter how results go.....we are committed to achieving our best and genuinely look like Premiership threats.

I would say a month ago I was still in the 'screw De$' camp.....don't want him back. Personally I'd still prefer Tooves. But to me Des (with others) is what's needed to get this club back to where we belong.

The first thing is (and Des gets this more than anyone), embrace the hate. Don't try and get pity or any of that rubbish. Manly survives on (and loves) the hatred of others. Use it....harness it....make it clear to the boys and everyone involved, that everyone wants you to fail.....so screw them!

This then translates to on the field. I've always said the difference between this team and the golden generation of Lyon, Stewarts etc is that when things go wrong, this team sulks and still carries the baggage 5 minutes later of a poor decision. And to me that comes from the top. Barrett was an excuse maker.....oh it's not your fault....the facilities are poor....boo hoo. The golden side would get a dud decision and you would see Matai, Watmough, Gifty, Kitey go 'really? We'll see about that' and would then proceed to bash the opposition and take out their frustration on them. This would often lead to errors.

How many times around that period did we see us make miraculous recoveries? Win in the last minute? It wasn't luck, it was those boys competing to the end. Putting themselves in positions where they could do that, believing that a lost cause was actually never lost.....so quite often we would win a match with a minute to go.

 

[EOL now nesting on the GC]

if Des does take the job I wonder how Greenslime will take it?

 

[Frogz]

if Des does take the job I wonder how Greenslime will take it?

Up the @rse like normal

 

[manly al]

Interesting that in 2004 , the club was probably operating under some cap restraints as well [ club finances position ], and similar to now [ dubious cap penalties ] Back in 2004 the club was on the verge of implementing a policy of adding a couple of real quality players in subsequent seasons until a top level standard side was on their books [ around 2006 or 2007] and to really make a title threat then . Now some [ or more in comparison ] very established and top line players on Manly "s roster , hard to add any high profile recruits right now and will mainly have to rely on a relatively injury free run and our big name or further emerging younger group playing their best footy consistently . Just on paper the team has a stronger core playing group right now compared with 2004 , again just need the current side to be performing at their optimum level consistently .

 

[Harvies elbow]

Up the @rse like normal

Beat me to it.
Well played