Attack

[LeonardCohen]

A big reason for last night’s loss was our back row. I’m not having a go at Waddell or Chee Kam because they tried hard and were solid but…

When you have the lion’s share of the ball - 55% across the 80 minutes - you force many repeat sets, and run for over 300 more metres than the opposition, you should come away with more than 2 tries (both of which were individual sparks of brilliance.

The reason we struggled to score points is the clunky edges and lack of threat from the Waddell and Chee Kam. Even Ben T can run a decent line to allow space for the shifts to Tom and Koula and co. Further, you could see DCE didn’t know what to do with Waddell other than turn him back under for a hit up inside the red zone, which happened a number of times.

The edge forwards open up space by attracting defenders and Canberra slid with ease last night because nothing was being thrown at them.

In order to offset the issue on the edge, you need a crafty 9 who can open space around the ruck and we don’t offer any threat there.

Which brings me to Tom. His best football a few years back was often around the ruck. He’d work with Koroisau and Fainu and cause all sorts of problems through the middle. I don’t think he’s made an attacking contribution outside of a sweeping backline move in years.

Last night confirmed for me that he is a spent force. It’s really sad but without the acceleration, he is just average now; still a solid first grader but not a weapon in the top 5 players in the game. He tried so hard last night and was competing hard but his body is letting him down. He doesn’t burst through defenders with a powerful thrust anymore. When Weekes made the big run off Kris’ pass in the last few minutes, Tom tried to chase and the running gait was like he’s been hobbled.

 

[manlyfan76]

Going to Waddell off DCE back on an angle has never worked but we did it another 100 times.
Ben tries hard but needs more pace or bulk or both.
Jake is done.
MCK did a role.
Next year is be varying haumoles runs a bit. Get him in closer and out wider to mix it up.

 

[globaleagle]

Spin it wide, let the winger score within 2 mins.

Phew, glad that's done. Now lets get Waddell turning back inside 50 times Sirro style for no result.

woohoo!

"Proudness" everywhere.

 

[manlyfan76]

Spin it wide, let the winger score within 2 mins.

Phew, glad that's done. Now lets get Waddell turning back inside 50 times Sirro style for no result.

woohoo!

"Proudness" everywhere.

^^^ 100 times
😝

 

[Rocky]

A big reason for last night’s loss was our back row. I’m not having a go at Waddell or Cher Kam because they tried hard and were solid but…

When you have the lion’s share of the ball - 55% across the 80 minutes - you force many repeat sets, and run for over 300 more metres than the opposition, you should come away with more than 2 tries (both of which were individual sparks of brilliance.

The reason we struggled to score points is the clunky edges and lack of threat from the Waddell and Chee Kam. Even Ben T can run a decent line to allow space for the shifts to Tom and Koula and co. Further, you could see DCE didn’t know what to do with Waddell other than turn him back under for a hit up inside the red zone, which happened a number of times.

The edge forwards open up space by attracting defenders and Canberra slid with ease last night because nothing was being thrown at them.

In order to offset the issue on the edge, you need a crafty 9 who can open space around the ruck and we don’t offer any threat there.

Which brings me to Tom. His best football a few years back was often around the ruck. He’d work with Koroisau and Fainu and cause all sorts of problems through the middle. I don’t think he’s made an attacking contribution outside of a sweeping backline move in years.

Last night confirmed for me that he is a spent force. It’s really sad but without the acceleration, he is just average now; still a solid first grader but not a weapon in the top 5 players in the game. He tried so hard last night and was competing hard but his body is letting him down. He doesn’t burst through defenders with a powerful thrust anymore. When Weekes made the big run off Kris’ pass in the last few minutes, Tom tried to chase and the running gait was like he’s been hobbled.

Agree with a lot of this - but interested to hear what you thought of Simpkin last night, as you mentioned, we have lacked a crafty 9. I thought he offered that against the Raiders, which was very encouraging.

 

[madmax]

A big reason for last night’s loss was our back row. I’m not having a go at Waddell or Cher Kam because they tried hard and were solid but…

When you have the lion’s share of the ball - 55% across the 80 minutes - you force many repeat sets, and run for over 300 more metres than the opposition, you should come away with more than 2 tries (both of which were individual sparks of brilliance.

The reason we struggled to score points is the clunky edges and lack of threat from the Waddell and Chee Kam. Even Ben T can run a decent line to allow space for the shifts to Tom and Koula and co. Further, you could see DCE didn’t know what to do with Waddell other than turn him back under for a hit up inside the red zone, which happened a number of times.

The edge forwards open up space by attracting defenders and Canberra slid with ease last night because nothing was being thrown at them.

In order to offset the issue on the edge, you need a crafty 9 who can open space around the ruck and we don’t offer any threat there.

Which brings me to Tom. His best football a few years back was often around the ruck. He’d work with Koroisau and Fainu and cause all sorts of problems through the middle. I don’t think he’s made an attacking contribution outside of a sweeping backline move in years.

Last night confirmed for me that he is a spent force. It’s really sad but without the acceleration, he is just average now; still a solid first grader but not a weapon in the top 5 players in the game. He tried so hard last night and was competing hard but his body is letting him down. He doesn’t burst through defenders with a powerful thrust anymore. When Weekes made the big run off Kris’ pass in the last few minutes, Tom tried to chase and the running gait was like he’s been hobbled.

Dunno if he’s a spent force but agree with the rest mate. Turbo needs a good break, pardon the pun! He needs to get his body right & that means no footy at seasons end, rather time to heal. I honestly do think he can come back to the 2021 version of Turbo. Our back 5 have been great but nothing they can do if there is no forward momentum. Paseka, Aloiai & Olakau’atu have been huge losses!
Apart from Bully, TKO & to a lesser extent Lodge we cannot compete with other forward packs. Last night the boys held their own but our marquee man went AWOL again. We started the season on fire & no one is gonna convince me that it wasn’t DCEs announcement on live tv that has derailed our season. From that moment on the team has been a mess. Apart from a couple of great performances the team has struggled. It’s been others that have performed & been responsible for our wins not DCE! I’ve lost total respect for him. The sooner he’s gone the better. He was a Manly legend up until that announcement. There’s more to say about this cluster fu<k but im gonna stfu!

 

[LeonardCohen]

Agree with a lot of this - but interested to hear what you thought of Simpkin last night, as you mentioned, we have lacked a crafty 9. I thought he offered that against the Raiders, which was very encouraging.

I think he lacks talent but competes hard and is a solid first grader. Another yard of pace and he would turn some of those runs into genuine attacking opportunities. He sees the space and goes for it but the lack of zip and his tendency to crab back into the markers frustrates me. His service is reasonable and he is definitely the best we have in the position at the club. I just don’t think he has enough speed or guile/deception to move beyond being solid.

 

[skull61]

If your halves won’t dig into the line to engage defenders the outside backs get no room as we see week after week. Because if this we are a very easy team to defend against

 

[LeonardCohen]

Dunno if he’s a spent force but agree with the rest mate. Turbo needs a good break, pardon the pun! He needs to get his body right & that means no footy at seasons end, rather time to heal. I honestly do think he can come back to the 2021 version of Turbo. Our back 5 have been great but nothing they can do if there is no forward momentum. Paseka, Aloiai & Olakau’atu have been huge losses!
Apart from Bully, TKO & to a lesser extent Lodge we cannot compete with other forward packs. Last night the boys held their own but our marquee man went AWOL again. We started the season on fire & no one is gonna convince me that it wasn’t DCEs announcement on live tv that has derailed our season. From that moment on the team has been a mess. Apart from a couple of great performances the team has struggled. It’s been others that have performed & been responsible for our wins not DCE! I’ve lost total respect for him. The sooner he’s gone the better. He was a Manly legend up until that announcement. There’s more to say about this cluster fu<k but im gonna stfu!

My only hope with Tom is that he’s playing slightly injured…if not, he’s a spent force. He’s not explosive enough in his current state to break tackles and that was his thing.

 

[Budgie]

What happened to the DCE high kicks to Saab to score?

Petulance?

 

[Waz13]

Dunno if he’s a spent force but agree with the rest mate. Turbo needs a good break, pardon the pun! He needs to get his body right & that means no footy at seasons end, rather time to heal. I honestly do think he can come back to the 2021 version of Turbo. Our back 5 have been great but nothing they can do if there is no forward momentum. Paseka, Aloiai & Olakau’atu have been huge losses!
Apart from Bully, TKO & to a lesser extent Lodge we cannot compete with other forward packs. Last night the boys held their own but our marquee man went AWOL again. We started the season on fire & no one is gonna convince me that it wasn’t DCEs announcement on live tv that has derailed our season. From that moment on the team has been a mess. Apart from a couple of great performances the team has struggled. It’s been others that have performed & been responsible for our wins not DCE! I’ve lost total respect for him. The sooner he’s gone the better. He was a Manly legend up until that announcement. There’s more to say about this cluster fu<k but im gonna stfu!

Yeah I think Turbo had some good moments last night. Realistically tho he will never come back to 21 form. It’s physically not possible now for him. He’ll be 5 years older next year and since that time 5 years worth of injuries along. That said I still think he can get fitter over the offseason and still be a force in our team. Our attack tho has been pretty poor all year. Very predictable and totally agree with LC re the backrowers.

 

[Tragic Eagle]

Time to bring in the young ones. DCE to Reggie’s and give the young blokes a run. Season 2025 is shot so start blooding players for next year. What we are doing by the same old approach each week is madness.

 

[Ron E. Gibbs]

What we are doing by the same old approach each week season is madness.

Fixed that for you, TE.

 

[Eagle 1]

If your halves won’t dig into the line to engage defenders the outside backs get no room as we see week after week. Because if this we are a very easy team to defend against

100%, Thurston brought this up as well about Cherry not digging into the line. Although he stopped short of saying this was the reason why Cherry got dropped from Qld side.

 

[Disco]

A big reason for last night’s loss was our back row. I’m not having a go at Waddell or Cher Kam because they tried hard and were solid but…

When you have the lion’s share of the ball - 55% across the 80 minutes - you force many repeat sets, and run for over 300 more metres than the opposition, you should come away with more than 2 tries (both of which were individual sparks of brilliance.

The reason we struggled to score points is the clunky edges and lack of threat from the Waddell and Chee Kam. Even Ben T can run a decent line to allow space for the shifts to Tom and Koula and co. Further, you could see DCE didn’t know what to do with Waddell other than turn him back under for a hit up inside the red zone, which happened a number of times.

The edge forwards open up space by attracting defenders and Canberra slid with ease last night because nothing was being thrown at them.

In order to offset the issue on the edge, you need a crafty 9 who can open space around the ruck and we don’t offer any threat there.

Which brings me to Tom. His best football a few years back was often around the ruck. He’d work with Koroisau and Fainu and cause all sorts of problems through the middle. I don’t think he’s made an attacking contribution outside of a sweeping backline move in years.

Last night confirmed for me that he is a spent force. It’s really sad but without the acceleration, he is just average now; still a solid first grader but not a weapon in the top 5 players in the game. He tried so hard last night and was competing hard but his body is letting him down. He doesn’t burst through defenders with a powerful thrust anymore. When Weekes made the big run off Kris’ pass in the last few minutes, Tom tried to chase and the running gait was like he’s been hobbled.

100% and it speaks to poor squad planning. From pre season you could see we had two backrowers and then make shift options which are not at the required level.

And here we are.

Ideally we'd sign a starting left edge and Burbo is our 3rd option.

 

[Cochrane]

100%, Thurston brought this up as well about Cherry not digging into the line. Although he stopped short of saying this was the reason why Cherry got dropped from Qld side.

Cronk was on his case last night a fair bit also

 

[Eagle 1]

Cronk was on his case last night a fair bit also

Could be said, this is why Cherry has gone so long in the game at 37. If your not getting as many hits and hardly getting tackled it stands to reason that you'll last a lot longer in the game.