2019 Squad

[Sue]

Lack - of - options mate.
We just don't have the cattle available.
We are rebuilding, so aren't place players want to be at present.

We attained 0 first grade talent this off season. Elgey was the closest, but he was sent to reserve grader in The Gold Coast, and even then, Hodkinson of all players may beat him out.

Yep. Basically last years squad minus Walker Kelly and Lane with Elgey coming in.
The sign of a good coach is being able to get the best out of average players.Thats what Des is renowned for and if he can keep us competitive this year he has done a great job. As long as the capitulations are gone I’ll be happy. That’s not a top 8 roster particularly with Dylan gone. Need the Manly D back big time.

 

[ManlyTragic]

We'd have to be miles under the cap with this squad, surely. I'd say it's the lightest (talent wise) of any NRL club. Remove Walker from that list, too.

I WANT to say, we'd better pray for no injuries, but guess what - it's too late for that, and we may be relying on blokes like Parker to get us over the line.

Love to know his win / loss ratio with us. Have to be ordinary.

Good luck Des. I sense people are expecting lots from you mate.

....an improvement on last year shouldn’t be hard! Just sayin’

 

[Ranga]

Nope. No arrow next to Elgey

I am stumped then... perhaps it is new signings since they last did the list? Eg, Cam Smith has a green arrow for the storm and he recently re-signed?

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

Yep. Basically last years squad minus Walker Kelly and Lane with Elgey coming in.
The sign of a good coach is being able to get the best out of average players.Thats what Des is renowned for and if he can keep us competitive this year he has done a great job. As long as the capitulations are gone I’ll be happy. That’s not a top 8 roster particularly with Dylan gone. Need the Manly D back big time.

12th/13th at best

If we get no capitulations I’ll be happy!!

 

[Ryan]

Yep. Basically last years squad minus Walker Kelly and Lane with Elgey coming in.
The sign of a good coach is being able to get the best out of average players.Thats what Des is renowned for and if he can keep us competitive this year he has done a great job. As long as the capitulations are gone I’ll be happy. That’s not a top 8 roster particularly with Dylan gone. Need the Manly D back big time.

Great post. Honestly, I think expectation has to be set to that theory as well. I don't think we'll win too many more games than last season , and we'll be close to a spoon team.

What I hope for is growth, development, and probably a good cull at the end of the year to bring is some real quality (still hope that includes Walker).

 

[Ryan]

....an improvement on last year shouldn’t be hard! Just sayin’

Post your 1-7 to start the season, and tell me that again hehehe.

 

[The Who]

Can anyone tell me about No 5 - someone called Elloit?

 

[double hoops]

Well Done to Croker. Going from the starting 6 in 2018 to only a development contract a couple of months back. Easy to just get the shirts with a life and a dodgy knee. He has taken it in his stride and done enough clearly in the off season for DES to have him in his immediate plans.

Interesting.

 

[Ryan]

Can anyone tell me about No 5 - someone called Elloit?

Brendan Elliott. Played Fullback in our trials. Played for Roosters and Knights I believe, couldn't crack or stay in 1st grade.

Normally a winger or centre.

Very cookie cutter. Nothing great. Won't let you down. Probably the type of player that should be a call up, not a first grader full time.

I'd have Funa, Anderson, Garrick, Hopoate and others ahead of him.

 

[ManlyTragic]

Post your 1-7 to start the season, and tell me that again hehehe.

Regardless of who I choose it won’t be worse than last year! For starter no Wright’s no Uate and no walker playing 5/8. Plus Des won’t pick Parker as he cannot tackle. If they are eliminated and you give me anyone it is an improvement.
Ps no Lewis brown.....I’m pretty happy

 

[Sue]

I am stumped then... perhaps it is new signings since they last did the list? Eg, Cam Smith has a green arrow for the storm and he recently re-signed?

Lodge for Brisbane as well. No idea what it means

 

[Sue]

Brendan Elliott. Played Fullback in our trials. Played for Roosters and Knights I believe, couldn't crack or stay in 1st grade.

Normally a winger or centre.

Very cookie cutter. Nothing great. Won't let you down. Probably the type of player that should be a call up, not a first grader full time.

I'd have Funa, Anderson, Garrick, Hopoate and others ahead of him.

Last year was at Titans. Didn’t make side early and was injured for most of season as well. Good try scoring stats.

 

[The better Robbo]

Brendan Elliott. Played Fullback in our trials. Played for Roosters and Knights I believe, couldn't crack or stay in 1st grade.

Normally a winger or centre.

Very cookie cutter. Nothing great. Won't let you down. Probably the type of player that should be a call up, not a first grader full time.

I'd have Funa, Anderson, Garrick, Hopoate and others ahead of him.

Des has stated that Elliott is safe as houses and positional play at the back is excellent. He's actually better than most believe. Very handy guy for our squad

 

[Sue]

Regardless of who I choose it won’t be worse than last year! For starter no Wright’s no Uate and no walker playing 5/8. Plus Des won’t pick Parker as he cannot tackle. If they are eliminated and you give me anyone it is an improvement.
Ps no Lewis brown.....I’m pretty happy

By all reports Brad is starting centre

 

[BOZO]

Post your 1-7 to start the season, and tell me that again hehehe.

So you are saying that you believe that our 2019 players will finish last this year to validate your point that the 2019 team is worse ?

 

[BOZO]

By all reports Brad is starting centre

Brad gest an opportunity to prove him self to the NRL world . He was a young Manly Junior of promise and this is his chance to make the Manly jumper proud
Des knows the importance of starting the season with a win and he must see something here that all us experts dont

 

[Chip and Chase]

NRL website - all teams have locked in their top 29

That's good work by the NRL. That's the sort of stuff fans need to remove the rumour and innuendo about whose in whose top 30.

By the way anyone know why Guacamole isn't showing on a development contract for us. He was listed by the club as having one last year ??

 

[Ryan]

So you are saying that you believe that our 2019 players will finish last this year to validate your point that the 2019 team is worse ?

No. As I've said quite a few times, I think it will be a similar season to last. We'll be in the bottom 4-5 teams, so 12th-16th.

I'd be surprised if we get a win in the first 4-5 games to he honest. Talent wins games. We lack it. We are injured on top of that.

It's realism @BOZO . Unsure why you think Des just makes it all better and everything roses.

I keep saying, it's a building process. Given our backline, incepid centres, a struggling 5/8 it won't be much better than last year.

My hopes for this season, is a rebuild in culture. A new focus from the playing group. I want a stronger defensive display (and we haven't seen that in either trial). Just small steps. Some players develop. I hope Walker comes back, and progresses (and we extend him). I hope we get a few signings, and lose some of the second / third tier players.

Get that, and I'll be happy.

 

[Sue]

And why only three development players ? Some teams have 5 or 6. Is this a cash thing or just lack of more talent?
With new rules giving them access to first grade later in year could be important for coverage or to blood them and have a look if we are out of contention.

 

[double hoops]

I wonder if the green arrow is lowest paid player. Top 30 can change if you up someone else to the top 30 highest paid can't it.