Bearfax
Grizzly old fart
Having watched Manly for over 50 years I've seen the ups and downs and have always had hope things would improve after the lows. I am not so confident at present.
What I am seeing at Manly is firstly an excellent recruitment strategy at the juniors level, getting a number of classy young players to the Sea Eagles, and increasing the range of potential top first graders, instead of paying out big money for mediocre middle range players. And they have come through consistently in recent years with Manly's juniors being among the best on show.
But then I look at the selection policy at the seniors level and I see inertia. Its been happening for much of the past seven or eight years. I was hopeful that Des would revitalise the side, but he is acting like Barrett, resisting change, resisting promotion of potential young stars except where necessity forces it. I get the sense with Des that he is scared to take reasonable risks, and is living on his previous fame, too scared to be innovative, when that is what made him such a fine coach.
I look at the Storm, Roosters and now the Panthers and Knights. None of them would risk losing a top junior or one of the best in their side. They would find ways of keeping them. And they would get them quickly into first grade. They wouldn't be looking for broken down old soldiers to solve their problems.
The loss of AFB to me was a sign of disharmony. Probably the best prop in the game and we let him go. Then there's young Hopoate, who could be a star in a few years. Probably headed for the Dogs. And now Foran being invited back when we have one of the most exciting juniors in Schuster ready for first grade. And why. Because of certain people's sentiment/friendship, thoughts of past glories, and when he can stay on the field which is not often, he can still do some clever things. This is not business like thinking. Imagine when Fred Jones was playing and Krillich was being given rep duties from reserve grade. If we had persisted with Jones and allowed Krillich to go elsewhere, there would have been an outcry. This decision makes the Gutherson travesty look like kids stuff.
For me Des is stuck in his past glories and fearful of change. He's trying to think short term when the club needs a long policy. And this is about keeping your best juniors. This is not about 2021. This is about the next 5-10 years. If Manly loses Schuster, the best young junior I've seen in over a decade, I'm sorry but I wont be continuing to support the club, while such thinking is just driving the nail into Manly's already faltering existence.
What I am seeing at Manly is firstly an excellent recruitment strategy at the juniors level, getting a number of classy young players to the Sea Eagles, and increasing the range of potential top first graders, instead of paying out big money for mediocre middle range players. And they have come through consistently in recent years with Manly's juniors being among the best on show.
But then I look at the selection policy at the seniors level and I see inertia. Its been happening for much of the past seven or eight years. I was hopeful that Des would revitalise the side, but he is acting like Barrett, resisting change, resisting promotion of potential young stars except where necessity forces it. I get the sense with Des that he is scared to take reasonable risks, and is living on his previous fame, too scared to be innovative, when that is what made him such a fine coach.
I look at the Storm, Roosters and now the Panthers and Knights. None of them would risk losing a top junior or one of the best in their side. They would find ways of keeping them. And they would get them quickly into first grade. They wouldn't be looking for broken down old soldiers to solve their problems.
The loss of AFB to me was a sign of disharmony. Probably the best prop in the game and we let him go. Then there's young Hopoate, who could be a star in a few years. Probably headed for the Dogs. And now Foran being invited back when we have one of the most exciting juniors in Schuster ready for first grade. And why. Because of certain people's sentiment/friendship, thoughts of past glories, and when he can stay on the field which is not often, he can still do some clever things. This is not business like thinking. Imagine when Fred Jones was playing and Krillich was being given rep duties from reserve grade. If we had persisted with Jones and allowed Krillich to go elsewhere, there would have been an outcry. This decision makes the Gutherson travesty look like kids stuff.
For me Des is stuck in his past glories and fearful of change. He's trying to think short term when the club needs a long policy. And this is about keeping your best juniors. This is not about 2021. This is about the next 5-10 years. If Manly loses Schuster, the best young junior I've seen in over a decade, I'm sorry but I wont be continuing to support the club, while such thinking is just driving the nail into Manly's already faltering existence.