I feel a bit for DCE. The guy has huge talent, but is so down on confidence at the moment. He's trying his guts out, but he is self doubting himself and over trying sometimes. In the past, if he saw a half gap, he would use his palm and throw the dummy and back himself. At the moment he doesn't know whether to pass, or run. His forwards are not helping him out much though, he rarely gets good early ball with the opposition back pedalling or defenders that have been trampled over by Manly's pack. If he does get the ball, usually defenders are up in his face, and then he has a look outside and he has Symonds or Blair to throw if too.
Watch South's and Cowboys, their forwards work to a plan, they work the middle, take defenders away with each hit up, and have good second phase play, or forwards which can ball play a bit as well. Thurston gets the ball with so much time, he drifts across the field and can select ball runners. DCE hasn't been given that chance. Our forwards cannot even run for 100m. I read a stat against Canberra, some of our forwards ran for 25m in a half after multiple hit ups! Best was about 50m. Canberra's bench player came on and ran for over 100m in a half!
The ball movement from hooker is so pedestrian too. I hate Ennis, but watch him out of dummy half, dummies to outside runners, fakes to inside runners, and then throws it out to bird who has options.
Hopefully with Lyon, Snake and Mateo back -there will be more options for DCE in attack, and the forwards take a few angry pills before the match and trample a few defenders for once.
Daley just needs to back himself this week, don't worry about throwing the miracle ball, throw a dummy or go himself a little more, take the line on. He is a great ball runner, he should do it more often.
