Game Day: Storm v Manly [Finals 1, 2021]

[Tragic Eagle]

Whilst Crokes has done a mighty job in defence, I believe that Lawton won't let us down in that regard and offers a bit more zip in attack. I expect Walker will have to play dummy half if Lawton fades. Its a good squad. I expect Sirro got the nod because of Sipley's lateral defence. Sipps can however consider himself unlucky as he has played well this season.

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

Stopping Smith and Grant is one of our biggest challenges, and I think the loss of Croker is a blow because of his match fitness and terrier defence but I'm still confident we can still get the job done. Storm will come out firing but (sentence trails off into the never never)

 

[Shoe1]

Good work by Lawton in the lead up to the dce try last week. He skips out of dummy half well. I don’t think we lose much by having him in. Both are solid.

 

[Shoe1]

Whilst Crokes has done a mighty job in defence, I believe that Lawton won't let us down in that regard and offers a bit more zip in attack. I expect Walker will have to play dummy half if Lawton fades. Its a good squad. I expect Sirro got the nod because of Sipley's lateral defence. Sipps can however consider himself unlucky as he has played well this season.

Sirro is an excellent kick chaser. We need to improve there so all good for mine.

 

[EOL now nesting on the GC]

Des masterstroke? Storm will have planned all week about Tommy and how he gets the ball. That all starts with the no.9 and now there's a completely different dummy half distributing the pill.
I've noticed Lawton likes to skip out and pass often back inside and Tommy will be waiting.

 

[Waz13]

Lawton is a good defender in the middle, @Mark from Brisbane so I am not too worried about that. I actually don't think we lose anything having him as dummy half. He is definitely fit enough to play 80 minutes. His ball distribution is good.
I am not concerned at all about the change. However, Croker will come straight back into the side in two weeks time. Go Manly.

Yeah my only question was fitness and minutes. Played full games in the backrow tho so should be sweet. Also it adds a bit of unpredictability as you know Bellamy would have done homework on Croker and would have had a strategy around his strengths and weaknesses. Can’t underestimate the defensive work the frog does tho. Interested to see how Siro goes. Big opportunity for him. I wonder if they might spell Lawman for 20 and use Jake at 9 and Siro at lock. Should be great, can’t wait!

 

[eagle66]

I am sure all the noise is for the team to take the pressure off Turbo so he can play his game. I have the feeling that tonight's game will be Turbo taking the pressure off the team so they can win the game before Turbo chimes in late.
Also, Lawton at 9 will muck up some of storm's techniques. Need to change it up and I am expecting walker to provide some additional spark

 

[Brissie Kid]

The footy gods owe Manly big time. We've had nothing go our way in play offs since fulltime in the 2011 grand final. Tonight we collect.

 

[JakeyB789]

Surprised we would be going with Siro over Suli or Sipley on the bench. Considering Haumole and Schuster both play 80 there's not really a place for Siro on the edge, unless he plays in the middle in which case Sipley would deserve that spot. Happy to trust Des here though

On Lawton @ $51 for first try scorer. He's been so good for us ever since he came into the side and he doesn't mind finding the try line. Definitely have full faith in him coming into the starting side (and perhaps doing even better than Croker) but just hope he can last the full 80, the thought of Walker filling in at 9 is a little bit concerning

 

[davohan123]

if we do win tonight it will rival the 2013 PF final win against souths in my eyes.

that day was one day being at the game live i will never forget.

we think we have seen turbo play at a level above everyone else..i still feel he has a few more levels to go to.

 

[Stewbojevic]

Surprised we would be going with Siro over Suli or Sipley on the bench. Considering Haumole and Schuster both play 80 there's not really a place for Siro on the edge, unless he plays in the middle in which case Sipley would deserve that spot. Happy to trust Des here though

On Lawton @ $51 for first try scorer. He's been so good for us ever since he came into the side and he doesn't mind finding the try line. Definitely have full faith in him coming into the starting side (and perhaps doing even better than Croker) but just hope he can last the full 80, the thought of Walker filling in at 9 is a little bit concerning

Siro is a better defender than Sipley, less of a risk in the middle

 

[jbb/james]

Lawton is a good defender in the middle, @Mark from Brisbane so I am not too worried about that. I actually don't think we lose anything having him as dummy half. He is definitely fit enough to play 80 minutes. His ball distribution is good.
I am not concerned at all about the change. However, Croker will come straight back into the side in two weeks time. Go Manly.

This needs serious consideration. There is no doubt crokers form has warranted selection week in , week out, but someone keeping the markers honest buys time and karlo is more in that mould due to the frenetic approach to his footy

If you take dessies loyalty out of it and used a horses for courses approach to melbourne game maybe lawnton should start anyway as croker and walker bench is just as versatile

Croker has taken his opportunity and desreves every minute des gives him .

Lawnton has been the classic example of a man turning up week after week knocking on the door, play anywhere, team man personafied

 

[jbb/james]

Sirro is an excellent kick chaser. We need to improve there so all good for mine.

Looking at the squad i wonder if croker was fit , lawnton may have missed the cut and sirro still plays.

I think this game is about muscling up . The storm are tough buggers and des will have them whipped up .
Des could really start living in bellamys head if he shuffles out an ambush tonight

 

[The Who]

The LawMan may be fit, and he is going to have to be because he's been getting very little game time this season.

 

[The Indian]

I was starting to get a little confident about our chances - love how we are travelling but those grubby wrestling Storm in a Semi Final always worries me. Then our Hooker out and just heard Joey Johns saying the Sunshine Coast has been very dewy and slippery at night and that worries me a bit too in regards to us shifting the ball wide and early. Fast dry track is what we need. Hope Johns sucks as a weatherman.

I need a Beer.

C'arn the boys.

 

[davohan123]

why the scum is equal level on teams i hate

Show this image to fire up the boys tonight.

purple scum will always be purple scum.

wont ever forget this night.

 

[Woodsie]

Cometh the moment ... Cometh the man ... Go Karl ... Rip in son!

Shame for Croker, but that's footy ... I have a good feeling about the game, they will try to win it up the guts ... we'll try to blast them to pieces out wide ...

Olam is the danger player for mine ... if Harpo can contain him ... we win!

RIP IN LADS

 

[manlyfan76]

 

[Stewbojevic]

why the scum is equal level on teams i hate

Show this image to fire up the boys tonight.

purple scum will always be purple scum.

wont ever forget this night.

View attachment 19291

He’d be sent off for that in today’s game

 

[QLDSeaeagle]

No way Lawton will be able to play the minutes Frog does in the middle.

Big statement, hope you are wrong.