Manly Forwards 2018

[maxta]

With the addition of Thompson to add some experience, punch and defensive power to the edge, how does this 2018 pack look compared to both the 2017 pack and also the rest of the NRL teams.
Imho, the middle men though similar in players to 2017 will improve due to the youngsters like AFB, Perrett and the ever improving leader Jake stepping up again....plus expect 1-2 youngsters to fight for a spot which is healthy.
Know very little about the Rabbits backrower who joined, though have good word on him from some who have seen him in action and rate him aggressive and a handful, with injury the only thing keeping him out of grade already.
Api is now a Top 3 hooker and has grown in belief which has shown on the field and on the back of extra go forward - could really explode in 2018.
Add the power of Marty who I prefer hitting the ball on tackle 2-3 after a winger, Darcy, AFB or Jake hitup and the momentum is always built.
Sirro was in really good form prior to injury last season and stopped relying on that drifting ballplayer stuff to start making direct charges , scoring tries and bending the line.
Maybe this pack can compete big time in 2018....

 

[The Who]

We will be far better this year than in 2017 where the team exceeded expectations.
We will surprise all those RL 'experts' who have tipped us to be in the bottom half of the comp.

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

I have no doubt our forward roster is up there with the top clubs. I'm really looking forward to seeing a bit of guys like Sipley, Gojeffski, Paseka, and Tanginoa. Each of those back-ups seem to have something to offer.

 

[Woodsie]

In 2016 with a new team and a sketchy roster we had no ingrained team shape or pattern. It was a big problem.

In 2017, to correct this, Baz brought in Green and set very strict roles for his edge players to follow. Most of your shape starts there, and things improved greatly.

Now, in 2018 with a team well drilled, what is of greatest interest to me is ......

1) How will a new 5/8 change our attack ..
2) How much will Baz unleash our forward power ...

 

[double hoops]

Ours is better. But young. Top 4 and then ready to take it for a couple of years after seem reasonable.

On paper the Dragons look glorious. Good thing for us in 18 that Premiership aren't won on a paper.

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

Thompson is a HUGE addition, as I said back in October what we needed most of all is a good forwards leader.

I really thought they might have gone hard on Graham,but clearly not.

I think Joel is even more important than the 5/8 issue.

 

[manlyfan76]

Darcy Lussick.

What type of year will he have? If he plays at his best we look a lot better for forwards. if not then we go back a step.

Any of the 5/8 options will go well behind a good fwd pack, it's when the forwards aren't going well that halves need to stand up.
Last year we completed sets well and didn't make mistakes, that carried us somewhat when we were lacking on other areas.

 

[Woodsie]

Great pack. Great recruitment. Great depth. Great juniors.

Well done to the club and the ones in charge of recruitment.

Bring on round 1!

What a difference 12 months make ....

 

[Fibro Eagle]

Its a good pack maybe a touch young on the experience side but would like this pack to adopt some of the manly packs of old when they rip in when the other team is bringing it off there line if they can get that intensity it will be a strong pack

 

[brad]

With the addition of Thompson to add some experience, punch and defensive power to the edge, how does this 2018 pack look compared to both the 2017 pack and also the rest of the NRL teams.
Imho, the middle men though similar in players to 2017 will improve due to the youngsters like AFB, Perrett and the ever improving leader Jake stepping up again....plus expect 1-2 youngsters to fight for a spot which is healthy.
Know very little about the Rabbits backrower who joined, though have good word on him from some who have seen him in action and rate him aggressive and a handful, with injury the only thing keeping him out of grade already.
Api is now a Top 3 hooker and has grown in belief which has shown on the field and on the back of extra go forward - could really explode in 2018.
Add the power of Marty who I prefer hitting the ball on tackle 2-3 after a winger, Darcy, AFB or Jake hitup and the momentum is always built.
Sirro was in really good form prior to injury last season and stopped relying on that drifting ballplayer stuff to start making direct charges , scoring tries and bending the line.
Maybe this pack can compete big time in 2018....

I think our 10 thru 13 can get us a top 4 position if they stay injury free and also Thompson is cleared to play .

 

[brad]

I think Thompsons been cleared by the NRL. Pretty sure they have to sign off on it.

Ok i thought the nrl wont register his contact until Manly is cleared of cap crap .

 

[Not Paul Kent]

Getting Taufua back will also make a big difference to the metres game and getting a roll on through the ruck.

 

[EagleFlys]

Ok i thought the nrl wont register his contact until Manly is cleared of cap crap .

You are right Brad. Batty is wrong.

No winners here though.

 

[Kevinward777]

Has the potential to be the best bunch of forwards in the game...and by some way as well.

 

[The Who]

We have the perfect opportunity in round 1 to stun so-called RL 'experts'. All of them will be tipping Newcastle with their new $9-Million roster, at a packed Newcastle Stadium. We will be expected to lose. Why? Because we have lost Green. Ridiculous. He was an average first grader and will not be missed by us.

 

[BOZO]

With the addition of Thompson to add some experience, punch and defensive power to the edge, how does this 2018 pack look compared to both the 2017 pack and also the rest of the NRL teams.
Imho, the middle men though similar in players to 2017 will improve due to the youngsters like AFB, Perrett and the ever improving leader Jake stepping up again....plus expect 1-2 youngsters to fight for a spot which is healthy.
Know very little about the Rabbits backrower who joined, though have good word on him from some who have seen him in action and rate him aggressive and a handful, with injury the only thing keeping him out of grade already.
Api is now a Top 3 hooker and has grown in belief which has shown on the field and on the back of extra go forward - could really explode in 2018.
Add the power of Marty who I prefer hitting the ball on tackle 2-3 after a winger, Darcy, AFB or Jake hitup and the momentum is always built.
Sirro was in really good form prior to injury last season and stopped relying on that drifting ballplayer stuff to start making direct charges , scoring tries and bending the line.
Maybe this pack can compete big time in 2018....

Jack Gosiewski is the rabbits back rower you are talking about and from what I have seen of him I rate him more than Siro and Winterstein .
In our last big final game of the year both our back rowers were dominated by the Quality Penrith pack . What I rate Jake above those two are that he goes looking for the ball and his man . Also he goes all out 100% for the full 80 minutes . He hits tough and runs tough and as we all know tough forwards that do the hard stuff dominate . He is also very aggressive , just like our other new recruit Thomo .
I like what I saw from AFB , he is strong and tough and aggressive . With Perrett he needs to gets some aggression in his play . He is big but seems a bit of a gentle giant and I call gentle giants soft cocks and I hope he stiffens up next year .

 

[Eagles4Life]

I have no doubt our forward roster is up there with the top clubs. I'm really looking forward to seeing a bit of guys like Sipley, Gojeffski, Paseka, and Tanginoa. Each of those back-ups seem to have something to offer.

Our forwards look awesome on paper. A great mix of experience and potential. I can see a whole lot more potential power and aggression this seaon from the bench, balanced out with determination and real competition for spots across the pack. Lets see how that translates in the preseason. Bring it on!!!

 

[BOZO]

In 2016 with a new team and a sketchy roster we had no ingrained team shape or pattern. It was a big problem.

In 2017, to correct this, Baz brought in Green and set very strict roles for his edge players to follow. Most of your shape starts there, and things improved greatly.

Now, in 2018 with a team well drilled, what is of greatest interest to me is ......

1) How will a new 5/8 change our attack ..
2) How much will Baz unleash our forward power ...

You make some very good points until you go on to 2)
The coach does not dominate games , the forward pack does and as the great Immortal once said the coach is only as good as the cattle he has on the field . In other words if our forwards don't stand up again like they did against our last semi final game last year against the Panthers . Baz will only be unleashing toothless tigers .

 

[brad]

I suppose then, why the difference with Hodko?

I mean as far as Manly is concerned, they want both. But from what I understand, the NRL has approved the Thompson deal but not the Hodko one.

That's why the club has formally announced Thompson but there's been delays with Hodko. With the Hodko deal (after Thompson) I'd say we are getting into the amount of dollars that the NRL want to penalise us for 2018.

Could be wrong but that's my understanding.

But we were 400k over yer ? So how does Thompson fit in anyway .

 

[brad]

Because we had approx $800k to spend on Pearce.

We've probably used 4-600k of that to sign Thompson.
Then when we've got down to sign Hodko we are starting to get into the $400k you're talking about above.

Probably a backended Thompson deal also...

Say Thompson is on 600k it will cut it fine then .