More importantly, where does this leave 2019?

[Mark from Brisbane]

This will turn around as it has done before mate.

Hang in there.

It was in fact “ tongue firmly in cheek”.

That will only happen if we all just give up!!!!

 

[HK_Eagle]

I think we have to be very careful about relying on history to lift us out of the current state and move us back to the top. Mark's tongue in cheek post may not be that unrealistic. We cannot go on stumbling the way we have off the field, especially when it starts playing out on the field. The game, like all modern sports, is moving more and more towards "professionalism" (or should I say, branding, image, media and corporate dollars).

We need a boost of finance and resources into this club. The question is, is that going to happen to rebuild Brookie and keep our spiritual home on the northern beaches? Or will we be moved to the big stadium away from Brookie, but at least maintain our colours and name? Or will we by relocated to a whole new area (Perth, Central Coast, NZ, USA, wherever...) and completely lose our geographical connection? Or will we become extinct completely? Any of these options (bar the last) are going to require money and resources. Who is going to provide that? Excluding some miraculous things happening in the background out of sight, we will not survive without some drastic intervention, in my opinion.

 

[sheridanstand78]

We are back to the dark days of the northern eagles and what we need to remind ourselves is what got us out of that mess?

It was our culture, shrewd recruiting and bringing through young players who learned the hard way about what it took to b successful.

The easiest thing to do is for the owners to embrace the culture of our place, admit their mistakes and be transparent with the fans and get back to the ethics of the club, hard work, amazing resilience and make decisions for the good of the club and not individuals.

We are down right now and we will be down again, sometimes rock bottom has to be hit before things change. I think the reality is we will have just as big a battle in 2019 due to our restrictions re the salary cap penalties etc.

One thing that needs to improve is the teams fitness, cause we got mowed down badly yesterday and we have periods in games where we lose too many points!!

 

[Deleted member 26876]

How different would 2018 have been had we not had Pearce scared away from us?

 

[Ryan]

Personally, I'm excited !

FORWARDS
X Landy will have his most gifted offensive season, and grab 67 points (29 goals - miss 30 with a bad no call at game 82)
X Mackinnon and Rantanen will shoot the lights out. Mack hitting the tonne, and Rants not far behind
X Kerfoot will surprise everyone, and progress under Bednar, and get 50+ points
X Jost will establish himself as a gritty, scoring Center (and appropriate #2C), and have 2001/2002 Chris Drury season
X The surprise packet will be whoever is on the 2nd line with Kerfoot and Jost. Thinking Andrighetto who has a career year (15 goals)
X Colin Wilson, being a contract year, will come out of the blocks on fire, and will change minds about extending him (in a good way)
X Calvert's grittiness and intensity will shock Avs fans, and he'll become a fan favorite very quickly
X Kamenev will cement himself in our team, and may very well push his way up the lines
X Compher will become one of our best PK'ers, and lines with Calvert and now what is an amazing defense / goals, our PK will end up 3rd overall
X A smokey like Greer may make the roster, and will be amazing

DEFENSE
X What was recently our weakness, will quickly be realized as one of our strengths in a leagues top 10 group
X As others have said, EJ to play 80+ games (the 2 he misses will be an illness, not injury) - he'll be elite
X Cole will (like Calvert) an absolute Godsend, and will become a fan favorite. He'll bring experience / poise
X Zadorov will go to the next level, and establish himself as a true top pair D-man
X Our 2nd pair will be pushing the top pair for big minutes
X With Girard going to shock with his offense (40 points), along with Barrie (50 points), Nemeth's DEFENSE will be more appreciated

GOALS
X I expect Varlamov / Grubauer to have an outstanding year. Possibly best tandem in the league, behind a very strong defense.
X I expect Varlamov to be extended around Christmas

OTHER
X I expect us to finish top 3-6 in the league. 8th in points scored. 3rd in stopping points against. PK, 3rd overall.
X I expect a D-man to be traded for an elite winger
X I expect us to have picks 2, & picks 28 in next seasons draft first round (furthering our strength)
X Makar / Timmins will be chomping at the bit to get into the team, but our defense will be strong, so they may be slowed
X I expect us to get to at LEAST the 2nd round, hopefully the third round of the playoffs

Sorry for the length of the post guys.

Whoops, sorry, wrong sport.

 

[KNUCKLES]

Our 2019 squad doesn't look to convincing thus far and cant see it getting much stronger.. we need a couple big names in certain positions and with our salary cap dramas. We be screwed I think

FULLBACKS
Tom Trbojevic
Jade Anderson
WINGERS
Jorge Taufua
Brad Parker
Tevita Funa
Matt Wright
CENTRES
Dylan Walker
Moses Suli
Brian Kelly
Tom Wright
HALVES
Daly Cherry Evans
Luke Metcalf
Cade Cust
???? ( spot open )
HOOKERS
Api Koroisau
Manase Fainu
PROPS
Marty Taupau
Addin Fonua Blake
Lloyd Perrett
Tof Sipley
Taniela Paseka
Sean Keppie
Kelepi Tanginoa
Tom Amone
BACKROWERS
Curtis Sironen
Joel Thompson
Jack Gosiewski ?? ( off contract )
???? ( spot open )
LOCKS
Jake Trbojevic
Haumole Okalatau ( incorrect spelling )

 

[manlyfan76]

I fear the end isn’t too far away.

Brookvale will never be rebuilt to a football stadium.

I think Silent P bought the Eagles as a plaything for Mr Fluffy, trouble is Mr Fluffy is getting divorced ( so I hear) and spends his time largely in the USA, so he probably doesn’t give a **** ( conjecture of course).

Another season like this and you’ll get 1500 turning up and Uncle Toddy will say, thanks for everything but we are removing the license from you at the end of the ???? season for your failure to even try and run a club!!

Bingo, fixes the problem of a Perth franchise , initially owned by the NRL but then onsold to investors after they build the new brand up. Hello the Perth Pirates, the 16th team in the Comp, and a new time zone for another live game at 9.30pm EST.

Not a single opposition fan will shed a year, in fact they will be celebrating.

Slothfield will be beside himself.

Reading the Play will be jizzing himself.

The other hack journos will have a field day with the click bait stories.

Thanks for the memories Sea Eagles fans it’s was great whilst it lasted wasn’t it??

And as soon as its done and dusted Greenberg will have a press conference to say that they are changing the rules to ensure no more clubs fail.

 

[Woodsie]

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger .......

We have a top 8 capable roster ... and unlike some, I anticipate a few judicious signings .... we have some money ... and with them I expect a return to finals football.

Personally happy that Barrett is looking like getting another year .... I think he has been the only member of the Admin or coaching staff that has been solid all year ...... I think if he had lost his lollies we would be in a much worse position with mass player walk outs and unrest ... he will be better for the run ..

However I would have no problem if one of you tech savvy discontents could hack Cartwright and the mangey one's car GPS system and send them to Cumberland Oval ........

 

[Ryan]

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger .......

We have a top 8 capable roster ... and unlike some, I anticipate a few judicious signings .... we have some money ... and with them I expect a return to finals football.

Personally happy that Barrett is looking like getting another year .... I think he has been the only member of the Admin or coaching staff that has been solid all year ...... I think if he had lost his lollies we would be in a much worse position with mass player walk outs and unrest ... he will be better for the run ..

However I would have no problem if one of you tech savvy discontents could hack Cartwright and the mangey one's car GPS system and send them to Cumberland Oval ........

Winner post, on absolutely every front good sir.

X Tupou on the wing
X Jacks, Elgey or Norman 5/8
X Cartwright Backrow

I'd be expecting top 4 injuries permitting.

Might just be cheaper for the club to bring in a tailor and barber for Cartwright and Ferris then getting rid of them though mate 😛

 

[Loobs]

Winner post, on absolutely every front good sir.

X Tupou on the wing
X Jacks, Elgey or Norman 5/8
X Cartwright Backrow

I'd be expecting top 4 injuries permitting.

Might just be cheaper for the club to bring in a tailor and barber for Cartwright and Ferris then getting rid of them though mate 😛

John's probably a bit long in the tooth for back row.

Anyway - we don't need much. A winger, Tupou will do. A 5/8? Remember when DCE was leaving and everyone was hoping Elgey would sign on because he toured the demountables??? Team is close if healthy for a season.

I propose our 2019 stadium redevelopment submission be:

• At Rat Park
• Include no units, no commercial, no mixed purpose anything
• Turn the AFL pitch out the back into anything other than an AFL field.
• Incorporate CLT as it should only take a few thousand sheets and a bunch of screws and voila! State of the art! And sustainable!
• Have a bronze statue of someone on crutches with a torn ACL out the front as a tribute to Brookie

 

[Bearfax]

Important to remember that we have a very young squad and many of these players are potentially destined for stardom. But just as back in the mid 2000s, the younger players then who were destined for stardom were struggling at that time. Two years later we won the premiership. We have a good roster. Just need the experience and some luck with injuries and we'll be back up in the 8, and some creative coaching.

 

[The Who]

• Have a bronze statue of someone on crutches with a torn ACL out the front as a tribute to Brookie

Or a punter tearing up his losing Lottoland ticket . . .

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

I think Thommo is developing into that inspirational forward leader we need, he’s no BK but he’s fair!!

I think we only need.

A good winger to replace AKU.

A 5/8 for Cherry, Elgey isn’t a superstar but would do.

Either Sirronen to have a full season fully fit OR another running backrower.

Easier said than done I guess but that would help.

 

[Stevo]

I think Thommo is developing into that inspirational forward leader we need, he’s no BK but he’s fair!!

I think we only need.

A good winger to replace AKU.

A 5/8 for Cherry, Elgey isn’t a superstar but would do.

Either Sirronen to have a full season fully fit OR another running backrower.

Easier said than done I guess but that would help.

Agree totally Mark. The first 17 is ok and should be a top 8 team if fit. Add a decent winger and 5/8 and we'll be right.

Its the depth that is killing us. Every replacement player we've used this year is a reserve grader and nothing more.

I'm talking about Parker, Suli, Winterstein, Sipley, Gosiewski, Wright and Wright.

Now some of those players mentioned might surprise us and come good but at the moment they are all reserve grade quality and the problem for us is that they have made up a large portion of our 1st team this year.

 

[Ryan]

Tell ya exactly what will happen in 2019..
About dec/jan 3/4 of the posters of this site will forget about our sh+t coach , shi+ owners and sh!t team, and all start labeling us top 8 specials.. We will sign Jenny from the block and most posters will wet themselves..

Then the season will kick off. Our sh-t team run by a sh!t coach told what to do by sh!t owners will turn up and play......well, quite poorly..

And then we can spend all season carrying on like this season and wait to do it all again in 2020.. Cos the penns arnt wrong, we're a great team with a brilliant coach and the more idiots we sign with off field dramas the better, and the fans can all go get.....well... You know..

Rant over

Thanks, misery guts😀

I strongly disagree.

A few astute purchases and injury free, you'll be very surprised mate

 

[COMMANDER]

In the end of it we have the same amount of money to spend on players as every other team. (With the exception of less 300k next season).

When Manly came back into the comp after the Northern Eagles debacle we were not even spending the cap because we did not have the money.

In time we did, and within a 3 year period we were in a GF and then won in 2008. Against a team that was a million dollars over the cap.

How that cap money is managed is the key. It's not like we have any more or less money to run the club than we did during the glory years, there is no reason why we can't within a short period of time return to greatness if it is handled correctly.

 

[Bearfax]

In the end of it we have the same amount of money to spend on players as every other team. (With the exception of less 300k next season).

When Manly came back into the comp after the Northern Eagles debacle we were not even spending the cap because we did not have the money.

In time we did, and within a 3 year period we were in a GF and then won in 2008. Against a team that was a million dollars over the cap.

How that cap money is managed is the key. It's not like we have any more or less money to run the club than we did during the glory years, there is no reason why we can't within a short period of time return to greatness if it is handled correctly.

yes but how TPs are handled is just as important

 

[Kevinward777]

We definitely have the players to do well right now (back up players excluded) if we can sign a decent winger and a couple of quality depth players we’ll be good to go.

 

[40 years an eagle]

In the end of it we have the same amount of money to spend on players as every other team. (With the exception of less 300k next season).

Not even close.
We are 1-2M behind the huge TPA teams like Roosters, Storm, Broncos, Cows and very possibly the Warriors and that 1-2M is almost all in their top 17's. Don't believe the bullsh!t TPA figures put out by the NRL.

 

[Wombat64]

I hope I am wrong and I love the Sea Eagles but I can't believe the positivity on here for next year? I just don't see it, for mine we're bottom 8 for sure and probably bottom 4 again. What's going to change? We have

• Basically the same team that's led us to one of the worst seasons in our history.
• More than likely the same dud coaching staff
• Hopeless management and owners who wont invest in the club
• A salary cap penalty
• A master organisation being the NRL that doesn't want us and will do what they can to wreck us.

Like we do every year (recently) we'll pick up a couple more journey men from other clubs and whilst we get excited about being able to pick up the odd journey man or two the stronger clubs pick up the stars. In our current state which star would join us? Even if they would we don't have the money anyway. The weak get weaker and the strong get stronger.

The thought that we will be a competitive force again next year is laughable if it wasn't so sad.