Post-Game Discussion Panthers V Manly [Round 8, 2025]

[Clivus00]

We need to turn Jake back into an impact forward. His long minutes at lock just don't work as well as what we could get out of him sharing the lock role with Tevaga or Navale.

Jake has no impact that’s the problem. He and Burbo don’t know what a tackle bust or an offload is. Jazz is so much better at first receiver. The ball moves so much quicker.

 

[Clivus00]

It's rediculous how much Turbo out there changes the mindset of the team. I think having that mobility in the pack also strengthened our defense.

Brig back Aloia for Burbo and I’ll be a happy camper.
Suprised Talau played wing and not Garrick since Garrick has the speed and Talau has the strength.

 

[Clivus00]

I don’t bash Siebs here as much as some, but if Simpkin loses his spot to Croker when back, I’ll def be doing the initiation to the Cartel! Tonight was a window into our future. Moving through this year and into next we need to start clearing the dead wood.

Simpkin is made more breaks this game than all of Croker last season.

 

[eaglebuzz]

Jake has no impact that’s the problem. He and Burbo don’t know what a tackle bust or an offload is. Jazz is so much better at first receiver. The ball moves so much quicker.

I think if Jake changed how he trained (more for power and less for endurance) we could see him be a bit more like how he was back in his earlier career. And yes I would rather see him in the prop rotation.

 

[Clivus00]

As an observation the forward pack looked alot more mobile, similar to Canterbury's the talk of plodders in the middle is becoming true

Penriths pack was pretty ****e though. Wonder how defensively a smaller, mobile pack would go against beast packs like Storms.

 

[Clivus00]

I think if Jake changed how he trained (more for power and less for endurance) we could see him be a bit more like how he was back in his earlier career. And yes I would rather see him in the prop rotation.

I think players can train to have an offload. Also when you slow down, you have to play smarter. Learn to play the ball quicker. Stop using the player you just tackled to lift yourself up.
The speed of the game nowadays make his type of player a liability.

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

Penriths pack was pretty ****e though. Wonder how defensively a smaller, mobile pack would go against beast packs like Storms.

Sharks boast a number of larger forwards, and balanced by workers plus Nikora who is as fast as any back.
So we might need to add another big bopper for this game.
But adding Jake and Aloiai would be adding two big boppers...
so quite an interesting selection coming up next week.

 

[TJ55]

Penriths pack was pretty ****e though. Wonder how defensively a smaller, mobile pack would go against beast packs like Storms.

I think most of the decent teams can knock over anyone on the day this year mate haven't seen the comp this tight in a while

 

[The Who]

I think most of the decent teams can knock over anyone on the day this year mate haven't seen the comp this tight in a while

Much of this has to do with the influence a ref and the Clunker have. They can, and do, influence results. They give continual six-agains to teams attacking a tryline until the defence cracks.
If you watched the Manly V 'Riff match on Saturday you may have noticed how well Manly played in the first half. This was partly due to the ref giving us the run-of-play, with penalties and six-agains, resulting in Manly having possession for 60% of the time.
What happened at half time: I can only surmise that the ref was made aware of the lopsided penalty count because penalties were all in Penrith's favour and the match ended up with 50:50 possession.

 

[Rackets]

Sorenson loses fight at judiciary for downgrade. Will now serve 3 weeks 😂

 

[Clivus00]

Sharks boast a number of larger forwards, and balanced by workers plus Nikora who is as fast as any back.
So we might need to add another big bopper for this game.
But adding Jake and Aloiai would be adding two big boppers...
so quite an interesting selection coming up next week.

I wouldn’t call Jake a big bopper. He doesn’t bend the line at all. His legs ain’t thick or move quick enough making him an easy tackle. Aloiai seems back in form this year. Just needs to have his head screwed on properly.

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

I wouldn’t call Jake a big bopper. He doesn’t bend the line at all. His legs ain’t thick or move quick enough making him an easy tackle. Aloiai seems back in form this year. Just needs to have his head screwed on properly.

True, I probably should have said slower players. I was just thinking about changing the more sprightly and mobile group that beat Panthers by bringing in less dynamic players. (Jake is still capable of being dynamic if played in shorter bursts such as last year in origin. Preferably at prop, if Jazz's form is any guide.)

 

[Smokin Joe]

Only just got to see the game..
Simpkin was excellent,Panthers tried to target us at start and his unexpected darts in the first couple of minutes was very smart to get them on the back foot,service was fast, crisp,love that game from him.
TKO and Bully were strong, Tevaga was excellent at 13,link play was fast and flawless,tackled hard and was great
Loved Burbo,ran hard,stepped inside to keep defenders guessing,playing with more agro.
Got to love DCE under playing his hand for once,just gave it early to Ola to either run hard or ballplay if needed(instead of giving it to him with no time to think).
Forward pack outplayed the Panthers for the first time in quite a while,very uptempo game from us.

 

[wombatgc]

The Takeaho sin bin was the nail in the coffin there needs to be a major overhual its becoming beyond ridiculous

What do you know. Two games into Magic round a cpl head high penalties, but no bunker interference, and No Sin Bins. Just like Magic 🪄

 

[Waz13]

Much of this has to do with the influence a ref and the Clunker have. They can, and do, influence results. They give continual six-agains to teams attacking a tryline until the defence cracks.
If you watched the Manly V 'Riff match on Saturday you may have noticed how well Manly played in the first half. This was partly due to the ref giving us the run-of-play, with penalties and six-agains, resulting in Manly having possession for 60% of the time.
What happened at half time: I can only surmise that the ref was made aware of the lopsided penalty count because penalties were all in Penrith's favour and the match ended up with 50:50 possession.

Also helped our completion rate was near perfect. We were very good in that first half and I truly thought that had dce not made sone poor mid set decisions kicking we would have scored another couple of try’s and really blown it open. But agree re the ref being made aware at the half. That happens all the time. The good old even up.

 

[manly al]

Presume that Saab will be available for the Sharks match and included , hard to leave out T T 2 but would expect a bench spot .
Would have to say Simpkin :s best game to date and warranting another start , .
On that basis , couldn "t really anticipate Froggy or Gordy in the game day 17 anytime soon and with Jazz being able to revert to a 9 role when required .
Just then the question whether Jake or Tavega start as the 13 and whether Bully or Aloiai start with T K O as props .
Could well be a bench of Talau , Bully , Tavega and Brown ,but after the Panthers game , could also be any number of eventual outcomes there and Navale probably not too far out of consideration

 

[Dee Why Eagle]

Presume that Saab will be available for the Sharks match and included , hard to leave out T T 2 but would expect a bench spot .
Would have to say Simpkin :s best game to date and warranting another start , .
On that basis , couldn "t really anticipate Froggy or Gordy in the game day 17 anytime soon and with Jazz being able to revert to a 9 role when required .
Just then the question whether Jake or Tavega start as the 13 and whether Bully or Aloiai start with T K O as props .
Could well be a bench of Talau , Bully , Tavega and Brown ,but after the Panthers game , could also be any number of eventual outcomes there and Navale probably not too far out of consideration

will be an interesting team list tuesday!

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

Would have to say Simpkin :s best game to date and warranting another start , .
On that basis , couldn "t really anticipate Froggy or Gordy in the game day 17 anytime soon and with Jazz being able to revert to a 9 role when required .
Just then the question whether Jake or Tavega start as the 13 and whether Bully or Aloiai start with T K O as props .

You make some interesting points.

To me it's all heading in one direction, but may take a little while to get there.

But I don't agree with Jazz being able to revert to a 9 role when required, if he became starting lock.

what's needed...

Simpkin to back up his breakthrough performance and show he can perform consistently

Jazz to do the same as lock (no reason he can't)

and Navale to adapt to NRL speed and (by July or so) be capable of decent minutes.

If that all happens ... Jazz start at lock, Simpkin hooker, Jake to prop, Crokes, when (if ever) ready, to bench utility (I reckon Croker has many of the qualities of Cam McInnes)

By September a bench featuring Bull Crokes and Navale would give us a decent shot!

 

[manly al]

You make some interesting points.

To me it's all heading in one direction, but may take a little while to get there.

But I don't agree with Jazz being able to revert to a 9 role when required, if he became starting lock.

what's needed...

Simpkin to back up his breakthrough performance and show he can perform consistently

Jazz to do the same as lock (no reason he can't)

and Navale to adapt to NRL speed and (by July or so) be capable of decent minutes.

If that all happens ... Jazz start at lock, Simpkin hooker, Jake to prop, Crokes, when (if ever) ready, to bench utility (I reckon Croker has many of the qualities of Cam McInnes)

By September a bench featuring Bull Crokes and Navale would give us a decent shot!

Real puzzle without doubt for some forward positions and starting positions and just imagine if Paseka was also available at the present time
. Jake or Jazz at starting 13 could be the real dilemma and as much one can only have great respect for Froggy "s commendable resilience in recent years , hard to include him when Simpkin and would again include Jazz going well as 9 's and Navale 's more confident play recently

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

would again include Jazz going well as 9 's

Not realistic imo for Jazz to play 80m in the middle, swapping between lock and hooker. I'd leave him as lock/middle rotation