2011 season preview

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tookey

First Grader
Gains: Daniel Harrison (Canterbury Bulldogs NYC), Liam Foran (Newtown Jets), Tim Robinson (Parramatta Eels).
Losses: Chris Bailey (Harlequins, ESL), Josh Perry (St Helens Saints, ESL), Trent Hodkinson (Canterbury Bulldogs), Ben Farrar (Catalans Dragons, ESL), Lama Tasi (Sydney Roosters).
Signed On Again: Jamie Lyon, Anthony Watmough, Kieran Foran, Steve Matai.
Off Contract: Terrence Seu Seu, Dean Whare.
2011 Coach: Des Hasler

After sorting out their off-field issues the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles will be hoping to make a bigger mark in the 2011 NRL Season. Max Delmege has parted ways with the club, which has allowed new part-owner Quantum to take over control. This new partnership will see the Sea Eagles enjoy a smoother year off the field. The club will be happy to leave the past behind them, as the civil war within the boardroom was on the brink of tearing the club apart. This off-field platform will now allow the Manly players to focus entirely on football, as they now no longer need to worry about the club’s former volatile off-field issues.

The Sea Eagles just scraped into the Top 8 last season and many people involved with the club would feel that 2010 was a disappointment. The last two games of Manly’s 2010 NRL campaign  highlights this disappointment as they were convincingly beaten by a Canterbury Bulldogs outfit in the final round of the competition. They then also failed to score a point in their finals appearance against the Dragons bowing out 28 points to nil.

However a new year brings new hope to the Sea Eagles club. Manly will be looking forward to welcoming back ace fullback Brett Stewart. Brett Stewart was out of the game for an extended period of time due to an injury, however the former NSW fullback will be keen to prove a point. Not only to the skeptics and critics, but also to himself. Stewart will be wanting to prove that he still has the ability to produce exciting footy and will be looking to display the form which saw him and the club win the 2008 Premiership.

After winning the 2008 Premiership the effects of re-signing star players on upgraded contracts may also prove to have a negative impact on the club. As a consequence of re-signing players at upgraded prices the salary cap has started to squeeze Manly’s playing roster. A stream of players have been seen to exit the club with minimal replacements coming in. The Sea Eagles have welcomed three new additions to the club after letting go of five players this season. The lack of depth may provide some problems if players fall victim to injury throughout the year.

Why they will win it: The Sea Eagles have experience where it counts. Jamie Lyon and Brent Kite are natural leaders and will be able to assist the younger players in their roles. Matt Ballin has gained an extra year of experience in first grade (as well as having the opportunity to represent QLD in Origin 1) and is an instrumental player in Manly’s attack and defence. If the team is able to remain relatively injury free then they will be quietly confident of improving  their performances in 2011. The addition of Brett Stewart is indeed a wildcard as it is difficult to know exactly what to expect from an athlete that has been out of the game for an extended period of time.

Why they won’t: The Manly Sea Eagles halves combination will be put under pressure to perform. After being forced to field two different halves pairs in as many years, the inexperience in the number 7 jumper will surely prove to be troublesome throughout the year. Daly Cherry-Evans is an exciting young prospect with a large amount of potential. Teamed with Kieran Foran this combination lacks an important ingredient of experience. Foran’s first full year in the NRL showed that he is also a capable player, however the test will be if he is able to perform again in 2011, inside a rookie halfback. Steve Matai may also be of concern to coach Des Hasler. Matai has developed a reputation within the NRL which has seen him placed on suspension numerous times. Hasler will be hoping Matai is able to control himself on the field – not allowing any reckless conduct to creep into his play.

Date: 13 Feb 11
http://www.nrlweekly.com/preview-2011-manly/
 
Good summation. Our best 17 will compete with any team, however injuries and suspensions could see us finish mid field. Although, after watching the trial on Friday night, I feel much better about depth.
 
Not feeling confidant we can get off to a good start which will put us behind the eight ball early. No Matai till round 5, no G Stewart till rd 3, Lyon seems to be troubled still by ankle problems, B Stewart a big question mark, D Whare injury prone as is Hopoate and Watmough. Key players with injury and suspension concerns doesn't make for a good start. Everyone fit and full strength we can beat anyone but the problem will be can we keep the top 17 there for most of the season. We cannot afford any season ending injuries to any of them.
 
Depth is where we've made the biggest step forward as far as I can see.
The crop of young blokes are ready now, last year was a bit too early for most of them but gave them a bit of experience that may prove valuable.

If Lussik can get himself on the park, our forwards look good with players like Cunningham, Harrison, Cross, Galavao, Robinson and a few others mostly likely to not even be in the top 17. That's pretty much all depth.

If we have an injury in the halves we have Liam Foran and even Riccardi wont be the worst option in the world by mid-year. Parra have Rob Jeffson as their starting half remember.

The three quarters I think we can all agree look strong and can be covered easily. At full strength Hoppa, Oldfield, Whare & Davey are all in reserve grade.
Hoppa & Stromquist are still young enough to be in the '20's.

What we really need is a big year from our big players.
 
tookey link said:
If we are injury free we will have a good year.

What, my blathering about how much depth we have hasn't convinced you that we're far more able to cope than in previous years?
 
I definatly thing we're in for a better year than 2010.

The depth is certainly better with more experience and hopefully the fact that we more of a Reserve Grade side in the NSW Cup can only help......imo
 
I think we have a pretty well balanced side and as Duff said some handy reserves, if Brett Stewart can recapture some of his previous form there's know reason to think we can't give this comp one hell of a shake.
 
Duff link said:
[quote author=tookey link=topic=186458.msg315647#msg315647 date=1297651818]
If we are injury free we will have a good year.

What, my blathering about how much depth we have hasn't convinced you that we're far more able to cope than in previous years?
[/quote]

We will cope better with injuries this year because the younger players are more experienced.  But no-one can take the place of experience if we lose Kite, King, Watmough, Brett or Lyon for long periods of the season. 

To win a comp you need your top 17 players fully fit for most if not all of the season - ie 2008.
 
tookey said:
Gains: Daniel Harrison (Canterbury Bulldogs NYC), Liam Foran (Newtown Jets), Tim Robinson (Parramatta Eels).
Losses: Chris Bailey (Harlequins, ESL), Josh Perry (St Helens Saints, ESL), Trent Hodkinson (Canterbury Bulldogs), Ben Farrar (Catalans Dragons, ESL), Lama Tasi (Sydney Roosters).
Signed On Again: Jamie Lyon, Anthony Watmough, Kieran Foran, Steve Matai.
Off Contract: Terrence Seu Seu, Dean Whare.
2011 Coach: Des Hasler

After sorting out their off-field issues the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles will be hoping to make a bigger mark in the 2011 NRL Season. Max Delmege has parted ways with the club, which has allowed new part-owner Quantum to take over control. This new partnership will see the Sea Eagles enjoy a smoother year off the field. The club will be happy to leave the past behind them, as the civil war within the boardroom was on the brink of tearing the club apart. This off-field platform will now allow the Manly players to focus entirely on football, as they now no longer need to worry about the club’s former volatile off-field issues.

The Sea Eagles just scraped into the Top 8 last season and many people involved with the club would feel that 2010 was a disappointment. The last two games of Manly’s 2010 NRL campaign  highlights this disappointment as they were convincingly beaten by a Canterbury Bulldogs outfit in the final round of the competition. They then also failed to score a point in their finals appearance against the Dragons bowing out 28 points to nil.

However a new year brings new hope to the Sea Eagles club. Manly will be looking forward to welcoming back ace fullback Brett Stewart. Brett Stewart was out of the game for an extended period of time due to an injury, however the former NSW fullback will be keen to prove a point. Not only to the skeptics and critics, but also to himself. Stewart will be wanting to prove that he still has the ability to produce exciting footy and will be looking to display the form which saw him and the club win the 2008 Premiership.

After winning the 2008 Premiership the effects of re-signing star players on upgraded contracts may also prove to have a negative impact on the club. As a consequence of re-signing players at upgraded prices the salary cap has started to squeeze Manly’s playing roster. A stream of players have been seen to exit the club with minimal replacements coming in. The Sea Eagles have welcomed three new additions to the club after letting go of five players this season. The lack of depth may provide some problems if players fall victim to injury throughout the year.

Why they will win it: The Sea Eagles have experience where it counts. Jamie Lyon and Brent Kite are natural leaders and will be able to assist the younger players in their roles. Matt Ballin has gained an extra year of experience in first grade (as well as having the opportunity to represent QLD in Origin 1) and is an instrumental player in Manly’s attack and defence. If the team is able to remain relatively injury free then they will be quietly confident of improving  their performances in 2011. The addition of Brett Stewart is indeed a wildcard as it is difficult to know exactly what to expect from an athlete that has been out of the game for an extended period of time.

Why they won’t: The Manly Sea Eagles halves combination will be put under pressure to perform. After being forced to field two different halves pairs in as many years, the inexperience in the number 7 jumper will surely prove to be troublesome throughout the year. Daly Cherry-Evans is an exciting young prospect with a large amount of potential. Teamed with Kieran Foran this combination lacks an important ingredient of experience. Foran’s first full year in the NRL showed that he is also a capable player, however the test will be if he is able to perform again in 2011, inside a rookie halfback. Steve Matai may also be of concern to coach Des Hasler. Matai has developed a reputation within the NRL which has seen him placed on suspension numerous times. Hasler will be hoping Matai is able to control himself on the field – not allowing any reckless conduct to creep into his play.

Date: 13 Feb 11
http://www.nrlweekly.com/preview-2011-manly/

LOL with that first paragraph. I keep wondering how the hell did they manage to keep it all together long enough to win the premiership considering all the self interested assholes who are responsible for tearing the club apart.
 

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