Lehi deserves the 1

[LeonardCohen]

I’m in the Lehi to 1 over Koula camp and that’s saying something because Koula is my favourite player.

Lehi is a better defender (as in setting the defence and providing a last line), better under the high ball and better at generating a fast play-the-ball on kick returns. He has great instincts. Koula is more athletic and can skip defenders with his speed but that’s where his argument starts and finishes.

 

[Brookie1973]

Think both arguments have merit. Tom fit then he is far superior, not fit then not much in it .

Personally I think our fortunes with either there is pretty much the same unless we address the blindingly obvious …. We are not winning anything with the worst ( or close to) pack in the comp. Playing around with the backs is just rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic when the pack and bench is simply awful.Yet it seems next year the pack will be more of the same… and the same results will follow

No, it won’t be more of the same. They will all be one year older (and slower).

 

[Brookie1973]

Not a bad place to be, tossing up between Lehi and Koula.

I have seen worse options over the years.

Brendon Elliott and Tevita Funa send their regards.

Brendan Elliot went alright. He wasn’t our worst player in that era, not by a long shot. Funa I agree with.

 

[manlyfan76]

Can't wait to watch Lehi develop.
If he gets stronger he could be anything

 

[Stewbojevic]

Hate to play devil’s advocate here but we’ve won 5 games this year. Tom has been fullback in every one. Case closed

 

[TheSoaringEagle2023]

I would see if Gus is keen to swap a few players from the Dogs for Turbo/Jurbo/Burbo. That way we can start rebuilding. It would be an enticing proposition for Gus, since with Turbo,Jurbo,Burbo, Galvin, Crichton,etc, They would be overwhelming favourites for the premiership. It might be Turbo's only chance to taste premiership success as well. I love Turbo/Jurbo/Burbo as much as the next Manly fan, but I think this would be win-win for all parties involved. Suppose we get Preston,Curran, and Mahoney in return for Turbo/Jurbo/Burbo

 

[Heckenberg]

I would see if Gus is keen to swap a few players from the Dogs for Turbo/Jurbo/Burbo. That way we can start rebuilding. It would be an enticing proposition for Gus, since with Turbo,Jurbo,Burbo, Galvin, Crichton,etc, They would be overwhelming favourites for the premiership. It might be Turbo's only chance to taste premiership success as well. I love Turbo/Jurbo/Burbo as much as the next Manly fan, but I think this would be win-win for all parties involved. Suppose we get Preston,Curran, and Mahoney in return for Turbo/Jurbo/Burbo

Lol

 

[maxta]

Hate to play devil’s advocate here but we’ve won 5 games this year. Tom has been fullback in every one. Case closed

Maybe due to the fact when Tom's able to hobble on 1 leg, he is auto selected at fullback.....if Hoppa or Koula played fullback those 5 games Manly may have won also.
Most would agree a fully fit Tom is up with the best fullbacks on the planet, problem is he is injured majority of the time and the chop and change is disruptive.
Having a fit player who will "show up" every week at 1 is vital and moving forward if Manly do this, add some speed and agility in the forwards, it will make the "TEAM" better ....and we are blessed to have Hoppa who is a classy player with leadership skills waiting for that opportunity

 

[Waz13]

Hate to play devil’s advocate here but we’ve won 5 games this year. Tom has been fullback in every one. Case closed

Lehi was fb v Raiders I thought.

 

[Eagledare2dream]

U tell me why the heck we don't rest TT until he's fully fit for the rest of the year back110% in 2026. He's only young what 28yrs old, then hopefully he can play another 2-4-6yrs and we may win 1-2 premiership during that time, if not hopefully the team will be settle and Lehi would have learned a lot from the best in the game. Playing him every week at 60% WHY??? WHATDA FU###Kkk for, we already have 3 good fullback in our team who can play fullback for half of the team in da comp. TT, Lehi, Rubes, Koula, we're rich in fullback but not forwards, bring him back when he's fully fit, concentrate on forwards.

So yes either of the 3 that can play fullback should fill in until TT is fully fit, all of them will do a good job, as long as the rest of the idiots do there job.

 

[Waz13]

U tell me why the heck we don't rest TT until he's fully fit for the rest of the year back110% in 2026. He's only young what 28yrs old, then hopefully he can play another 2-4-6yrs and we may win 1-2 premiership during that time, if not hopefully the team will be settle and Lehi would have learned a lot from the best in the game. Playing him every week at 60% WHY??? WHATDA FU###Kkk for, we already have 3 good fullback in our team who can play fullback for half of the team in da comp. TT, Lehi, Rubes, Koula, we're rich in fullback but not forwards, bring him back when he's fully fit, concentrate on forwards.

So yes either of the 3 that can play fullback should fill in until TT is fully fit, all of them will do a good job, as long as the rest of the idiots do there job.

Resting him, rehabbing him, 1 week off, ten weeks off, the season off, US experts, vege diets, meat diets, junk food diets, holy water, exorcisms, chanting to the sun and all things in between have made no f&&@ing difference to Tom. His body is just not made for footy imo. If he’s fit, he plays and we hope for the best. I’ve had enough like everyone else here. Maybe it’s time we try him in another position.

 

[Disco]

I would see if Gus is keen to swap a few players from the Dogs for Turbo/Jurbo/Burbo. That way we can start rebuilding. It would be an enticing proposition for Gus, since with Turbo,Jurbo,Burbo, Galvin, Crichton,etc, They would be overwhelming favourites for the premiership. It might be Turbo's only chance to taste premiership success as well. I love Turbo/Jurbo/Burbo as much as the next Manly fan, but I think this would be win-win for all parties involved. Suppose we get Preston,Curran, and Mahoney in return for Turbo/Jurbo/Burbo

I'm going to politely say I strongly disagree here.

I think we would be a significant loser here.

 

[wombatgc]

Yeah i think fullback is too important a position now to chop and change. Keep Lehi at 1 until Tom proves he is over injury and back to his best. He could play centre or wing.

Agree. Also think you could play him anywhere and he’d do a good job.

 

[Pete W]

Resting him, rehabbing him, 1 week off, ten weeks off, the season off, US experts, vege diets, meat diets, junk food diets, holy water, exorcisms, chanting to the sun and all things in between have made no f&&@ing difference to Tom. His body is just not made for footy imo. If he’s fit, he plays and we hope for the best. I’ve had enough like everyone else here. Maybe it’s time we try him in another position.

And that's the truth unfortunately. He actually couldn't have been in better condition coming into Round 1 this season. Couldn't even finish 2 games

 

[mickqld]

I'd prefer to see Koula at fullback. Think he's got more post contact penetration and tackle busting ability. Stick TT2 at centres better defender. Move Lehi and Willett to wings.

 

[Woodsie]

It amazes me how quick we are to write of a champion ... yes, our concerns are reasonable ... but I wouldn't be writing Tommy off yet ..

 

[Frogz]

It amazes me how quick we are to write of a champion ... yes, our concerns are reasonable ... but I wouldn't be writing Tommy off yet ..

How many more years is fair then, till we can???

 

[Disco]

How many more years is fair then, till we can???

I mean I think there is a bit of hyperbole about.

Tom finished 4th in the Dally Ms last year.

In 20 games he had 17 tries, 21 try assists, 15 line breaks, 27 line break assists, 83 tackle busts, 28 offloads.

He was great, people moaned cause the 2021 standard is 2 trys and 3 try assists a game but he was actually very good last year.

This year he has been hampered by injury and down on form, no doubting that but even a down on form Tommy has 6 try assists and 12 line break assists in 7 games.

In fact he is 6th in the league for line break assists and has played up to 5 games less than some above him.

Yes yes, stats blah blah, eye tests show blah blah blah.

I'm not saying he isnt at his usual level, he obviously isnt fully fit nor in top form, but all this narrative about retiring him or releasing him etc etc is just.....wild.

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

I mean I think there is a bit of hyperbole about.

Tom finished 4th in the Dally Ms last year.

In 20 games he had 17 tries, 21 try assists, 15 line breaks, 27 line break assists, 83 tackle busts, 28 offloads.

He was great, people moaned cause the 2021 standard is 2 trys and 3 try assists a game but he was actually very good last year.

This year he has been hampered by injury and down on form, no doubting that but even a down on form Tommy has 6 try assists and 12 line break assists in 7 games.

In fact he is 6th in the league for line break assists and has played up to 5 games less than some above him.

Yes yes, stats blah blah, eye tests show blah blah blah.

I'm not saying he isnt at his usual level, he obviously isnt fully fit nor in top form, but all this narratively about retiring him or releasing him etc etc is just.....wild.

Good to know. Puts his alleged poor form into perspective (and we all love perspective) 🙂

 

[mickqld]

I mean I think there is a bit of hyperbole about.

Tom finished 4th in the Dally Ms last year.

In 20 games he had 17 tries, 21 try assists, 15 line breaks, 27 line break assists, 83 tackle busts, 28 offloads.

He was great, people moaned cause the 2021 standard is 2 trys and 3 try assists a game but he was actually very good last year.

This year he has been hampered by injury and down on form, no doubting that but even a down on form Tommy has 6 try assists and 12 line break assists in 7 games.

In fact he is 6th in the league for line break assists and has played up to 5 games less than some above him.

Yes yes, stats blah blah, eye tests show blah blah blah.

I'm not saying he isnt at his usual level, he obviously isnt fully fit nor in top form, but all this narrative about retiring him or releasing him etc etc is just.....wild.

So the question is do we want a $1.2mil fullback who plays half a season pumping out those elite stats or a $600K fullback who plays most of the season pumping out consistent but half those stats but we then spend $600K on an edge player of origin test calibre ?