Club News 2024

[double hoops]

Hi feathered friend , I hope you are keeping well in your Eagle nest

My perspective of our lack of stability in the 5/8 position was the coaching staffs inability to get the best of and make the most of all the Quality 5/8ths at our disposal
We even had the premiership Wining combo of Foran and DCE at our disposal but under Des Haslers second coming his coaching methods was underwhelming .

Under Seibold we released the promising Weekes and Humphries and opted for the quick fix Brooks as this instability continued

Schuster is the interesting one
The Schus out standing debut had one of the Greatest 5/8s in Benji mesmerised by his performance calling it the greatest debut of any 5/8th he has seen
It is interesting to see if Guru coach Bennet can bring out the best out of the Schu and turning a bargain buy into the brilliant player that he is capable of

Will be interesting to see what position the shoe has at Souths. From day dot he's looked a lock to me. Bennett will have plenty of options. But with Walker and the pommy Half. Will be surprised if Shoe has the early running in the 5/8 jersey. But I am sure Bennett will find a way to use his no look ball playing ability.

I wish Shoe all the best except when he plays Man.

He's a Manly Junior. He had a tremendously difficult time of it in preseason last year dealing with Manly Sea Eagle things.

Who knows what the future holds, one day the boy wonder may well return to wearing our Jersey a grown man.

 

[BOZO]

We also kept Manase & his 3 brothers on the books & moved the entire Fainu family to the northern beaches while awaiting Manase’s trial to keep them happy, which didn’t work in our favour, because Samuela & Latu demanded more $$$ to match what the Tigers offered them after Manase was found guilty.

He had 10 or 11 players (all of whom were absolute guns according to the media) at Manly at one stage & was definitely using them as leverage to keep Manly upgrading & re-signing them.

I see it this way feathered friend

Fainu the Hooker whos foolish actions ended his career was a gun . He was a Bazooka
His Second row Brother who is at the Tigers is a better prospect then Burbo
and the young halfback has plenty of potential. The potential we nurtured and failed to take advantage of our investment .
The fainu brothers were instrumental in our shock loss to wooden spoon team this season

Then we have the likes of Koula , and Olakuato and Paseka and these Westies players are not media made .They are made by their own natural talents
West is where plethora of Polynesian Golden talent is found and Only a Fool would disregard the West opportunity

 

[BOZO]

Will be interesting to see what position the shoe has at Souths. From day dot he's looked a lock. Bennett will have plenty of options.

I disagree . From day one the Great day of his 5/8 debut and arguably the greatest debut of any 5/8 in modern times . The Schu looked like a 5/8th
He has the skill and the body to play anywhere on the field but he lacks the motivation .
Bennet is a Great mentor and motivator of Men and if the Schu can not respond to Bennet
He can find a new career on seek.com

 

[Tragic Eagle]

It’s all academic now. We can’t under estimate the effect on young Schu losing his best mate the way he did. That train has left the station. I thought he looked real special early and things went south for him. Pardon the pun it was unintentional.

 

[BOZO]

It’s all academic now. We can’t under estimate the effect on young Schu losing his best mate the way he did. That train has left the station. I thought he looked real special early and things went south for him. Pardon the pun it was unintentional.

It is all academic now
This is what matters now
Each coach makes a mattress from the the roster he accumulates and lies on it
and he either lives in premiership winning glory or he dies on it

I do not believe Brooks the Media spin was the buy of the year .
Nor is he the answer to replacing DCE and taking Grand final charge
I do not Believe Seibold is a Grand final winning coach
This season our finals performances were underwhelming
The underdogs under a rookie head coach Dominated for 70 minutes and we escaped by a brilliant Polynesian Koula try
Against the Roosters who were with out their key spine number 7 and number nine players
Demolished us in a No contest and in a very disappointing end of year exit
Prior to this we had a Great opportunity home game against the Sharks to consolidate a advantageous home finals appearance but we again displayed our inconsistency through out the year and were out played and out enthused by the Sharks in another heavy point defeat

 

[BOZO]

Working in the Manly club is not just a job or a career
It is a Responsibility in maintaining our Legendary clubs Great Premiership Winning standards
Because
If we lower our Legendary Clubs Great Premiership Winning Standards
We stand for Nothing Great

To Mr Mestrov and Mr Seibold and Mr Penn
Progressive clubs do not Regress
2025 Manly forecast is Top 4
Anything less and we are heading in the wrong direction
We all look forward to our club moving forward

Keeping the Bastards Honest ....
Pressure at Manly is a Privilege
and it only comes to those who earn it
Good luck Gentleman

 

[eaglebuzz]

Will be interesting to see what position the shoe has at Souths. From day dot he's looked a lock to me. Bennett will have plenty of options. But with Walker and the pommy Half. Will be surprised if Shoe has the early running in the 5/8 jersey. But I am sure Bennett will find a way to use his no look ball playing ability.

I wish Shoe all the best except when he plays Man.

He's a Manly Junior. He had a tremendously difficult time of it in preseason last year dealing with Manly Sea Eagle things.

Who knows what the future holds, one day the boy wonder may well return to wearing our Jersey a grown man.

He needs to massively improve his self-discipline or he will never be much more than a wasted talent. I hope for his sake that Bennett gets the best out of him, hut I hope that it doesn't translate to much on-field success for Souths.

 

[LeonardCohen]

You don't think our lack of stability in the 5/8th position has been an undermining factor in our success over the past 5 or 6 years?

Schuster (a Tartak client) was annointed while in the 16s to be our future 5/8th. In the period between then & him debuting in first grade, we had a revolving door of 5/8ths:

Dylan Walker
Blake Green
Jackson Hastings
Lachlan Croker
Tom Wright
Kane Elgey
Cade Cust
even Tevita Funa played a game there
Cooper Johns
Jake Arthur
Kaeo Weekes

...before realising that Schuster was not the answer in that position.

In that same time his manager kicked up a stink when it was announced Foran was returning to Manly (article quoted above), then again when there were suggestions Manly would re-sign Foran after his 2 year stint. He also convinced Manly to sign Schuster on a massive contract that is still impacting us negatively today & no doubt for at least 1 or 2 more years salary cap-wise.

Mestrov comes in as CEO, gets rid of Fulton, who was acting as Tartak's recruitment & placement officer, we sign Luke Brooks & get rid of Schuster, & all of a sudden we have stability in our halves again.

How is that down to "media spin" only?

In my opinion, we wanted Schuster, i.e. it was our decision. I don't see how it was forced on the club, in a way where they had no choice. We had an old 5/8 that was edging towards retirement and chose to back the young up and coming star...he didn't end up working out for us due to fitness/mental health. If we wanted to keep Foran, we could have and if that meant Josh would agitate for a release, so be it. Instead, the club made a decision to keep him.

The way I view your argument (which I respect but politely disagree with) is that every time a manager agitates for what's best for their client, you deem it a problem caused by the manager having too many players on our books? I hope that's what you mean anyway...because that was the original source of this discussion.

If I can use a hypothetical situation - let's pretend that Schuster is the only Tartek managed player at Manly when the Foran/Schuster decision popped up; does Tartek do anything different? Does the club do anything different? I don't think so. I believe Tartek still requests Schu get a starting spot at 6 and I believe the club say goodbye to Foz on the grounds of old age and impending retirement. It was not a different outcome based on how many players were at the club at the time that were managed by Tartek; and that's my argument. I don't think you are doing it on purpose but I feel like you are using a 'straw man' argument in each of your rebuttals, i.e. refuting a claim that I have not even made - I need to be clear, I am not suggesting that managers have no influence. I am not suggesting that managers do not attempt to leverage for their clients. I am not suggesting that they never get their own way. Rather, what I am suggesting is that we need not worry about how many players we have that are tied to the same player manager.

I do not and will not believe that a manager is more dangerous because of how many clients they have at the one club; that is media spin. They're challenging personalities regardless and while ever the club and player have a say in the outcome, the manager is only going have a degree of influence. In my opinion, the media like to pedal a narrative that Manly better be careful or Moses will bring us to our knees. I'm not the least bit concerned.

 

[globaleagle]

Flash Gordon: How Chan Kum Tong became an accidental Tik Tok star

To find his way into the year's most Tik Toked and Instagrammed rugby league reel was not on Samoa forward Gordon Chan Kum Tong's his radar.

www.nrl.com

 

[Disco]

Sorry, I'm sure this has been stated or I can probably easily find it.....but when do we return for pre season?

11th, 18th, 25th?

 

[Disco]

In my opinion, we wanted Schuster, i.e. it was our decision. I don't see how it was forced on the club, in a way where they had no choice. We had an old 5/8 that was edging towards retirement and chose to back the young up and coming star...he didn't end up working out for us due to fitness/mental health. If we wanted to keep Foran, we could have and if that meant Josh would agitate for a release, so be it. Instead, the club made a decision to keep him.

The way I view your argument (which I respect but politely disagree with) is that every time a manager agitates for what's best for their client, you deem it a problem caused by the manager having too many players on our books? I hope that's what you mean anyway...because that was the original source of this discussion.

If I can use a hypothetical situation - let's pretend that Schuster is the only Tartek managed player at Manly when the Foran/Schuster decision popped up; does Tartek do anything different? Does the club do anything different? I don't think so. I believe Tartek still requests Schu get a starting spot at 6 and I believe the club say goodbye to Foz on the grounds of old age and impending retirement. It was not a different outcome based on how many players were at the club at the time that were managed by Tartek; and that's my argument. I don't think you are doing it on purpose but I feel like you are using a 'straw man' argument in each of your rebuttals, i.e. refuting a claim that I have not even made - I need to be clear, I am not suggesting that managers have no influence. I am not suggesting that managers do not attempt to leverage for their clients. I am not suggesting that they never get their own way. Rather, what I am suggesting is that we need not worry about how many players we have that are tied to the same player manager.

I do not and will not believe that a manager is more dangerous because of how many clients they have at the one club; that is media spin. They're challenging personalities regardless and while ever the club and player have a say in the outcome, the manager is only going have a degree of influence. In my opinion, the media like to pedal a narrative that Manly better be careful or Moses will bring us to our knees. I'm not the least bit concerned.

I agree with this on a whole.....within reason.

Managers leverage, but so do players, coaches and clubs, all is fair in love and war.

I'm not so concerned of our current situation but I do think it is something to be mindful of.

You say "I do not and will not believe that a manager is more dangerous because of how many clients they have at the one club" but I do feel there is a tipping point.

We are not there and I do think any club is likely to get there but I do think if a manager had say a coach and 20 senior players at one club on there books then they do have a inordinate amout of power over the club.

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

We are not there and I do think any club is likely to get there but I do think if a manager had say a coach and 20 senior players at one club on there books then they do have a inordinate amout of power over the club.

If a manager can tell a club that they'd better do X Y & Z, or else he'll move on a star player (for example)... and he can actually follow through and get said star player to leave a club he's happy at... then the manager has an inordinate amount of power over the player, not over the club.

Having said that, player manager regulation is a joke and something that does need fixing, probably on a state or national level ,not just for a particular sport body.

 

[Phobia]

Turbo and Haumole have been nominated for the Golden Boot:

Tongan trio in line to make Golden Boot history

Addin Fonua-Blake, Jason Taumalolo and Haumole Olakau’atu are in contention to become the first player from a Pacific nation to win the IRL Golden Boot.

www.nrl.com

I'd bloody love for Turbo to win it to shut all the "he is cooked and slow" people up.

 

[BOZO]

Turbo and Haumole have been nominated for the Golden Boot:

Tongan trio in line to make Golden Boot history

Addin Fonua-Blake, Jason Taumalolo and Haumole Olakau’atu are in contention to become the first player from a Pacific nation to win the IRL Golden Boot.

www.nrl.com

I'd bloody love for Turbo to win it to shut all the "he is cooked and slow" people up.

We have 2 Golden Boots in our Manly team
We should soar into the top 4 next season
Other wise Seibold gets the Boot for under performing
Pressure at Manly is a privilege and it only comes to those who earn it

If you can not handle the pressure
You dont belong at Manly
We dont want to be known as the soft Sea eagles

 

[The Wheel]

Sorry, I'm sure this has been stated or I can probably easily find it.....but when do we return for pre season?

11th, 18th, 25th?

From memory 25/11 or thereabouts

 

[rmd]

Sorry, I'm sure this has been stated or I can probably easily find it.....but when do we return for pre season?

11th, 18th, 25th?

From The Daily Telegraph

SEA EAGLES

Their first intake of players are back into it on November 21 with the rest of the squad, including PM’s XIII players Reuben Garrick and Luke Brooks, not due back until early December. Veterans Jake Trbojevic and Daly Cherry-Evans will also return in December, while Tom .9*- pre-season will be delayed due to his Pacific Championships commitment with the Kangaroos.

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/nrl-2025-when-every-club-returns-to-preseason-training/news-story/ddfa031b6c766c88fc2a0f26a3504e1f

Jurbo is possibly getting married in the off season, unless they want a long engagement and no doubt they would have left it until after the Pacific Championships anyway.

Guys aspiring to make the Top 30 or impress, are probably in the gym now and training together,

 

[Nordburg]

Important Club News-Seibold was part owner of a horse that won race 4 at Ipswich today

 

[Dion Johnson]

Manly have avoided a full-blown legal battle with their former coach Des Hasler after reaching a settlement only days before they were due to head to the Supreme Court.

Sources close to both parties have been tight-lipped on the matter but Sport Con understands that the legal stoush has been resolved, saving Hasler and Sea Eagles powerbrokers the ignominy of having their acrimonious relationship exposed in court next week.

Hasler sued the Sea Eagles after he was dumped at the end of the 2022 following a disappointing end to the season in the wake of the Pride jersey scandal.

Manly initially offered Hasler a $565,000 settlement to go away quietly but he rejected the olive branch, instead opting to bring in the legal big guns to take on the Sea Eagles.

In their financial report for the 2021 season – which included a note in relation to the Hasler sacking – Manly revealed their failed settlement offer as well fears that an adverse decision in the courts could cost them as much as $1.19 million.

This masthead subsequently revealed that a revised assessment was included in their financial report for the 2022 season outlining concerns that a win for Hasler would cost Manly up to $1.5 million.

Sources close to the legal battle recently suggested that the bill for Manly could rise as high as $1.7 million should the matter head to court and Hasler carry the day given the potential payout and legal costs.

However, it is understood they have finally found some middle ground, having previously tried and failed to resolve the matter through mediation.

Hasler is now at the Gold Coast, where he is trying to revive the Titans fortunes after a disappointing first season at the club. Manly appointed Anthony Seibold when Hasler was axed.

 

[Frogz]

Manly have avoided a full-blown legal battle with their former coach Des Hasler after reaching a settlement only days before they were due to head to the Supreme Court.

Sources close to both parties have been tight-lipped on the matter but Sport Con understands that the legal stoush has been resolved, saving Hasler and Sea Eagles powerbrokers the ignominy of having their acrimonious relationship exposed in court next week.

Hasler sued the Sea Eagles after he was dumped at the end of the 2022 following a disappointing end to the season in the wake of the Pride jersey scandal.

Manly initially offered Hasler a $565,000 settlement to go away quietly but he rejected the olive branch, instead opting to bring in the legal big guns to take on the Sea Eagles.

In their financial report for the 2021 season – which included a note in relation to the Hasler sacking – Manly revealed their failed settlement offer as well fears that an adverse decision in the courts could cost them as much as $1.19 million.

This masthead subsequently revealed that a revised assessment was included in their financial report for the 2022 season outlining concerns that a win for Hasler would cost Manly up to $1.5 million.

Sources close to the legal battle recently suggested that the bill for Manly could rise as high as $1.7 million should the matter head to court and Hasler carry the day given the potential payout and legal costs.

However, it is understood they have finally found some middle ground, having previously tried and failed to resolve the matter through mediation.

Hasler is now at the Gold Coast, where he is trying to revive the Titans fortunes after a disappointing first season at the club. Manly appointed Anthony Seibold when Hasler was axed.

Finally the leach has gone (again). Hopefully no more comebacks.

 

[Terry Zarsoff]

Important Club News-Seibold was part owner of a horse that won race 4 at Ipswich today

Big news…big news…

A bit like what passes for ‘news’ on the commercial channels these days.