No end in sight

[HK_Eagle]

I think the biggest loss of any player in the last 6-10 years is AFB. He's a complete dropkick but arguably the best prop in the NRL. It cannot be underestimated how effective his ruck speed is. A lot is said about Tapine, Haas, Tino, etc. but none of them have AFB's play-the-ball. It's the late footwork that gets him between defenders and he never, ever, ever, gets dominated with the ball. The other three (particularly Tino) are occasionally picked up and dumped. I've never seen AFB get smashed.

Well, outside of any alleged dodgy off-field relationships that sent him packing offshore to NZ. 🤷‍♂️

 

[Ned]

You'd be correct got one shot against penrith in penrith. Was thrown to the wolves and then discarded. Poor form really from siebold. A running 5 eighth is exactly what we will need next year now. Weekes would of fit that bill. Brooks is pretty lacklustre in that department these days

Why isn't he 5/8 for canberra then?

 

[Brookie1973]

Why isn't he 5/8 for canberra then?

They probably had a bigger need at fullback, and have Fogarty and Strange as halves.

 

[Ned]

They probably had a bigger need at fullback, and have Fogarty and Strange as halves.

Ok, but for that to be the case Strange is better than Brooks, haven't seen the stats but I'd say it's about even, in that case Canberra would be foolish to not select Weekes at 5/8, or maybe Weekes is a fullback?

 

[LeonardCohen]

To me, Weekes is a fullback every day of the week. The less decision making, the better. Just let him roam out the back and chime in with his speed. Anything more than that and we’ll have problems. He is not a steady head that can control an edge with tactical nous.

 

[HK_Eagle]

To me, Weekes is a fullback every day of the week. The less decision making, the better. Just let him roam out the back and chime in with his speed. Anything more than that and we’ll have problems. He is not a steady head that can control an edge with tactical nous.

Sounds like D$E (minus the speed)

 

[Brookie1973]

Ok, but for that to be the case Strange is better than Brooks, haven't seen the stats but I'd say it's about even, in that case Canberra would be foolish to not select Weekes at 5/8, or maybe Weekes is a fullback?

This is not really my fight, but I think Knuckles believes Weekes has the makings of a good running 5/8 and that his running game is better than brooks. None of that has anything to do with Canberra, who have their own needs and team dynamics to worry about. I’d suggest that they are playing Weekes at fullback because that is where their greatest need is, given they already have a more than capable 5/8. Or maybe Ricky Stuart has NFI.

 

[TJ55]

My biggest concern is the lack of continuity in our positioning as a club. We haven't made the top 8 in back to back seasons since 2013-2014. We made the 8 last year. We are no chance this year.

The last time we finished minor permiers was 1997!

It's quite evident which years Turbo played more than he missed.

2013: 4th
2014: 2nd
2015: 9th
2016: 13th
2017: 6th
2018: 15th
2019: 6th
2020: 13th
2021: 4th
2022: 11th
2023: 12th
2024: 7th

Wow that's a crazy stat

 

[Disco]

Yep, there is a very handy team of Manly discards running around each weekend. AFB, Api, Hynes, Metcalf, Ramien, Tuipolotu, Cutho, Wright, Weekes, Lane, Suli, Marty, Lawton, Walker, etc.

Same with every club though

*Oooops see Leonard Cohen already on this

Side note, I know we have lost a few but Weekes wouldn't improve us

 

[KNUCKLES]

Why isn't he 5/8 for canberra then?

A bloke called strange

 

[HK_Eagle]

A bloke called strange

But, if Weekes is such a great 5/8, why is this relative rookie keeping him out of that position?.. and not like Weekes wasn’t given enough opportunity while at Manly (including. 5/8). Strange stepped up, Weekes didn’t.

 

[Brookie1973]

Not sure why we are worried about who’s playing where for Canberra. Don’t we have our own problems to worry about?

 

[KNUCKLES]

But, if Weekes is such a great 5/8, why is this relative rookie keeping him out of that position?.. and not like Weekes wasn’t given enough opportunity in that position while at Manly (including. 5/8). Strange stepped up, Weekes didn’t.

Again it comes down to team dynamics. Every team has different needs. Strange mind you, is probably the better player also. But we had weekes, and my point being is we didn't need to bring in brooks when we could of played weekes for similar outputs. And saved money in the process. Fullbacks and 5/8ths aren't really too different of positions in attack in the modern game. Most fullbacks in the comp could slide into that position if needed. Weekes only had one game for manly in the 6 by the way. And I don't believe i ever said weekes was great. But thing is.. neither is brooks.

 

[HK_Eagle]

Again it comes down to team dynamics. Every team has different needs. Strange mind you, is probably the better player also. But we had weekes, and my point being is we didn't need to bring in brooks when we could have played weekes for similar outputs. And saved money in the process. Fullbacks and 5/8ths aren't really too different of positions in attack in the modern game. Most fullbacks in the comp could slide into that position if needed. Weekes only had one game for manly in the 6 by the way. And I don't believe i ever said weekes was great. But thing is.. neither is brooks.

I agree, team dynamics are also very important… but it’s not like we neglected Weekes and gave him nothing. I can’t recall a young potential given more game time and opportunity than Weekes, TBH. He failed to grab it, which suggests to me he may not have the mental grit. I could be wrong and he may well blossom moving forward, but based on his performances when he had the chances… I have no problem with Manly letting him go.

 

[HK_Eagle]

Can anybody please explain to me why AFB had to be released to move all the way to NZ, and yet returned to Sydney now with the Sharks?.. I mean, does anybody have the scoop on what really happened?

 

[KNUCKLES]

I agree, team dynamics are also very important… but it’s not like we neglected Weekes and gave him nothing. I can’t recall a young potential given more game time and opportunity than Weekes, TBH. He failed to grab it, which suggests to me he may not have the mental grit. I could be wrong and he may well blossom moving forward, but based on his performances when he had the chances… I have no problem with Manly letting him go.

I dont think he was given time to settle into a set position. From memory he moved around week to week, and coming off the bench for short stints. Showed some glimpses of brilliance in a short stint. Nothing spectacular, but promise. He was given his first start i believe against penrith in penrith and we were blown off the park. He was pretty much discarded after that from memory. Pretty tough to gauge from one game in my opinion. I am not overly fussed that he has gone, im more talking around the point of the thinking behind recruitment etc. As I dont think brooks adds much more. He has been quite underwhelming in my opinion.

 

[HK_Eagle]

I dont think he was given time to settle into a set position. From memory he moved around week to week, and coming off the bench for short stints. Showed some glimpses of brilliance in a short stint. Nothing spectacular, but promise. He was given his first start i believe against penrith in penrith and we were blown off the park. He was pretty much discarded after that from memory. Pretty tough to gauge from one game in my opinion. I am not overly fussed that he has gone, im more talking around the point of the thinking behind recruitment etc. As I dont think brooks adds much more. He has been quite underwhelming in my opinion.

C’mon… if you really wanna play pro footy that badly, you take the chance that is given (let alone the dozen different opportunities). How many kids have we seen do exactly that with their one or two limited chances? I’m constantly impressed by various newbies putting in and standing up in a game when given the chance. Weekes farrrkkked it big time, IMO. Doesn’t mean he won’t come good long term, but I have no problem with Manly letting him go when they did.

 

[Ron E. Gibbs]

I think the biggest loss of any player in the last 6-10 years is AFB. He's a complete dropkick but arguably the best prop in the NRL. It cannot be underestimated how effective his ruck speed is. A lot is said about Tapine, Haas, Tino, etc. but none of them have AFB's play-the-ball. It's the late footwork that gets him between defenders and he never, ever, ever, gets dominated with the ball. The other three (particularly Tino) are occasionally picked up and dumped. I've never seen AFB get smashed.

Couldn't I agree more. I said at the time that he was the one we could build a dominant forward pack around, and if he had stuck around, with players like Haumole coming through and a bit more luck, we could have been a very different team. To me, he was the key. Not DCE, not even Turbo. But he didn't want to stick around and I could never really blame the club for his departure. Just another one of those sliding door moments that didn't pan out in our favour.

 

[HK_Eagle]

Couldn't I agree more. I said at the time that he was the one we could build a dominant forward pack around, and if he had stuck around, with players like Haumole coming through and a bit more luck, we could have been a very different team. To me, he was the key. Not DCE, not even Turbo. But he didn't want to stick around and I could never really blame the club for his departure. Just another one of those sliding door moments that didn't pan out in our favour.

But pleassseeee, can anybody tell me why that happened?

 

[Disco]

But we had weekes, and my point being is we didn't need to bring in brooks when we could of played weekes for similar outputs.

Similar outputs???

You know Brooks was the No1 5/8 in the league last year for try assists with 23. Was No2 for line break assists with 22.

Weekes had 6 and 7.

And if your arguement is Weekes is the far superior runner. Weekes had 8 line breaks to Brooks 7.

Brooks is a much better player than Weekes.