Pre-Game Discussion - Manly V Tigers [Round 17, 2025]

[manly al]

Another concern to ideally address A S A P: is the sides inability over the past couple of games to score points on a more consistent basis
Had been one of the side 's genuine strengths and to often put them in game winning positions but against two of the lesser rated sides recently and based on previous form , apart for a reasonable points margin against a disorganized Knights in that i st half , obviously struggled in the 2 nd half and then followed up with that 2 nd half below par attacking effort against the Titans
Range of factors but are going to have to get that mojo back , apart from the high missed tackle rate to revert back to some reasonable competitive level again

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

Manly's forwards were our main question mark even before the season began.
We needed an extended run at full strength to build some momentum but the early loss of Paseka, and since then Aloia, Haumole, plus missing others such as Croker, Jake, Jazz and Sips has stymied our prospects big-time.

Team selection for this game will be the most challenging yet!

- Crokes has only been back 4 games and gradually building minutes but isn't at his best so don't try to play him for 80. So Simpkins on bench.

- Replacing Haumole is the biggest headache, an 80 minute player. I'd be inclined to try a reserve grade second row, maybe Chee Kam, because we need Waddell to play middle from the bench.

- Jazz has been our most energetic forward from day 1. If fit, he should start lock.

-Sorry Jake, but if you are starting then go to prop and aim to play 50 good minutes (58 last week)

- When Bull starts he's been going OK (zero intimdation factor, but at least does join in the defence) but we miss his punch off the bench.

- Is TKO a bench player? Probably better used as a starter

So I've got
8 Jake
9 Crokes
10 TKO
11 TBA (reserve grade second rower?)
12 Burbo
13 Jazz

14 Simpkin
15 Waddell
16 Brown
17 Navale

Talau and Sipley are the others in the equation but whichever way Seibold goes it will be a gamble.
Talau at right second row??? would be a massive gamble but he's a good player...

edit: Doh ... forgot to include Bull
edit edit - I'd put this in the wrong thread, meant to be here
edit edit edit - well I did say it was complicated, clearly too complicated for me!

 

[Leighbra]

Could Hugo Hart be a possibility? He is quite young and inexperienced, but it might be worth giving him a few minutes.

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

Could Hugo Hart be a possibility? He is quite young and inexperienced, but it might be worth giving him a few minutes.

Haven't seen him but have noticed a few positive comments about him here.
Definitely time to bring in one or two of our best younger types to balance out our older forwards.

 

[Leighbra]

Haven't seen him but have noticed a few positive comments about him here.
Definitely time to bring in one or two of our best younger types to balance out our older forwards.

Caleb Navale is a must, him for Waddle straight swap. Lodge has to come in also just for some aggression. Knowing Seibold he will bring in Chee Kam

 

[Eagles4Life]

What have we got to lose? We need a cleanout this week I think Seibold should permanently excise DCE from the squad, drop Croker to NSW Cup, bench Brooks and Jake, and bring Walsh in as our starting seven, inside Turbo.

Hopoate
Saab
Koula
Garrick
Talau
Turbo
Walsh
Sipley
Simpkin
Taukahio
Bullemore
Burbo
Tevaga

Brooks
Navale
Jurbo
Patolo

Laififi

To be fair @Wombat64 its probably more delusional than optimistic.

 

[Pete W]

Navale, Hart, Dunford, Sykes, even Walsh and Muagututia, should all be fast tracked, even if they struggle for the remainder of the season. Let's all be real and accept 2025 is not our year, so better get these guys invaluable experience.

Send DCE on leave for personal reasons. Croker, Lodge, Sipley, Waddell, Brown, Chee Kam all to NSW Cup - these guys are not part of our future plans.

Hopoate
Saab
Garrick
Koula
Trbojevic
Brooks
Walsh
J.Trbojevic
Simpkin
Taukeiaho
? (Dunford / Sykes)
B.Trbojevic
Tevaga
Talau
Bullemor
Navale
Hart / Muagututia

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

Send DCE on leave for personal reasons.

Plenty have made that suggestion!

But seriously that would be setting the club up to be the main NRL drama for the rest of the year. Which, admittedly, if we can't get a few wins will probably be the case anyway. It really is a very delicate balancing act that has been created by Mestrov (according to @BOZO ) or by Daly himself (according to nearly everyone else).

If he left mid-year for the Chooks it might be best for us in the long run, but all round the options all seem pretty much lose-lose so far as I can tell.

 

[MW66]

Navale, Hart, Dunford, Sykes, even Walsh and Muagututia, should all be fast tracked, even if they struggle for the remainder of the season. Let's all be real and accept 2025 is not our year, so better get these guys invaluable experience.

Send DCE on leave for personal reasons. Croker, Lodge, Sipley, Waddell, Brown, Chee Kam all to NSW Cup - these guys are not part of our future plans.

Hopoate
Saab
Garrick
Koula
Trbojevic
Brooks
Walsh
J.Trbojevic
Simpkin
Taukeiaho
? (Dunford / Sykes)
B.Trbojevic
Tevaga
Talau
Bullemor
Navale
Hart / Muagututia

We got pumped in NSW Cup so not sure that is the answer. Hugo Hart started in SG Ball so maybe next year but he looks promising.

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

We got pumped in NSW Cup so not sure that is the answer.

I don't closely follow lower grades but my understanding is that for years Manly has not been concerned with winning lower grade comps, but merely with using them to develop a small number of NRL prospects.
And in that endeavour we've often done quite well.

 

[Ron E. Gibbs]

Plenty have made that suggestion!

But seriously that would be setting the club up to be the main NRL drama for the rest of the year. Which, admittedly, if we can't get a few wins will probably be the case anyway. It really is a very delicate balancing act that has been created by Mestrov (according to @BOZO ) or by Daly himself (according to nearly everyone else).

If he left mid-year for the Chooks it might be best for us in the long run, but all round the options all seem pretty much lose-lose so far as I can tell.

Agreed, SER8. As much as many of us would love to see it, dropping our captain to reserve grade would only set the club up for a media beatdown. He will be here for the year and we all need to deal with it.

But it's wild how quickly opinions can change. At the end of last season, and even at the start of this season, Cherry had steam coming out of his ears from all the smoke that was being blown up his arse about him being at the peak of his powers, how he could play on into his 40s (Thanks, Joey Johns!), how he was the ultimate professional, yada yada yada.

And then, once he made his televised "I'll Play Anywhere but Here Next Year" announcement, the Manly club was getting crucified for the "disrespectful" offer of $700k over two years. The incompetence! The nerve! How dare we!

Now, he's lost the Queensland captaincy, been dropped from the Origin team, and the same bloke who told him he could play on for years (Hi again, Joey!) is telling him he's past it. Everybody seems to agree he's playing like a busted ar@#hole, and reporters and pundits are openly asking why the Roosters would want him at any price.

From the outside looking in, it's kinda hilarious.