2025 recruitment & retention

[Ben]

I think you'll find Burbo is quite quick, otherwise he would not be used consistently as a centre. He's not in the Turbo, Saab, Koula, Garrick, Talau... or for that matter DCE speed level. But I suspect he'd outpace almost every forward bar Bullimor. Said it before I've seen him several times run around players to score tries. You dont do that if you're slow. Certainly faster than Paseka, Olakau'atu, Jake, Brown, , Lodge, Sipley etc.

He might be quicker than some of our forwards but his lateral movements and agility is very poor. Also has to wind up a little before being effective speed wise.
Bully on the other hand can get to his feet quickly, change direction and get across the ground very well for a prop. Ideal for the modern day forward.
We really need guys in this mould, not sure why we haven’t resigned him yet.

 

[Ben]

Another 2 or 3 mobile types in the squad and squad mix is about right. Playing 3 Big middles. 3 mobile middles. Gives a launching Pad either style.

If Manly off loaded a couple more big middles, you could bet the NRL will change the rules again the next day.

We need the cattle to play both styles. And have that depth anyway.

I can tell you the nrl won’t slow the game back down after speeding it up. The game is always heading forward and the big lumbering guys will be rubbed out soon enough

 

[Disco]

I think Navale coning through can add a bit of leg speed to out middles.

Not that we couldnt do with some reinforcements in the pack

 

[Ryan]

I think you'll find Burbo is quite quick, otherwise he would not be used consistently as a centre. He's not in the Turbo, Saab, Koula, Garrick, Talau... or for that matter DCE speed level. But I suspect he'd outpace almost every forward bar Bullimor. Said it before I've seen him several times run around players to score tries. You dont do that if you're slow. Certainly faster than Paseka, Olakau'atu, Jake, Brown, , Lodge, Sipley etc.

Sadly, he gets targeted in defense (the spot defender). I don't discount he's likely faster than those other players you suggested, but there in lies our entire problem. We get run ragged against more explosive, agile, faster teams, making us a rocks or diamonds team. Our defensive line is appalling. We don't even put pressure on opposition kickers often (and that's a lack of pace).

Look at Penrith. for a full 80+ minutes, their defensive line is on fire. Putting pressure on the opposition with their defense.

There have been games, where I've felt we look lethargic from the 5 minute mark - but it's not lethargy - it's actually just that we are likely the slowest team in the NRL (but counter that with power), so I'm not having a dig.

I just think we need to balance it way better if we are to compete in today's game. Otherwise, this is as good as it gets for us.

 

[double hoops]

I think Navale coning through can add a bit of leg speed to out middles.

Not that we couldnt do with some reinforcements in the pack

Agree. But still short stints off the bench. I just don't think he's in the let loose category yet. Would need a massive pre season which is possible.

 

[jbb/james]

When we talk about getting better, what are we talking about, 5th, top 8 for a few years or are we aiming for a title

The game has sped up, more game minutes, and FATIGUE is the buzzword

THE number 1 and 2 weapons for fatigue is game management. Game management rescues you team when fatigued and game management imparts fatigue on both the defence and the mental mindset or the opposition

We have pretty much accepted, its not our go, and hoped Turbo will give us another 21 so we can fluke a few at the big end of season games by blowing a team off the park. Its not happening

Nathan Cleary, Jerome Hughes, Adam Reynolds, Moses have played in the last 3. They clearly posses managements skills and there teams provide a platform to allow it to be.

Our random platforms lead to very different outcomes
There are plenty of other factors for sure that are equally vital, but we constantly turn up to a gun fight with a knife, and hope to use Turbo as a cheat code

Can we convert Brooks because our plan seems to be waiting for Walsh, and until then its just groundhog day for us Manly fans .

are we all sticking solid with our usual prediction.somewhere between 14 and 6

 

[Dion Johnson]

When we talk about getting better, what are we talking about, 5th, top 8 for a few years or are we aiming for a title

The game has sped up, more game minutes, and FATIGUE is the buzzword

THE number 1 and 2 weapons for fatigue is game management. Game management rescues you team when fatigued and game management imparts fatigue on both the defence and the mental mindset or the opposition

We have pretty much accepted, its not our go, and hoped Turbo will give us another 21 so we can fluke a few at the big end of season games by blowing a team off the park. Its not happening

Nathan Cleary, Jerome Hughes, Adam Reynolds, Moses have played in the last 3. They clearly posses managements skills and there teams provide a platform to allow it to be.

Our random platforms lead to very different outcomes
There are plenty of other factors for sure that are equally vital, but we constantly turn up to a gun fight with a knife, and hope to use Turbo as a cheat code

Can we convert Brooks because our plan seems to be waiting for Walsh, and until then its just groundhog day for us Manly fans .

are we all sticking solid with our usual prediction.somewhere between 14 and 6

Based on the current squad it’s hard to see them getting into the top four, some positional changes may help them.

The attacking style of play this year was to the squads strength's, however if you look at the top two teams they play up tempo footy from the defensive 20 to the attacking 20 and put pressure on in defence waiting for the opponent to make an error, then control possession and the opponent becomes fatigued.

The wrestling and the slow down in the ruck is an area where they can get better, get the cheque book at John Donehue (Storm Wrestling Coach).

Hopefully they can sign a backrower or two, may take some horse trading but the squad needs to be balanced.

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

For a team that was labelled cocky early in there successful run the panfers have been a model of consistentcy . The reason why dynasties are rare are partly because of salary cap and because its very difficult to keep teams interested and motivated once they win again and again. Not just games but titles

Not in to ranking coaches but he has done a fine job

Yes agree with that , he’s got the big money to have the best system , and a junior nursery that’s the best in the game but I’ll grant you his ability to keep them UP for so long is very credible.

 

[double hoops]

The Riff rehab guy or gal can be added to the list.

In each of their last 4 premierships. Cleary has been broken. Out of action for ages.

Had to returned in a crunch game and perform on the biggest of stages.

Each time he returned it was like he has never missed a game or been rehabbing.

 

[jbb/james]

Yes agree with that , he’s got the big money to have the best system , and a junior nursery that’s the best in the game but I’ll grant you his ability to keep them UP for so long is very credible.

I think coin helps but what ultimately makes a coach is the board to an extent

lets assume we have a decent coach to begin with. When the board shows unfaltering loyalty, allows a coach to build over 5 or 6 years, but even more so back him against the players 100%

Everyone in the game is under immense pressure and scrutiny and players kill coaches to avoid there own scrutiny. if a board backs a man they believe to do the job and weeds out all non compliant parties they at least have a chance and gives the coach the power to stare down superstars without player manager agitation or rumours if having lost the dressing room

For all of bellemy and waynie poos talent its there power that makes them successful.

Big 3 or Big 4 on paper sounds good, but thats a lot of bargaining power against a coach when someones head gotta roll in a cap environment

Yes money helps in so many ways but much of manlys money issues are there own making . Paying out dessie
Schusters contract, the fainus. The fultons,
Not being able to afford foran on 350 is blunder of the year even as a benchie
Lately some solid value signings, consistent cap management and leadership at manly but previous decisions have crippled our ability to even spend our quota to the max
Jake and DCE have been grossly overpaid as was marty
Tom is worth 1.1 but sadly has missed heaps of footy,

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

Big 3 or Big 4 on paper sounds good, but thats a lot of bargaining power against a coach when someones head gotta roll in a cap environment

Are you suggesting Tom Jake and DCE were behind Dessie's sacking??

Yes money helps in so many ways but much of manlys money issues are there own making . Paying out dessie
Schusters contract, the fainus. The fultons,
Not being able to afford foran on 350 is blunder of the year even as a benchie
Lately some solid value signings, consistent cap management and leadership at manly but previous decisions have crippled our ability to even spend our quota to the max
Jake and DCE have been grossly overpaid as was marty
Tom is worth 1.1 but sadly has missed heaps of footy,

Schuster's deal was a head-scratcher for sure. But was it as rich as some have speculated? at the time was reported to be a pay cut:

Josh Schuster contract: Manly Sea Eagles' star takes a pay cut to stay with the club | Sporting News Australia

Josh Schuster has signed a three-year contract extension with the Manly Sea Eagles which involves taking a pay cut and having to contend with the incoming arrival of Luke Brooks next season.

www.sportingnews.com

All the others you mention were before Mestrov even came on board. I think most of this year's signings have turned out pretty good, don't you?.

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

OK, couple of weeks to 1 November, some time in the next month or so we are going to hear about at least one new Manly recruit (surely. Please!)

So who will it be?
My guess, a forward with around 100 NRL games, regular starter, or if a benchie then from one of the better clubs. Maybe someone equally at home in the middle or on an edge. A hard working type with reasonable leg speed - definitely not a 120kg wrecking ball type.

As a wild guess I'll go Kobe Hetherington (yeah I know he's contracted for next year but deals are often done so)

 

[Highflier]

Does anyone know where we are at with Lodge ,I know he wants 2 plus years I think ,and that he lives in the area and "loves the club"" etc but was wondering the latest. I cant find the Lodge You monster thread ,anyways

In the abcense of the above ,I wonder if we would have the shackles needed to have a serious lash at Leo Thompson the Knights Kiwi front rower who wants to test the market ,I think he would look outstanding in Manly colours .Big but not gigantic and mobile with high impact, energy and only relatively young I think ,,,,, .Him along with Simpkin with a pre season under his belt ,and the rest of our pack would see us setting a pretty good platform for our outstanding backs when they are all fit and firing ,I would think.

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

Surely with the outs we have that Jazz T can’t be the only IN.

 

[Ron E. Gibbs]

I wonder if we would have the shackles needed to have a serious lash at Leo Thompson the Knights Kiwi front rower who wants to test the market ,I think he would look outstanding in Manly colours .Big but not gigantic and mobile with high impact, energy and only relatively young I think ,,,,, .Him along with Simpkin with a pre season under his belt ,and the rest of our pack would see us setting a pretty good platform for our outstanding backs when they are all fit and firing ,I would think.

Would love us to get Thompson. He's been great for the Knights for a few seasons now, and his form for the Kiwis in last year's Pacific Nations thingy was excellent. He's a gun, but I reckon a host of teams will be speaking to his management. It'd be nice if we were one of them.

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

I think coin helps but what ultimately makes a coach is the board to an extent

lets assume we have a decent coach to begin with. When the board shows unfaltering loyalty, allows a coach to build over 5 or 6 years, but even more so back him against the players 100%

Everyone in the game is under immense pressure and scrutiny and players kill coaches to avoid there own scrutiny. if a board backs a man they believe to do the job and weeds out all non compliant parties they at least have a chance and gives the coach the power to stare down superstars without player manager agitation or rumours if having lost the dressing room

For all of bellemy and waynie poos talent its there power that makes them successful.

Big 3 or Big 4 on paper sounds good, but thats a lot of bargaining power against a coach when someones head gotta roll in a cap environment

Yes money helps in so many ways but much of manlys money issues are there own making . Paying out dessie
Schusters contract, the fainus. The fultons,
Not being able to afford foran on 350 is blunder of the year even as a benchie
Lately some solid value signings, consistent cap management and leadership at manly but previous decisions have crippled our ability to even spend our quota to the max
Jake and DCE have been grossly overpaid as was marty
Tom is worth 1.1 but sadly has missed heaps of footy,

To me there’s multi factors that makes a successful coach , you’ve mentioned a few , I’ve mentioned a few but my main point is , it wouldn’t matter how good the coach was without all those other boxes ticked he’d get an average result , Wayne at the Dolphins is my example.

If you took Bellamy out of the Drizzle system and appointed him coach of the Tigers , they would improve for sure but the Storm is far more than just Bellyache.

I think much too much importance is credited to any given coach.

If the system is great , unless the coach is an absolute dud , they’ll do well. If the system is average , they’ll be one of the average teams , regardless of the coach.

I admire Cleary greatly , but not for having a great side ( any coach in that system would do well ) rather how he’s managed to motivate that team to keep the desire going , and not only once but two more times again after the first win.

4 in a row , is extraordinary and they may well do 5 in a row which would be beyond comprehension, and if they do it’ll largely be due to Clearys ability to keep them focussed.

 

[jbb/james]

Are you suggesting Tom Jake and DCE were behind Dessie's sacking??

Schuster's deal was a head-scratcher for sure. But was it as rich as some have speculated? at the time was reported to be a pay cut:

Josh Schuster contract: Manly Sea Eagles' star takes a pay cut to stay with the club | Sporting News Australia

Josh Schuster has signed a three-year contract extension with the Manly Sea Eagles which involves taking a pay cut and having to contend with the incoming arrival of Luke Brooks next season.

www.sportingnews.com

All the others you mention were before Mestrov even came on board. I think most of this year's signings have turned out pretty good, don't you?.

As of late our spending seems more responsible and seibs recruitment IMO is solid to pretty bloody good, but my comment was about manlys ability to compete financially would be better if all of current squad was under the same scrutiny as recent signings and delivered the same value. If we had signed foran cheap would we have signed brooks for double or dce
Schuster is still on the books
Are we paying freight on any of the offloads
did koula get too much or garrick

Its not just about politis, pen Or 3rd party.
some things we cant control, but some we can and while we appear to be heading in the right direction and offering lodge 150 is a strong indicator we are, we are also behind the 8 ball because of manly decisions

Nor suggesting our musketeers knifed dessie at all,although I thought the team really played him out of a job, and were piss poor after he threw himself on a team grenade… but
merely highlighting how coaches are easier to blame and move on than 35% of your cap at all clubs, because of power

Not that I was getting to this at all but since you asked……
Its the off season
hypothetically if the combined turbovich gene pool marched into mestrov behind DCE and went us or seibs……. Are we welcoming Brad Arthur to brookie as eg .

If they did it to bellamy I imagine storm boss says, boys turn around, never repeat these words again, and you may continue to have a cateer. . Now go via the back door so no one knows you were here and if craig finds out I will deny everything and sack you all. Crazy kids

 

[jbb/james]

To me there’s multi factors that makes a successful coach , you’ve mentioned a few , I’ve mentioned a few but my main point is , it wouldn’t matter how good the coach was without all those other boxes ticked he’d get an average result , Wayne at the Dolphins is my example.

If you took Bellamy out of the Drizzle system and appointed him coach of the Tigers , they would improve for sure but the Storm is far more than just Bellyache.

I think much too much importance is credited to any given coach.

If the system is great , unless the coach is an absolute dud , they’ll do well. If the system is average , they’ll be one of the average teams , regardless of the coach.

I admire Cleary greatly , but not for having a great side ( any coach in that system would do well ) rather how he’s managed to motivate that team to keep the desire going , and not only once but two more times again after the first win.

4 in a row , is extraordinary and they may well do 5 in a row which would be beyond comprehension, and if they do it’ll largely be due to Clearys ability to keep them focussed.

If Liam martin isnt the new army of one choc watmough , i dont know who is.

I would have him at Manly in a heartbeat

I think the riff and Ivan are a great conversation and story, still very much in play and in no need of any conclusions or comparisons to greatness yet , Is Ivans greatest gift to coaching Nathan…….and his cycle coincided with Nathans rise, personally I think it is. For all of the riffs greatness designing a game around Nathan has been the key. in clubland he is one of a kind and a player you can actually build a team around

Nathans game gets glossed over a bit on here because he is the DCE contrast and example that hopeful fans cling too in discussions about halfback roles but his game makes interchanging him easier because of its monotonous consistency and discipline , and he gets hammered for his craft

 

[Ron E. Gibbs]

If Liam martin isnt the new army of one choc watmough , i dont know who is.

Mate, the Watmough comparison jumped out at me the moment I first saw him play (which I'm pretty sure was his NRL debut), and it's only become clearer as his career has developed. Can't see him ever leaving Penrith though.

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

Mate, the Watmough comparison jumped out at me the moment I first saw him play (which I'm pretty sure was his NRL debut), and it's only become clearer as his career has developed. Can't see him ever leaving Penrith though.

What a player , he just about won that last GF for them on his own, he was everywhere and harassed Hughes & Munster all game.

He’ll be a one club player