Post-Game Discussion Bulldogs V Manly [Round 21, 2025]

[simon64]

As I said in the match thread. They are well coached, disciplined and know their jobs.

We were never going to be able to go with them. I was not shocked in the slightest that we faded and ended up getting our asses handed to us.

 

[JBW]

at training, manly must adopt offloads and 2nd phase plays. only Lodge do this.

100% agree and ive been saying for two years, if Jake could redevelop the offload he had as a youngster, his value to the team increases significantly. His attack offer nothing currently.

 

[Eagledare2dream]

Almost every play the dog off loaded the ball which is so frustrating to us fans, but we did ****tt to stop it or do the same. Win at all cost is the different here.

I was happy with some of the players but some have b dealt with ASAP, but that won't happen if we've the same idiots in the box. We can still make the8 no doubt bout it, but bout 5 positions needs to b change ASAP.

 

[Eagledare2dream]

100% agree and ive been saying for two years, if Jake could redevelop the offload he had as a youngster, his value to the team increases significantly. His attack offer nothing currently.

Agree he might get smashed back and doesn't make any yardage, but the balls goes to his bro, play goes on.

 

[Fibro Eagle]

Credit to the Dogs they went with Manly in the early exchanges
Too many errors from Manly then dogs started getting all the ball most of the game with 60% possession
Critical call on the forward pass
Then they got the roll on hard to stop any team with those stats especially a team that have been good all year against a team that are so inconsistent and a lot of the time one out plays
Manly can still make the finals but only making up the numbers anyway and that’s the same for the teams from 6th to 10th

 

[Nordburg]

Tom was the worst fullback in the comp when he was there this year..but keep your hot takes coming.

What hot take? I never suggested anything in regards to where each player should be playing.I merely pointed out there would be people that were once calling for the Hopoate/TomT positional switch earlier in the season ,that are now calling for them to switch back

 

[johnperi01]

First game I have seen live, and I thought we did well to be only down by 8 given the lack of field position and that Bulldogs didn’t make a mistake until 36 minutes in that half.
Had our chances early in the second half to make it 12-10, but once Bulldogs scored first their superior fitness took over.
Just exemplified how we are lacking in young, strong forwards, and I cant wait for DCE to take his head less chook plays to the Roosters, no pun intended.
Don’t think we’ll make the 8 and if we do will be out straight away.
Enjoyed the semi final type atmosphere but combining it with the 30th anniversary of our 95 GF loss only compounded the overall disappointing performance.

 

[seaeagle10]

Having been a Manly supporter since 1968,this team is up there with one of the worst coached/committed teams. (and that includes T Baz Alan Thompson (1988 team )and the northern Eagles)
Manly has won the 3 previous games before the game against the dogs. These were against Tigers, Bye and a very lackluster Storm. (in fact they would have /could have lost except for a stray elbow by the big unit Nelson and a kick charge down incorrectly by Harry grub). I don't know what the answer is to solve the current problems, Sack coach ? players not committed. but what i do know is that somebody needs to stress to players that they need to put players on the ground and assist each other in defense. As for player changes there appears to be many needed (Cory Waddel needs to learn to tackle not grab at players) Brooks is consistently critized for missed tackles however no mention of the 44 tackles he usually makes. The captain continually tries to produce the miracle ball/pass moves up in defence and tries to cut off the pass ,however he usually misses and leave his outside defenders with a 3 on 2 situation. Turbo is not fit and is only at half pace and he appears to be just going through the motions.(this tells me that all is not well within the team).Bully tries hard but gets the ball passed to him with the defence on top off him(talk about a hospital pass).

 

[Wombat Junior]

Lehi won’t be going home anytime soon

 

[Rackets]

After that disappointing capitulation, I want to forget about today's game and not stress myself out anymore, but I just want to give a special mention to Gordy who I thought had a great game and almost changed the momentum when he came on. Jazz has been great and with him moving on next year and the fact we can't attract another 9, time for Seibold to start playing Simpkins and Gordy. I would've thought with Ennis there he'd improve their game and skills. Just my opinion.

 

[mickqld]

The only good part of today is only have to suffer through 6 more games of the $ Chaser fraud.

 

[Nordburg]

After that disappointing capitulation, I want to forget about today's game and not stress myself out anymore, but I just want to give a special mention to Gordy who I thought had a great game and almost changed the momentum when he came on. Jazz has been great and with him moving on next year and the fact we can't attract another 9, time for Seibold to start playing Simpkins and Gordy. I would've thought with Ennis there he'd improve their game and skills. Just my opinion.

I actually thought GCKT was ordinary in his main job,distribution.Still too slow to pass.May of been due to a lack of game time with the top side,but it’s an area he hasn’t improved in

 

[Arko-admirer]

Well that was a reality check. I didn't think we would make the semis with a tough run home but the Storm game gave what seems to be false hope. We just can't go with highly disciplined fast-moving grind defensive sides (basically the Panthers template) over 80. Our forwards need a cleanout - with Lodge - a part-timer more interested in boxing - our best today. Turbo got exposed defensively - that's never been his strong point. Talau is probably our best centre both in defence and for yardage. I suspect Seibold has taken us as far as he can, but don't know who to replace him with. One frustrating thing - although it obviously didn't cost us today, can we get someone who can kick goals from the sideline? I always expect Garrick to miss and he does about 70% of the time. Actually I haven't really been confident in a Manly kicker since Ridge

 

[rich]

90%??!

Some people need to be sacked

 

[Eagledare2dream]

After that disappointing capitulation, I want to forget about today's game and not stress myself out anymore, but I just want to give a special mention to Gordy who I thought had a great game and almost changed the momentum when he came on. Jazz has been great and with him moving on next year and the fact we can't attract another 9, time for Seibold to start playing Simpkins and Gordy. I would've thought with Ennis there he'd improve their game and skills. Just my opinion.

Don't know Y he can't turn them into grubs like himself, we need them ASAP.

 

[TJ55]

Lehi won’t be going home anytime soon

Far out Hoppa senior is a wild bloke

 

[Clivus00]

Which begs the question why throw everything at them like that. It makes no sense in today’s game. I suggest it masks a lack of mental toughness and willingness to get in the grind. We aren’t playing 1980s rugby league where the pack that won the battle early went on to win. It’s now wrestle, hold, stop the offload and slow play the balls. But I’m sure Jim Dymock is well aware of that.

Yeh, we smash them hard but don’t dominate the ruck and miss tackles. Dogs a learnt from Storm. Roll you on your back, hold u down a bit longer after held call. Klein was too lenient on them.

 

[Eagledare2dream]

Well that was a reality check. I didn't think we would make the semis with a tough run home but the Storm game gave what seems to be false hope. We just can't go with highly disciplined fast-moving grind defensive sides (basically the Panthers template) over 80. Our forwards need a cleanout - with Lodge - a part-timer more interested in boxing - our best today. Turbo got exposed defensively - that's never been his strong point. Talau is probably our best centre both in defence and for yardage. I suspect Seibold has taken us as far as he can, but don't know who to replace him with. One frustrating thing - although it obviously didn't cost us today, can we get someone who can kick goals from the sideline? I always expect Garrick to miss and he does about 70% of the time. Actually I haven't really been confident in a Manly kicker since Ridge

Lodge was one of our best today.
, we needed him to stand up for the team and he did. I cannot stand the other pussy tonight. We need more grubs to fight there grubs like the old days. Cliffy, Hills, Hoppa, Roberts, Choc, Lyon been a long time since we had one.

 

[Clivus00]

My key takeaways:

• we can't defend against 2nd phase play. Any team that goes nuts with offloads buries us. Take note why Parra always gives us grief.
• Turbo got schooled by Xerri
• We may be without TKO and Lodge next week if match review doesn't give us some sympathy.
• Turbo is a better passer in the backline sweep, but Hoppa is the better cover defender
• The for and against damage done today finished our season IMO. Too tight in the 8-12 ladder spots
• The Dogs intensity was insane up to the last minute
• Proved that Melbourne's discipline last week was equally as important as our ticker. Dogs didn't give us a real sniff.
• When DCE did that 40/20 I thought he was on today and would get us home. Then came the second half...
• I know he's polarising, but I still think Saab is a game breaker. He's been given eff all quality ball. Yes, he's prone to a shocker, but his height and speed has to be utilised better, nobody else in the comp possesses the traits he has. If Hoppa hits him with a decent pass in the first half we score. Tommy T v2 should be in the centres. That's my opinion.
• After watching the raiders game today and Fogartys kicking. I look forward to him actually putting a bomb on the try line rather than it landing 10m short and forcing them to try a tap back.

Yeh, Saab does more good than bad. He and Lehi are game breakers. Sadly Turbo seems a bit heavy and lost some pace. Time to let go of the Bros. Our defence is not smart enough and that’s on coaching. It’s not on just how hard you hit. We don’t get the opposition on their back in a tackle and we don’t look for offloads after contact.

 

[Bomb Voyage]

I’m sure this will come across as hyberbole but I’m telling gods honest truth, I’ve watched every manly game all the way through to FT since becoming a fan, and tonight is the first night I’ve turned it off before FT. I’m sickened. I don’t want to see or hear a thing about RL for a few days. I’m so disillusioned by this club it’s unhealthy.