Garricks performance at centre

[Kiwi Eagle]

I watch the games, and then read the reaction on here, and it never marries up for me in regards to Garrick

Room for improvement, certainly plenty there. As dire as some like to make out, nowhere near it. People need to learn a little bit of patience, no better example than Steve Matai who was declared the worst defender in Manly history his first couple of seasons. Jamie Lyon was absolutely slammed as a 6 for a long time before we won a grand final with him there. See a similar comparison in Glenn Stewart and Ben Trbojevic, until 50 games into his career Glenn was just considered brother of and only here to keep Brett happy

Garrick is certainly no Shane Neumann, Branden Williame or Paul Stephenson

 

[manlyfan76]

If you can't pass to the winger, you should be the winger.

 

[MW66]

Still think he is a better winger than a centre and these HIA's are becoming a concern. What was obvious at the ground yesterday was how much our defence improved on the fringes when Ben T moved to centre. He may make it however he needs to really improve his defence (and to be fair so does Koula).

 

[Waz13]

From memory, they wanted Jorge Taufua to come in, don’t think the result would have been much different. You couldn’t have dropped Wolfie, that try he scored to seal the prelim was freakish

Jorge was on the other wing Kiwi. Scored the first try I think. Who would have been the alternative to Wolf? I can’t remember now.

 

[Kiwi Eagle]

Jorge was on the other wing Kiwi. Scored the first try I think. Who would have been the alternative to Wolf? I can’t remember now.

You are correct, I’ve blocked a lot of that day out ! Must have been Peta Hiku then

 

[Tragic Eagle]

Interesting fact:

The tackle efficiency of our "usual" wingers and centres in 2024

Garrick – 86.6% (200 made, 31 missed)
Saab – 82.8% (53 made, 11 missed)
Koula – 79.8% (107 made, 25 missed).
Talau – 73% (65 made, 24 missed)

There is something else to read from that ... our right edge defence, which includes DCE and Haumole, faces a lot more traffic than our left edge does and that could be for a number of reasons from the opposition thinking our right edge is weaker, to most of our opposition just having a natural tendency to "go left", as teams with mostly right hand dominant players tend to do.

These stats are misleading because they do not factor in misreads when players tackle nobody and that doesn't count as a missed tackle. There was a perfect example in the first half when St George butchered a certain try after Garrick again raced up out of the line into no mans land and didn't lay a hand on a player.

 

[HoldenV8]

These stats are misleading because they do not factor in misreads when players tackle nobody and that doesn't count as a missed tackle. There was a perfect example in the first half when St George butchered a certain try after Garrick again raced up out of the line into no mans land and didn't lay a hand on a player.

Yeah he does do that at times, no argument. But then, most centre's do regardless of their experience. Sometimes they get their target, often not.

Even Lyon and Matai missed their targets from time to time. In fact, IIRC it took Matai basically 2 years before he could even cement a first grade spot with us. He became a great defender over time but some of his early reads were horrible to say the least.

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

Jorge was on the other wing Kiwi. Scored the first try I think. Who would have been the alternative to Wolf? I can’t remember now.

Made me curious so I checked, Wolf and Jorge were the wingers in all 4 finals. Hiku played well at fullback in the first 2 finals while Snake was out.
(In the final round match our wingers were Wolfman and some guy called Gutherson (we lost that one to Panthers).

 

[Phobia]

Our backline come Rnd 18 against the Cowboys will be absolutely stacked, and for balance reasons Garrick will pretty much be a neccesity on the wing. I wonder what his actual contractual obligations are because last year, when Garrick was on this current deal, he played most of his games on the wing. I think it's one of two options:

1. Tom Trbojevic
2. Saab
3. Koula
4. Garrick
5. Talau

Aka the boring option. I really hope Seibold doesn't pick this.

1. Hopoate
2. Saab
3. Koula
4. Tom Trbojevic (played right centre in origin but I imagine defensively Koula would be better on the right, interchangeable really)
5. Garrick

Pretty stacked in my opinion. People are really giving Garrick a lot that he doesn't deserve. He tackles well. He attacks well. He's a good footballer. His only problem is his reads at centre. No way in hell is he a worse winger than Talau. That's just ridiculous.

Funnily enough having a good quality backline player not playing is actually a luxury a lot of clubs have, that we're just not used to. I'm very happy to have Talau in Blacktown given last year it was Harper we had waiting for us.

 

[Scorpio]

You are correct, I’ve blocked a lot of that day out ! Must have been Peta Hiku then

If true, I'm sure it inspired a lot of confidence in Wolfman, knowing his senior teammates were white-anting him by pleading with the coach to have him replaced...

 

[Kiwi Eagle]

If true, I'm sure it inspired a lot of confidence in Wolfman, knowing his senior teammates were white-anting him by pleading with the coach to have him replaced...

Yeah you would hope he didn’t know

Is definitely true, the words came out of Watmoughs mouth during a podcast 4-5 years ago

 

[Kalvin]

It is clear to me now that Garrick is our version of lomax.... a dead set winger that thinks/ wants to be a centre!

Someone from the club needs to share the lomax example with him... as he would be a lot closer to being a rep player if he goes back "home" to the wing!

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

It is clear to me now that Garrick is our version of lomax.... a dead set winger that thinks/ wants to be a centre!

Someone from the club needs to share the lomax example with him... as he would be a lot closer to being a rep player if he goes back "home" to the wing!

I'm no expert but give him a solid pass so far.
Seibold appears to agree, because it's not as though we've no other centre options now.
Passing as a centre and judgment in defence were always going to take some time, for anyone that hasn't played centre since juniors.
How long to give him? Good question. There's plenty of moving parts in Manly's back 5 options, we need to get more out of Koula and Saab too. This week's configuration could shed more light on it all, I can almost imagine some 2021-style attack (optimisitc I know)

 

[Disco]

It is clear to me now that Garrick is our version of lomax.... a dead set winger that thinks/ wants to be a centre!

Someone from the club needs to share the lomax example with him... as he would be a lot closer to being a rep player if he goes back "home" to the wing!

Its funny, I think of Talau when you talk Lomax.

Someone who has seen their game improve dramatically by moving to the wing.

Yet many are clamouring to moving him back to centre.

He may kill it but so many speak like its a fait accompli

 

[Kalvin]

Its funny, I think of Talau when you talk Lomax.

Someone who has seen their game improve dramatically by moving to the wing.

Yet many are clamouring to moving him back to centre.

He may kill it but so many speak like its a fait accompli

Yes still not sure talau is the answer at centre either but wouldn't be against him being given a chance.... in saying that, I myself would rather see Lehi remain at fb and koula remain at centre with Saab/ Garrick & talau fighting for the wing position.... all be it koula seems a little out of form or unutilised

 

[Disco]

Yes still not sure talau is the answer at centre either but wouldn't be against him being given a chance.... in saying that, I myself would rather see Lehi remain at fb and koula remain at centre with Saab/ Garrick & talau fighting for the wing position.... all be it koula seems a little out of form or unutilised

I'd personally have gone with the back 5 named this week.

Hoppa going great but no rush on him.

 

[wombatgc]

Two Tommy tee’s at centre…..you know it makes sense.

 

[Tragic Eagle]

His poor reads make him a liability in defence. I would be picking him on the wing. It’s Seibs job to lose.

 

[Eagles4Life]

Yes still not sure talau is the answer at centre either but wouldn't be against him being given a chance.... in saying that, I myself would rather see Lehi remain at fb and koula remain at centre with Saab/ Garrick & talau fighting for the wing position.... all be it koula seems a little out of form or unutilised

I believe that Talau has the capacity to play multiple positions for us. I think he would go well for us at backrow, alongside Haumole. Perhaps even at lock in the future.

 

[StuBoot]

I believe that Talau has the capacity to play multiple positions for us. I think he would go well for us at backrow, alongside Haumole. Perhaps even at lock in the future.

That could be a portent for this weekend.
Looking at the line up and bench we can safely assume that Hoppa won't be coming off the bench to play back up dummy half, that's Lawton's job.
Could Talau move to the backrow or lock for a short stint with Hoppa to wing?