TagMonster
Reserve Grader
Hi guys, now let me start off by saying I'm not writing off 2016 just yet. Whilst I don't believe we have the team this year to win a GF (happy to be proven wrong), we definitely have the talent to give it a shake and at the very least upset a few teams along the way.
With that said, I've looked ahead at the 2017 season and Manly have the potential to trot out a very scary team that could do a lot of damage. Looking at who we have off contract and who we could bring in I'd suggest a Top 25 of this would be very good
1. B. Stewart
2. T. Trbojevic
3. D. Walker
4. S. Matai
5. M. Koroibete or J. Mansour (will be a stretch for the money)
6. D. Cherry-Evans
7. A. Koroisau
8. J. Tamou (with Killer likely to hang up the boots, we could afford him)
9. M. Parcell
10. N. Myles
11. B. Lawrence
12. M. Tapau
13. J. Trbojevic
14. D. Lussick
15. S. Vave
16. A. Founa-Blake
17. L. Knight
18. J. Buhrer
19. L. Brown
20. F. Mateo
21. D. Cox
22. J. Starling
23. H. Pratt
24. F. Goodall
25. H. Lavaka
Obviously there will be others in the side outside the top 25 that may get a run dependant on form / injury. I'd let go players like Taufua, Burgess, Hodges, Leary, Symonds & Williame as they are either bad (Burgess) or a borderline players that will be moved on for youth (i.e. Knight, Cox, Pratt).
Sadly, I think Lyon will either jump or be pushed at the end of the season. It does leave a huge hole in terms of leadership and goal kicking, but would likely move Walker to centre where he is more comfortable. Using his money and others, I'd like to see the club go after a specialist winger like Koroibete or Mansour if possible. Finally, the addition of another big prop like Tamou, Klemmer or even Moa would improve the go forward.
Looking forward to 2018 would see Snake and Skivvy hang up the cleats (I'd suggest they may flee to the UK for a season with Gift) would see Tom move to Fullback and open up a wing and centre spot for someone like Dean Whare and Daniel Tupou / Jason Nightingale.
Just my opinion (while I'm eating lunch). The big concern I have with Killer retiring in the future is who takes over the goal kicking? Wasn't Cherry meant to be practicing this offseason? Any idea if he is an option? Otherwise, I've noticed that Tom takes the kickoffs. How does he go for conversions? Could be an interesting dilemma.
Either way, I still think this season we are in good shape despite some not so good results. We will come good as the season progresses. I just think we are an impact player or two short this year. Over the next year or two that will likely change.
With that said, I've looked ahead at the 2017 season and Manly have the potential to trot out a very scary team that could do a lot of damage. Looking at who we have off contract and who we could bring in I'd suggest a Top 25 of this would be very good
1. B. Stewart
2. T. Trbojevic
3. D. Walker
4. S. Matai
5. M. Koroibete or J. Mansour (will be a stretch for the money)
6. D. Cherry-Evans
7. A. Koroisau
8. J. Tamou (with Killer likely to hang up the boots, we could afford him)
9. M. Parcell
10. N. Myles
11. B. Lawrence
12. M. Tapau
13. J. Trbojevic
14. D. Lussick
15. S. Vave
16. A. Founa-Blake
17. L. Knight
18. J. Buhrer
19. L. Brown
20. F. Mateo
21. D. Cox
22. J. Starling
23. H. Pratt
24. F. Goodall
25. H. Lavaka
Obviously there will be others in the side outside the top 25 that may get a run dependant on form / injury. I'd let go players like Taufua, Burgess, Hodges, Leary, Symonds & Williame as they are either bad (Burgess) or a borderline players that will be moved on for youth (i.e. Knight, Cox, Pratt).
Sadly, I think Lyon will either jump or be pushed at the end of the season. It does leave a huge hole in terms of leadership and goal kicking, but would likely move Walker to centre where he is more comfortable. Using his money and others, I'd like to see the club go after a specialist winger like Koroibete or Mansour if possible. Finally, the addition of another big prop like Tamou, Klemmer or even Moa would improve the go forward.
Looking forward to 2018 would see Snake and Skivvy hang up the cleats (I'd suggest they may flee to the UK for a season with Gift) would see Tom move to Fullback and open up a wing and centre spot for someone like Dean Whare and Daniel Tupou / Jason Nightingale.
Just my opinion (while I'm eating lunch). The big concern I have with Killer retiring in the future is who takes over the goal kicking? Wasn't Cherry meant to be practicing this offseason? Any idea if he is an option? Otherwise, I've noticed that Tom takes the kickoffs. How does he go for conversions? Could be an interesting dilemma.
Either way, I still think this season we are in good shape despite some not so good results. We will come good as the season progresses. I just think we are an impact player or two short this year. Over the next year or two that will likely change.