maxta
First Grader
Parker and Harper have copped plenty of flak, but for much of the season, proved plenty of critics wrong....
Though let's be honest - the finals certainly opened the doors to question their credentials, particularly Harper defensively (and I have been a fan) - still need to keep it real here....including the fact it was his first "Full" season and more importantly, I feel a Massive factor overlooked was our middle was comprimised so badly in defence, "ANY" centre would have been under the pump - this does not completely forgive some sloppy misses and reads, but feel with better support inside he would not have been exploited nearly as badly.
Parker is Parker....slow and predictable, but plays his heart out....question is - Is that enough ??
He is a rock defensively, unless burn't outside which I rarely seen in his defence in 2021...and attacking wise he runs Super unders lines and can pose a threat from close range, but is not the type of player you give early ball to beat his man from anywhere on the field, as realistically - it won't happen.
Many feel Manly can't win a GF with these boys at centre and based on plenty of things, its a fair appraisal, though I personally feel we can and happy to go on record with this opinion....provided our forwards do a job when it counts.
I feel the "Turbo Effect" or lack of in finals and our lack of centre strike in these big games, came down more so to losing the middle when it counted, then them suddenly playing poorly and being shut down.
ANY coach will ask his team even more so come finals to win the War in the forwards and if effective in this area, will win tempo and control, which has a Massive "butterfly effect" which really limited the centres more so.
Opposition know they can only limit Tom Turbo and by dominating the middle, they are at 3rd base without any other tactics coming into play.....Manly rightfully rely on this gun fullback with good reason, but need to he able to get more out of other key players to loosen him up, as it all gets overly predictable...
Anyways - what's the verdict, as there are plenty of reasons why Manly CAN or CAN'T win a GF with the Parker/Harper centre combination ??
Though let's be honest - the finals certainly opened the doors to question their credentials, particularly Harper defensively (and I have been a fan) - still need to keep it real here....including the fact it was his first "Full" season and more importantly, I feel a Massive factor overlooked was our middle was comprimised so badly in defence, "ANY" centre would have been under the pump - this does not completely forgive some sloppy misses and reads, but feel with better support inside he would not have been exploited nearly as badly.
Parker is Parker....slow and predictable, but plays his heart out....question is - Is that enough ??
He is a rock defensively, unless burn't outside which I rarely seen in his defence in 2021...and attacking wise he runs Super unders lines and can pose a threat from close range, but is not the type of player you give early ball to beat his man from anywhere on the field, as realistically - it won't happen.
Many feel Manly can't win a GF with these boys at centre and based on plenty of things, its a fair appraisal, though I personally feel we can and happy to go on record with this opinion....provided our forwards do a job when it counts.
I feel the "Turbo Effect" or lack of in finals and our lack of centre strike in these big games, came down more so to losing the middle when it counted, then them suddenly playing poorly and being shut down.
ANY coach will ask his team even more so come finals to win the War in the forwards and if effective in this area, will win tempo and control, which has a Massive "butterfly effect" which really limited the centres more so.
Opposition know they can only limit Tom Turbo and by dominating the middle, they are at 3rd base without any other tactics coming into play.....Manly rightfully rely on this gun fullback with good reason, but need to he able to get more out of other key players to loosen him up, as it all gets overly predictable...
Anyways - what's the verdict, as there are plenty of reasons why Manly CAN or CAN'T win a GF with the Parker/Harper centre combination ??
