Over-reliance on power forwards

[1978]

For most of 2018 we had Marty/AFB/Lane/Jake in starting six - ie four props.

Then, Paseka/Winterstein/ Tanginoa on bench - more middles.

I like power forwards, but suspect we had too many in the top 17 and squad.

In contrast, Roosters had smaller forwards : Radley, Corder, Lui, Aubusson, Butcher, Tetevano etc.

The blueprint looks like large, fast backs (ie Roosters) that can play like forwards when needed and very mobile packs (sadly, Roosters again).

We had the opposite: a giant pack and small backs.

The great Manly teams had mobile packs: Gifty, Watmough/Menzies... Kosef/Gartner/Menzies etc.

Seems like Des is aware of need for different body shapes and addressing it.

Personally, would like to see a few small forwards in the 17 (Waddell, Jetski), Jake play prop. AFB off bench and bigger backline if Des goes with:

DCE
Trent
Jorge
Walker
Suli
Garrick
Tom.

 

[1978]

For most of 2018 we had Marty/AFB/Lane/Jake in starting six - ie four props.

Then, Paseka/Winterstein/ Tanginoa on bench - more middles.

I like power forwards, but suspect we had too many in the top 17 and squad.

In contrast, Roosters had smaller forwards : Radley, Corder, Lui, Aubusson, Butcher, Tetevano etc.

The blueprint looks like large, fast backs (ie Roosters) that can play like forwards when needed and very mobile packs (sadly, Roosters again).

We had the opposite: a giant pack and small backs.

The great Manly teams had mobile packs: Gifty, Watmough/Menzies... Kosef/Gartner/Menzies etc.

Seems like Des is aware of need for different body shapes and addressing it.

Personally, would like to see a few small forwards in the 17 (Waddell, Jetski), Jake play prop. AFB off bench and bigger backline if Des goes with:

DCE
Trent
Jorge
Walker
Suli
Garrick
Tom.

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

You can't have too many power forwards when you have the ball. Problem is, during a game the other team also gets the ball...

 

[Kiwi Eagle]

Cordner a small forward ?

 

[north coast eagle]

Agree. I would not be to upset at loosing Perrett and one other of our props for more mobile forwards.

 

[Ranga]

The Roosters won the Comp on the back of incredible defence, so you are probably right. The power forwards are great with ball in hand going forward, but lateral movement and the fitness and mental strength for the up and back in defence are just as important.

 

[mave]

Cordner a small forward ?

He is, well except for the chin.

 

[HoldenV8]

I don't think the main issue was having too many power type forwards in the 17 or even the full squad. I think the issue was having too many in the starting 13.

As good a tandem as Marty and AFB are, with the exception of Lane, unfortunately they were/are streets ahead of the players who came on to replace them after 20 or so minutes. I still think the best thing Barrett did in his 3 years was move Shane Lane to the front row at the start of this year, and I think he was doing very well coming off the bench in that role at the start of the season. Then unfortunately, Siro did his knee and Lane became (for the most part) a back rower again. While Penny showed he was capable of playing for 80 minutes, when the replacements came on he was generally moved to the front row with either Tanginoa or Sipley or even Paseka playing in the back row. That meant we only had one fresh prop, with the other already already played those 20-odd minutes in the back row.

I think Lane was chosen as the more regular starting replacement for Siro because the other options were Tanginoa and Sipley who had limited experience, or Winterstein, plus he had shown good form. But what it did was mean that we played with less than good quality on the bench in the prop rotation, especially with Perrett having his health issues and being seemingly out of favour with Barrett (hence I think why he was told he was free to look elsewhere).

Of course, we have now lost Lane to the Worms largely as a fallout from Gladstone. Another great legacy from Barrett because I think Shane Lane was finally starting to realise the potential that most have seen in him.

I'm not Des so I won't profess to know how he is going to select his side. But if I were in charge (and knew how they were performing first hand), my initial starting pack and bench would probably look like this:

PR - Martin Taupau
HK - Api Koroisau
PR - Taniela Paseka
SR - Joel Thompson
SR - Curtis Sironen
LK - Jake Trbojevic

Bench - Trent Hodkinson (or Manese Fainu), Addin Fonua-Blake, Kelepi Tanginoa, Lloyd Perrett.

I'd break up Kapow and AFB so that there is at least one of them on the field at all times if possible. I'd also start Paseka over Tanginoa or Perrett because I think he has greater potential than either of them, and starting alongside Marty and Jake in the middle could do his confidence the world of good. I've also gone for Perrett on the bench because I think Donny and co. will be able to get more out of him fitness wise than that fraud Ferris ever did even with how his body works.

As for why Hodko.....just experience, and his goal kicking.