Reasons WHY Manly improve 2018

[manly al]

Lane is one player who could definitely offer an X factor next season if he can consistently play to his best level and is used in a constructive way . Those 80 minute efforts against the Panthers and Roosters last season showed that he can certainly compete and be a stand out if he is fully focused and involved in the contest . As others have mentioned is capable of playing back row or filling in at prop and if he can be at his best next season , i think that the team would be stronger having him at least on the bench . Plenty of forward competition naturally and this may also help to bring the best out of him .

 

[manly al]

I think the disappointing manner in which the side dropped out of the final's series last season may also act as a real motivator factor next year for the side to lift even better . They probably would have finished the season with the realization that they could compete with the better rated teams and with a bit more consistency and self belief and a good off season preparation should be able to strive for better rewards . Should be able to compensate for Green's departure , the main nucleus of the side remains, improved depth and with enough professionalism and eager up and comers to help with further improvement .

 

[Woodsie]

Lane is one player who could definitely offer an X factor next season if he can consistently play to his best level and is used in a constructive way . Those 80 minute efforts against the Panthers and Roosters last season showed that he can certainly compete and be a stand out if he is fully focused and involved in the contest . As others have mentioned is capable of playing back row or filling in at prop and if he can be at his best next season , i think that the team would be stronger having him at least on the bench . Plenty of forward competition naturally and this may also help to bring the best out of him .

Al, the same has been said about Laconic Lane at the beginning of each year for the past 4 years ..... but hope beats eternal in all our breasts..

Maybe he has matured a bit, he is still youngish, but unless there is fire in the belly ....

 

[Woodsie]

The simple natural "growth" of our current team and coach plus the inclusion of Thompson and a few young tyros make us a stronger unit on paper ..

The big leveller (as others have mentioned) will be injuries ..... we had a good run '17 ... a fair run in '18 should see us do well.

 

[Fluffy]

Don't forget "JetSki" 😉

I didn't, isn't Jack G the JetSki?

 

[Chip and Chase]

Thompson improves the run on team - that's a given

The loss of Green weakens it. We are only living on hope or, as yet, unrealised potential with Hastings and Croker - fingers crossed but it is still an unknown.

I still think we are skinny in prop depth department losing Myles and Lawrence - as we are relying on unproven youth in that area.

Jack G improves depth.

Rest of squad is a year older and wiser, but a couple of injuries with Walker and Jurbo are a bit of a concern for early rounds.

Can Barrett conjure up something magical around the 5/8 situation ? Therein lies the key to our season for me.

 

[manly al]

Al, the same has been said about Laconic Lane at the beginning of each year for the past 4 years ..... but hope beats eternal in all our breasts..

Maybe he has matured a bit, he is still youngish, but unless there is fire in the belly ....

No doubt we can not be still finding excuses for Shaun as time goes on , he either finds the expected consistency and full fills his potential or he will unfortunately just be regarded as a perennial wasted talent . Again i really thought that the signs were finally really good and encouraging with some of his N R L efforts last season but as opposed to his Black Town efforts .

 

[mave]

Some days it's just great to be a Silvertail.

Is this the time I get to take my bat and ball and quit the forum ?

 

[madmax]

What a joke !!!
Don't go squawking crap to early as the team i see on paper and with Barrett at the helm we will be leaking plenty of points.
Lucky to make the 8 and possibly closer to the bottom.

Mate GO AWAY...........we've had enough negativity on here lately & don't need or want anymore! The team exceeded everyone's expectations this year & now can only improve. Most of the points leaked this year were due to 3 games where the boys just didn't turn up. They will have learned from those games & I'm sure will be better for it. This is a good, strong, young squad!!

 

[Not Paul Kent]

Being a pessimist I can’t really see us doing a great deal better in 2018 we had a lucky run with injury in 2017 and will need Turbo, DCE, Api, Kapow, Walker and Jurbo to stay healthy again and the big issues as I see them are the following;

Lack of goal kicker and established half to partner DCE:

The elephant in the room, green may not be an x factor player but he was the glue that brought the side together last year. Will miss his organisation and repeat sets. Having said that at times he stunted the attack on the left edge and turned to grubber kicks as his only real attacking weapon. We may benefit from attacking flair provided by Hastings deadly passing game or Crokers stellar running game. As a combination I lean to Hastings as I believe he will better complement DCE and provide the goal kicker we need.

How will Walker return from injury:

The last two players with this injury never played another game, if walker doesn’t come back the same player our backline is suddenly lacking strike.

Inexperienced forwards:

While we have signed players who show lots of promise we can’t expect them all to be world beaters this season, we may struggle with a few injuries.

This year will be a stronger Comp:

Cowboys get back Thurston and Scott, Roosters gain Cronk and Tedesco, Newcastle have signed half the roosters roster, Penrith will be stronger with maloney, Souths get GI back, Dragons look very strong on paper.

The salary cap issue:

How will it effect our year, would not surprise me if the saga drags well into the season. I think we are short a starting front rower and Carney/Gutherson would not hurt either being handicapped 400k could hurt but in saying that we were handicapped more than that in 2017.

The left edge will improve:

Thompson brings starch and defensively if we pick Hastings there we will be a lot stronger, as has been mentioned Kelly will improve or Parker may come on and make the spot his own. In attack Hastings and Croker do offer more than Green. The return of Taufua will be a huge plus finishing tries and getting sets off to a great start like an extra forward.

In summary I think 2018 presents a better balanced side than 2017 but how much will the revamped left side take away from the right?

 

[Jethro]

What a joke !!!
Don't go squawking crap to early as the team i see on paper and with Barrett at the helm we will be leaking plenty of points.
Lucky to make the 8 and possibly closer to the bottom.

Are you "des" or "nlealge"?

It sounds more like a NLSeaEagle negative type post to me.

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

I’m positive , think it’s going to be an excellent year and either Croker or Hastings will step up and surprise.

Have faith boys and girls!

 

[Kevinward777]

I’m positive , think it’s going to be an excellent year and either Croker or Hastings will step up and surprise.

Have faith boys and girls!

Couldn’t agree more... big year on the horizon

 

[eaglebuzz]

I think we will be a better side next year, but halves and prop depth are the concern for me. Injuries could be a huge problem.

 

[Spartan Eagle]

We have some great superstars in our squad that is the envy of others. Expecting better year from Kelly. AFB to have a huge impact. DCE is a legend and leads by example. Am sure whichever 5/8 is used will learn plenty from the great DCE by his side and a more settled and experienced pack. JT signing is the icing on the cake. If we can get Carney it will be the cherry.. Even without Carney we'll always have a Cherry on top.

 

[Kevinward777]

If the top liners perform to expectations, and the younger guys continue to develop.....and if we unearth a Smokey or two, then the sky is the limit. Haven’t been this excited since the off season leading into 2011. It was very much a similar scenario at the end of 2010. We lost Hodko to the Dogs and brought in a young half with lots of potential. We also had a some young talent in Lussick and Hoppa coming through. Even though we had maybe two or three more established stars in that side, the potential in the rest of the squad was nowhere near the level we have for next season. I’ve had a look through the predicted line ups for every club next season and our forwards could be heads and shoulders above every other club. The Eagles are back in business.

 

[Ben]

This is the 1st year since Des destroyed the place with back ended deals we actually look recovered. Despite the lingering salary cap issue, I feel this is the time we have actually built a full squad. I know we still need a 5/8 but that will come as we still have a spot to fill in our squad. Barrett has been clearing the roster for the last 2 years and Tooves really battled with the post Des mess. We are well and truly on the up now in a great position with the young talent we have coming through. This has a real positive feel about it and i say a lot of the positive energy is reflective of the coach and backing by the players. Personally I'm really excited about next season as I'm not thinking we we win the comp but finally we get to see our team grow into something we will have for 10 years.

 

[Chip and Chase]

No doubt we can not be still finding excuses for Shaun as time goes on , he either finds the expected consistency and full fills his potential or he will unfortunately just be regarded as a perennial wasted talent . Again i really thought that the signs were finally really good and encouraging with some of his N R L efforts last season but as opposed to his Black Town efforts .

I remember the same sort of hope surrounding Mateo when we signed him. Some players just never make the most of their talent.

 

[Smokin Joe]

I remember the same sort of hope surrounding Mateo when we signed him. Some players just never make the most of their talent.

That is true,but Lane doesn't turn up to preseason looking like he has just swallowed an entire adult pig carcass.Don't know if he will shine but Lane looks better coming off the bench,if he gets in the 17 from the start he could have a good year,if he starts in Blacktown then more of the same I think....

 

[manly al]

Mateo just seemed to show less commitment and interest as his N R L career drew to a close . Was worth a shot for a year or so for Manly on a modest contract in the hope that he could reproduce some of his former class but again his commitment and fitness level was just not there . Lane did well against three of the better rated forward packs last season and again should get every opportunity to produce his undoubted ability for the approaching season or in Woodsie"s reference from memory , more of his "cathartic "performances ideally .