HoldenV8
Journey Man
The 15-12 score says to those who didn't see the game that we were close to winning. The reality is that we really weren't.
Some of these are going to sound a bit harsh, but it is what it is.
Brendan Elliot 2/10 - Complete non-event in attack and a bad fumble on our line led to the try that put the game out of reach. All he offered tonight was at least he can catch bombs.
Jorge Taufua 6/10 - Jorge was good tonight and his runs were pure quality. Pity it was wasted. His biggest drawbacks are a slow as a wet week play the ball and that he is just as slow to turn and chase.
Dylan Walker 7/10 - Easily looked the most dangerous Manly player with the ball tonight.....when Cust gave it to him that is.
Reuben Garrick 3/10 - The kid has pace and is a very good goal kicker, but his defence kinda sucks and his hit ups lack any penetration because he usually gets mauled by the opposition.
Abbas Miski 6/10 - Can't recall him doing anything wrong, but he got hardly any decent opportunities.
Cade Cust 4/10 - Oh sure, he was good for 5 minutes, but the other 75 was an absolute $hitfest.
Kane Elgey 1/10 - $hithouse kicking game. $hithouse passing game. $hithouse defence and all but zero organisation skills. Stunk up the joint more than the abbatoirs on a hot summer day. I'd rather see Walker back in the halves before LG again, and I think Walker should never again play in the halves. The past two weeks have been the perfect opportunity for him and he's failed miserably.
Addin Fonua-Blake 9/10 - AFB was immense and laid a great platform. Unfortunately neither of our halves played anywhere near well enough to exploit it.
Api Koroisau 5/10 - Api wasn't too bad, but it was more average to OK than good. With such an inexperienced spine tonight, Api should have done a lot more to take charge of the game. Fainu did, but Api really didn't.
Martin Taupau 6/10 - Ran strong when on, but errors hurt. A better pass could have seen Jorge score basically untouched. Hopefully his injury is just a knock to the knee and not something that will see him join the injured list.
Joel Thompson 7/10 - His first ever first grade game as a captain. He played well, but most of his team mates didn't.
Curtis Sironen 8/10 - Siro's best game of the year by far. Tried to lead from the front tonight, but didn't have many followers.
Corey Waddell 5/10 - Waddell has gone well so far this year, but I don't think Jake has to worry about losing his starting spot. Ran OK tonight for 127 metres, but his defence let him at crucial times.
Manase Fainu 8/10 - Almost out before it started with an accidental head clash with Marty breaking his nose in the warmup, but when he came on he almost transformed the team with his crisp passing, running and all-round energy. How Fisher-Harris wasn't penalised or put on report for deliberately dropping his knee into Manase's already broken nose when he was on the ground is a joke.
Jack Gosiewski 4/10 - Average night at best. Apparently you can be sin binned by being slapped in the back of the head, because that's what happened to Jetski. Got slapped, got 10 in the bin.
Taniela Paseka 5/10 - In his limited time he actually looked OK. Makes me wish he got more game time.
Lloyd Perrett N/A - Wasn't used.
Like I said, this may sound harsh but other than a certain few we were crap at Penrith tonight and a better team would have beaten us by a lot more. No if's, no but's and the scoreline really did flatter Manly. Lets hope that Tom is back and fully fit for next weekend against the Cows and that both Jake and DCE get through Origin unscathed because without them as well as Parker and Croker we looked like lame ducks.
In saying all that, its becoming obvious that the injuries and player outs for things like Origin are starting to take their toll on this side. We've been living a charmed live with the back ups so far this year, but if we are to contend we definitely need our best side on the park, otherwise we're just making up the numbers despite the fact that we have improved over last year.
Some of these are going to sound a bit harsh, but it is what it is.
Brendan Elliot 2/10 - Complete non-event in attack and a bad fumble on our line led to the try that put the game out of reach. All he offered tonight was at least he can catch bombs.
Jorge Taufua 6/10 - Jorge was good tonight and his runs were pure quality. Pity it was wasted. His biggest drawbacks are a slow as a wet week play the ball and that he is just as slow to turn and chase.
Dylan Walker 7/10 - Easily looked the most dangerous Manly player with the ball tonight.....when Cust gave it to him that is.
Reuben Garrick 3/10 - The kid has pace and is a very good goal kicker, but his defence kinda sucks and his hit ups lack any penetration because he usually gets mauled by the opposition.
Abbas Miski 6/10 - Can't recall him doing anything wrong, but he got hardly any decent opportunities.
Cade Cust 4/10 - Oh sure, he was good for 5 minutes, but the other 75 was an absolute $hitfest.
Kane Elgey 1/10 - $hithouse kicking game. $hithouse passing game. $hithouse defence and all but zero organisation skills. Stunk up the joint more than the abbatoirs on a hot summer day. I'd rather see Walker back in the halves before LG again, and I think Walker should never again play in the halves. The past two weeks have been the perfect opportunity for him and he's failed miserably.
Addin Fonua-Blake 9/10 - AFB was immense and laid a great platform. Unfortunately neither of our halves played anywhere near well enough to exploit it.
Api Koroisau 5/10 - Api wasn't too bad, but it was more average to OK than good. With such an inexperienced spine tonight, Api should have done a lot more to take charge of the game. Fainu did, but Api really didn't.
Martin Taupau 6/10 - Ran strong when on, but errors hurt. A better pass could have seen Jorge score basically untouched. Hopefully his injury is just a knock to the knee and not something that will see him join the injured list.
Joel Thompson 7/10 - His first ever first grade game as a captain. He played well, but most of his team mates didn't.
Curtis Sironen 8/10 - Siro's best game of the year by far. Tried to lead from the front tonight, but didn't have many followers.
Corey Waddell 5/10 - Waddell has gone well so far this year, but I don't think Jake has to worry about losing his starting spot. Ran OK tonight for 127 metres, but his defence let him at crucial times.
Manase Fainu 8/10 - Almost out before it started with an accidental head clash with Marty breaking his nose in the warmup, but when he came on he almost transformed the team with his crisp passing, running and all-round energy. How Fisher-Harris wasn't penalised or put on report for deliberately dropping his knee into Manase's already broken nose when he was on the ground is a joke.
Jack Gosiewski 4/10 - Average night at best. Apparently you can be sin binned by being slapped in the back of the head, because that's what happened to Jetski. Got slapped, got 10 in the bin.
Taniela Paseka 5/10 - In his limited time he actually looked OK. Makes me wish he got more game time.
Lloyd Perrett N/A - Wasn't used.
Like I said, this may sound harsh but other than a certain few we were crap at Penrith tonight and a better team would have beaten us by a lot more. No if's, no but's and the scoreline really did flatter Manly. Lets hope that Tom is back and fully fit for next weekend against the Cows and that both Jake and DCE get through Origin unscathed because without them as well as Parker and Croker we looked like lame ducks.
In saying all that, its becoming obvious that the injuries and player outs for things like Origin are starting to take their toll on this side. We've been living a charmed live with the back ups so far this year, but if we are to contend we definitely need our best side on the park, otherwise we're just making up the numbers despite the fact that we have improved over last year.
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