Wow that was an interesting game...
On the positive side I'm loving the effort and the passion and Manly are truly hunting as a team and have a desire to win. The Trobjs have been magnificent and throw in big efforts by Tafua and Api.
But wow on the negative side that game was concerning. Just a complete lack of structure in attack. It looked like there were 13 forwards out there, just no threatening structure other than Tommy from the back, and the Keiry/Reynolds combo outpointed our halves and had much better structure around them than Manly did.
There is no simple answer, but in a nutshell the majority of this team is SLOW. The play the balls are too slow and there is no speed around the ruck. As well as Api has played, we need Parcell back now and get Api as the utility in place of lightweight Lewis who again was awful tonight. I just can't stand him anymore, and he looks like he is trying his heart out. He is just not a quality player. Api is also just too neurotic in dummy half and the assessment of the others is right - great tackler, great effort - but not via passes at dummy half. No.
Poor Cherry is also starved of impact. There is no depth in the attacking line, and Killer is too individual as a half it seems but it's the best on offer. Please get back Dylan we need your speed. Gee I'd almost want him back in the halves, just to add some speed to the backline, but I understand its too much of a risk.
This team has been slow and clunky all year in attack bar some bright starts to games. But I can't see an easy solution. Perhaps Parcell back and a fresh Api injected later into games might improve things. This team needs a quality ball playing half next year to complement Cherry.
Still for now, its better to have a whinge about a win than a loss and it keeps Manly alive. Go Manly!.
NYEagle
