Bearfax
Grizzly old fart
Before I venture into controversial considerations, I point out that I am only an observer, one having watched Manly for 50 years, but still an observer. I know nothing of the machinations within the Manly camp and club, and acknowledge that my comments are at best conjectural without a full knowledge of the happenings contributing to Manly's fall from the top echelon of clubs over the past decade. I acknowledge I may be misreading much, but what I'm saying is from the point of view of a concerned supporter.
Perhaps I am too used to Manly being one of the top sides in the League. Generally from 1965-2015 they were. Perhaps its a money issue, perhaps a limited area designated as Manly's junior region. Whatever it is, the Sea Eagles for the past decade, and I sense for the near future, have been in the also ran category, usually in the bottom 8. Unfamiliar territory for this proud club. So why?
The present stable of players individually is quite good. Some outstanding forwards like Olakau'atu, Paseka, Bullimor, and though on the slide, Jake. Contrary to some comments I feel Ben Trbojevic is approaching better than average first grade material. Brown and Lodge add starch. Tevaga and Simpkin try hard. In the backs we have outstanding talent in Turbo, Saab, Koula and Garrick and the rising star of Hopoate. And then there's our best player, DCE. In talent, this is at least a top 6 side.
So where is the problem? The collapse of the Sea Eagles against a near bottom side with two of their stars out and another now at St George, should never have happened. No excuses. They had slightly more ball, penalties were about equal, similar defensive numbers. Where is the problem. Notice DCE wasn't playing Notice also Ben and Jake were missing. Their value I suggest is understated
Problem One. Despite the disparaging criticism of DCE, that player has carried Manly for the past decade. Twice we could have ended with the spoon but for him. But our side needs another creator, one who offers the the talented players the space to do their thing. These talented backs are not creators. They arent like Jamie Lyon, Cliff Lyons, Matai. Even Olakau'atu for all his talent needs an organiser. When Manly has a top line half AND FIVE EIGHTH, they thrive. That's why I was so hoping Schuster would fill that 5/8 vacancy that Manly desperately needed. Regertable and I suspect that player will come back from the dead. There have been other players who had a certain degree of creator like talents. Gutherson, Weekes, Tom Wright. No surprise that last weekend each of those players were the stars of their new respective teams. DCE has been our sole creator and in better sides he would be a super star (QLD SOO displays that). Brooks is competent but not a good creator and that may explain Koula's lack of penetration. Turbo is a top ranker but being available only 50% of the time is disruptive (not blaming him for that) and he looks broken. Did you notice the two most successful seasons were when Green was five eighth and in 2021 when Schuster acted as second five eighth. DCE was outstanding both years because he had strong creative support on the other side.
The second problem is that Manly looks like a group of top players but not a top team. They look disjointed and this could explain their poor defense. It's almost like some players clock off in some games. DCE doesn't. This has been an ongoing problem since Toovey was dropped as coach. None of the subsequent coaches have found a way to address this. It's like the players don't act as a team in attack and defence..
Bringing in Fogarty, despite that player's credentials, isn't going to solve Manly's problem alone. They need a second creator and they need toughness in defense. They also need a recruitment process that doesn't allow the outstanding young talent they have to slip through their fingers.. At present Manly are potentially a top 6 side, but with feet of clay they will again risk falling to the also rans in the bottom 8.
Perhaps I am too used to Manly being one of the top sides in the League. Generally from 1965-2015 they were. Perhaps its a money issue, perhaps a limited area designated as Manly's junior region. Whatever it is, the Sea Eagles for the past decade, and I sense for the near future, have been in the also ran category, usually in the bottom 8. Unfamiliar territory for this proud club. So why?
The present stable of players individually is quite good. Some outstanding forwards like Olakau'atu, Paseka, Bullimor, and though on the slide, Jake. Contrary to some comments I feel Ben Trbojevic is approaching better than average first grade material. Brown and Lodge add starch. Tevaga and Simpkin try hard. In the backs we have outstanding talent in Turbo, Saab, Koula and Garrick and the rising star of Hopoate. And then there's our best player, DCE. In talent, this is at least a top 6 side.
So where is the problem? The collapse of the Sea Eagles against a near bottom side with two of their stars out and another now at St George, should never have happened. No excuses. They had slightly more ball, penalties were about equal, similar defensive numbers. Where is the problem. Notice DCE wasn't playing Notice also Ben and Jake were missing. Their value I suggest is understated
Problem One. Despite the disparaging criticism of DCE, that player has carried Manly for the past decade. Twice we could have ended with the spoon but for him. But our side needs another creator, one who offers the the talented players the space to do their thing. These talented backs are not creators. They arent like Jamie Lyon, Cliff Lyons, Matai. Even Olakau'atu for all his talent needs an organiser. When Manly has a top line half AND FIVE EIGHTH, they thrive. That's why I was so hoping Schuster would fill that 5/8 vacancy that Manly desperately needed. Regertable and I suspect that player will come back from the dead. There have been other players who had a certain degree of creator like talents. Gutherson, Weekes, Tom Wright. No surprise that last weekend each of those players were the stars of their new respective teams. DCE has been our sole creator and in better sides he would be a super star (QLD SOO displays that). Brooks is competent but not a good creator and that may explain Koula's lack of penetration. Turbo is a top ranker but being available only 50% of the time is disruptive (not blaming him for that) and he looks broken. Did you notice the two most successful seasons were when Green was five eighth and in 2021 when Schuster acted as second five eighth. DCE was outstanding both years because he had strong creative support on the other side.
The second problem is that Manly looks like a group of top players but not a top team. They look disjointed and this could explain their poor defense. It's almost like some players clock off in some games. DCE doesn't. This has been an ongoing problem since Toovey was dropped as coach. None of the subsequent coaches have found a way to address this. It's like the players don't act as a team in attack and defence..
Bringing in Fogarty, despite that player's credentials, isn't going to solve Manly's problem alone. They need a second creator and they need toughness in defense. They also need a recruitment process that doesn't allow the outstanding young talent they have to slip through their fingers.. At present Manly are potentially a top 6 side, but with feet of clay they will again risk falling to the also rans in the bottom 8.
