tookey link said:
Ok, is it a GOAT or is it a SHEEP....there are two stories running around here???
Team for Monday announced
- Thread starter Mark from Brisbane
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Ok, is it a GOAT or is it a SHEEP....there are two stories running around here???
Berkeley_Eagle
Current Status: 24/7 Manly Fan
  By Ian McCullough
  March 09, 2010
Manly coach Des Hasler is planning to exploit Lote Tuqiri's lack of match practice when the Sea Eagles take on Wests Tigers in the opening round of the NRL season.
Tuqiri has been named on the Tigers wing for the first Monday Night Football game of the season at the Sydney Football Stadium.
The former Brisbane Broncos star returns to rugby league set to make his 100th career NRL start following an eight-year spell playing rugby union with New South Wales Waratahs, Australia and, more recently, Guinness Premiership club Leicester Tigers.
Hasler expects the dual international to be a huge success for the Tigers, but he believes the winger may initially struggle to readjust to the 13-man game.
"He will probably find the pace and intensity of the game hard," Hasler said.
"Playing on the wing, they're not doing the hit-ups and the runs but it's still a fairly active game and a lot of work for wingers just getting back, chasing, the whole lot.
"He will find it a little bit foreign."
Hasler joked that Tuqiri could struggle to remember the rules, having been out of the game for so long.
"The plan on Lote will be to kick, trap him inside his 20 and he'll kick straight out on the full over the sideline," Hasler said.
"It's not as if he hasn't played football before. He's an outstanding athlete and he's got a lot of experience so we will see how he comes up."
Hasler named young New Zealand playmaker Kieran Foran at halfback following Matt Orford's departure to Super League.
Foran will line up alongside new skipper Jamie Lyon, who will start the season at five-eighth.
  March 09, 2010
Manly coach Des Hasler is planning to exploit Lote Tuqiri's lack of match practice when the Sea Eagles take on Wests Tigers in the opening round of the NRL season.
Tuqiri has been named on the Tigers wing for the first Monday Night Football game of the season at the Sydney Football Stadium.
The former Brisbane Broncos star returns to rugby league set to make his 100th career NRL start following an eight-year spell playing rugby union with New South Wales Waratahs, Australia and, more recently, Guinness Premiership club Leicester Tigers.
Hasler expects the dual international to be a huge success for the Tigers, but he believes the winger may initially struggle to readjust to the 13-man game.
"He will probably find the pace and intensity of the game hard," Hasler said.
"Playing on the wing, they're not doing the hit-ups and the runs but it's still a fairly active game and a lot of work for wingers just getting back, chasing, the whole lot.
"He will find it a little bit foreign."
Hasler joked that Tuqiri could struggle to remember the rules, having been out of the game for so long.
"The plan on Lote will be to kick, trap him inside his 20 and he'll kick straight out on the full over the sideline," Hasler said.
"It's not as if he hasn't played football before. He's an outstanding athlete and he's got a lot of experience so we will see how he comes up."
Hasler named young New Zealand playmaker Kieran Foran at halfback following Matt Orford's departure to Super League.
Foran will line up alongside new skipper Jamie Lyon, who will start the season at five-eighth.
PONTIAN SEA EAGLE
Bencher
Both of our centres are of concern slow of the mark & suspect in defence.
Matabele
Journey Man
 You beat me to it. This would have to be the weakest centre duo in the NRL at the moment. We're playing with a 5 man pack because Bailey is rubbish. Lyon is a reluctant half outside of a rookie. And our bench is very thin - Rodney has nothing, Rose good for 20 minutes and Seu Seu has never impressed.Âsusan ridgepipe link said:
We're virtually full strength at the start of a long season and this mob are the best we can put out there? I'm starting to think I was hysterically optimistic to suggest we'll finish 8th, until I saw what the Broncos are putting out there.Â
How can you say our bench is thin? George is on the bench.
Ryan
Journey Man
Bailey in the 1st 13? We are not premiership quality with him in the starting 13. If he is our starting number 12, then we cannot be considered as taken seriously.
Tony Williams and Steve Matai would have to be the two most immobile centres in the game today. BOTH could pass as backrowers.
Lyon 6 / Foran 7 - good ol' predictable Des.
This team is a comfort side for Des. It's a meh group, and we'll see exactly why round one.
Disappointed.
Tony Williams and Steve Matai would have to be the two most immobile centres in the game today. BOTH could pass as backrowers.
Lyon 6 / Foran 7 - good ol' predictable Des.
This team is a comfort side for Des. It's a meh group, and we'll see exactly why round one.
Disappointed.
Berkeley_Eagle
Current Status: 24/7 Manly Fan
How about we put some faith in what Des picked
Bailey, Rodney,Seu Seu, Perry, Kite and T-Rex could all been in for amazing seasons
Bailey, Rodney,Seu Seu, Perry, Kite and T-Rex could all been in for amazing seasons
Crusher_Cleal
Bencher
I like the look of our bench. Hopefully Rodney takes most of Bailey's minutes. My big concern is T-Rex in the Centres – he’s not going to be marking Lawrence is he? I think I just threw up. Seems Dessie isn’t comfortable with Hodgkinson at half-back yet. I'm not sure how Foran and Lyon are going to play out in the halves. I don’t have a great feeling about that combo – a halfback needs to dominate the ball, but who is going to dominate the ball in that combo? Why not take a cance with Hodgko, and have Foran on the bench insead of Seu Seu?
The team looks quite reasonable to me. Sure I'd prefer Hodkinson to Foran at half, but I'm comfortable with what's going to run out. The centres are a worry, but maybe they've been working hard in the off season and I'm not so down on Bailey as most. He's reasonable solid defensively and can run forward with the ball. Why is the pessimism so strong this early in the season? Williams should be given a go to show what was missing last season at least. Manly by 12.Â
Geez we are a positive bunch here aren't we.
Compare the teams side by side, i think we look good.
Brett Stewart is back. Tim Sheens has nightmares about him!
Foran is a real competitor, good defender. I am confident in him playing well at halfback. It wouldn't matter where you played Foran.
Williams (Tony) will be a handfull out wide.
Compare the benches... i'd have Manly's bench over the tigers any day.
Cayless hasn't played NRL for 4 years. The rest of the tigers bench are no names really.
Lui isn't the answer at halfback for the Tigers, Moltzen is. Eventually Tuqiri will move to fullback and Moltzen will play half. It will be a scrappy game first up but we have got them covered in most positions.
Compare the teams side by side, i think we look good.
Brett Stewart is back. Tim Sheens has nightmares about him!
Foran is a real competitor, good defender. I am confident in him playing well at halfback. It wouldn't matter where you played Foran.
Williams (Tony) will be a handfull out wide.
Compare the benches... i'd have Manly's bench over the tigers any day.
Cayless hasn't played NRL for 4 years. The rest of the tigers bench are no names really.
Lui isn't the answer at halfback for the Tigers, Moltzen is. Eventually Tuqiri will move to fullback and Moltzen will play half. It will be a scrappy game first up but we have got them covered in most positions.
susan ridgepipe
Reserve Grader
im not negative about year,just worried early on.i know the plan is to have hodkinson play eventually  but why wait.
work this out.
parra pick mortimer.turns out to be the next big thing and leads them to GF from last with a reserve grade halfback from manly by his side.
we have no specialist half or 5/8 and the bloke who was rated better than mortimer 18 months years ago plays on the sunshine coast this week.
the decision to not pick him has many consequences:
-forces us to pick williams in centres which is not his best position
-makes lyon the one and only real kicking option
-clubs best kicker doesnt play in an era of field position and new down town rules
-forces one of the worlds best centres to 5/8.he can do it but he is certian to be a sole target like orford
AND most importantly makes hodkinson ripe for the picking as i am pretty sure he is off contract next year.with no limit now on talking to players he may be signed within a couple of months.halves are very hard to find.have a look at some first grade halves this year;some are absolute plodders(canberra,cronulla,penrith for eg).would be sad to lose him without knowing how good he is(or isnt).i think you will see just how sad it is losing a young player  with waera hargreaves going round for easts this year.club couldnt do anything about him leaving but they can in this case.
dont like it at all but if there is one bloke i know who will give it a great crack it is kieran foran.
next season onwards i see
13 foran(he is another dallas johnson plus far better in attack)
7.hodkinson
6.lyon
3.whare
4.matai/hopoate
williams off bench as impact runner or lying on noosa beach.
work this out.
parra pick mortimer.turns out to be the next big thing and leads them to GF from last with a reserve grade halfback from manly by his side.
we have no specialist half or 5/8 and the bloke who was rated better than mortimer 18 months years ago plays on the sunshine coast this week.
the decision to not pick him has many consequences:
-forces us to pick williams in centres which is not his best position
-makes lyon the one and only real kicking option
-clubs best kicker doesnt play in an era of field position and new down town rules
-forces one of the worlds best centres to 5/8.he can do it but he is certian to be a sole target like orford
AND most importantly makes hodkinson ripe for the picking as i am pretty sure he is off contract next year.with no limit now on talking to players he may be signed within a couple of months.halves are very hard to find.have a look at some first grade halves this year;some are absolute plodders(canberra,cronulla,penrith for eg).would be sad to lose him without knowing how good he is(or isnt).i think you will see just how sad it is losing a young player  with waera hargreaves going round for easts this year.club couldnt do anything about him leaving but they can in this case.
dont like it at all but if there is one bloke i know who will give it a great crack it is kieran foran.
next season onwards i see
13 foran(he is another dallas johnson plus far better in attack)
7.hodkinson
6.lyon
3.whare
4.matai/hopoate
williams off bench as impact runner or lying on noosa beach.
inside pass
Member
are some of u kidding?? thats a great looking side, though im not bailey,s biggest fan, hes not a bad defender at the end of the day.
tony left little to be desired last year but 12 mouths can make a difference and im keen to see how he goes.
i really hope the player don't read some of these posts sometimes.
don't forget we finished 1 point behind th "so called bench mark' doing so after all the stuff that happened... IS pretty impressive i think.
im going into this season very confident... WE ALL SHOULD BE
GO MANLY
GO YOU GOOD THINGS
tony left little to be desired last year but 12 mouths can make a difference and im keen to see how he goes.
i really hope the player don't read some of these posts sometimes.
don't forget we finished 1 point behind th "so called bench mark' doing so after all the stuff that happened... IS pretty impressive i think.
im going into this season very confident... WE ALL SHOULD BE
GO MANLY
GO YOU GOOD THINGS
I'm a realist by nature (some might say pessimist) but I think that we are in with an excellent chance of beating the Tigers. In fact I'm very confident. Lets run through the teams as named:
Stewart v. Moltzen - Stewart
Robertson v. Tuqiri - Robertson at this stage. He is a seasoned NRL player, Tuqiri is starting afresh
T Williams v. Ayshford - reluctantly Ayshford. But if Williams is fully fit and has some speed back, that might change (remember he was dogged by a dodgy hamstring last year)
Matai v. Lawrence - Lawrence (but one good hit from Matai....)
D Williams v. Ryan - Williams
Lyon v. Marshall - I would rather have Lyon than Marshall. He is a more complete player
Lui v. Foran - Foran. He is an international. What's Lui done?
Stewart v. Heighington - Stewart
Ellis v. Bailey - Ellis
Watmough v. Fulton - please
Perry v. Galloway - Galloway, although if Perry gets his 2008 form back, he is better
Balin v. Farah - Farah
King v. Gibbs - King
Bench
Kite v. Cayless - Kite
Seu Seu v. Moors - tie, only because I can't place Moors
Rose v. Flanagan - Rose
Rodney v. Fitzhenry - I'll give it to Fitzhenry so I don't appear too biased.
So there you go. I am of the opinion that we are marginally better across the paddock, in raw numbers 10 v. 6 with one tie. Of course, those ratings are  subjective, and others may disagree. Also, that is not necessarily how they will face up on the park, rather its just a straight comparison as per the paper. Combinations will also play a part. But geez, to suggest we're no hope, I think that's stretching it.
And while I don't think Hasler is necessarily the Messiah, he does have a fair idea about how to run a footy side. I'll back his judgement over some of you.
Feel free to let rip if you need to. Â
Stewart v. Moltzen - Stewart
Robertson v. Tuqiri - Robertson at this stage. He is a seasoned NRL player, Tuqiri is starting afresh
T Williams v. Ayshford - reluctantly Ayshford. But if Williams is fully fit and has some speed back, that might change (remember he was dogged by a dodgy hamstring last year)
Matai v. Lawrence - Lawrence (but one good hit from Matai....)
D Williams v. Ryan - Williams
Lyon v. Marshall - I would rather have Lyon than Marshall. He is a more complete player
Lui v. Foran - Foran. He is an international. What's Lui done?
Stewart v. Heighington - Stewart
Ellis v. Bailey - Ellis
Watmough v. Fulton - please
Perry v. Galloway - Galloway, although if Perry gets his 2008 form back, he is better
Balin v. Farah - Farah
King v. Gibbs - King
Bench
Kite v. Cayless - Kite
Seu Seu v. Moors - tie, only because I can't place Moors
Rose v. Flanagan - Rose
Rodney v. Fitzhenry - I'll give it to Fitzhenry so I don't appear too biased.
So there you go. I am of the opinion that we are marginally better across the paddock, in raw numbers 10 v. 6 with one tie. Of course, those ratings are  subjective, and others may disagree. Also, that is not necessarily how they will face up on the park, rather its just a straight comparison as per the paper. Combinations will also play a part. But geez, to suggest we're no hope, I think that's stretching it.
And while I don't think Hasler is necessarily the Messiah, he does have a fair idea about how to run a footy side. I'll back his judgement over some of you.
Feel free to let rip if you need to. Â
| Team | P | W | L | PD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6 | 5 | 1 | 59 | 12 |
|
6 | 5 | 1 | 20 | 12 |
|
6 | 4 | 2 | 53 | 10 |
|
6 | 4 | 2 | 30 | 10 |
|
7 | 4 | 2 | 25 | 9 |
|
7 | 4 | 3 | 40 | 8 |
|
7 | 4 | 3 | 24 | 8 |
|
7 | 4 | 3 | -8 | 8 |
|
7 | 4 | 3 | -18 | 8 |
|
7 | 3 | 3 | 20 | 7 |
|
7 | 3 | 4 | 31 | 6 |
|
7 | 3 | 4 | 17 | 6 |
|
6 | 2 | 4 | -31 | 6 |
|
7 | 3 | 4 | -41 | 6 |
|
7 | 2 | 5 | -29 | 4 |
|
6 | 1 | 5 | -102 | 4 |
|
6 | 0 | 6 | -90 | 2 |
