cf2 is back
Reserve Grader
THE GOOD:
Shading the Roosters rd 2 win, this was our toughest and most brutal game of the season, and one we could easily have lost in those last 15 tense mins against a desperate opposition. We were literally out on our feet, but the sheer magnitude of our guts, will to win, and never say die impregnable defence has earned us a massive 2 points. There were broken and battered bodies out there but we just refused to buckle. What a great sign for things ahead.
Individually we were strong across the park again. Hoppa was a rock and made a whopping 200 metres, Robbo was simply sensational not only in defence defusing nightmare bombs but also constantly being there in attack. When Matai made that awesome bullocking run and had the ball stripped over the line there were 3 GC players there but Robbo out enthused them all to score. What a reward. Matai was his fantastic energetic self and Lyon's defence was awesome though I'd still like to see him get more ball in space. Great to see Wolfman back and putting in a safe solid effort too. DCE's penetrating kicking game time and again turning Campbell around was incredibly valuable. What an enormous boost, and wow how valuable are those 40 metre penalty kicks for touch.
In the forwards everyone worked their butts off, with Watmough (14 hit ups 33 tackles), Ballin (42 tackles), Glenn (41 tackles), big Joe (13 hit ups 19 tackles), Kite 28 tackles and Robinson 27 tackles. Ballin especially was my pick tonight.
But the very best player for Manly and for mine EASILY man of the match was the unbelievable Foran. Already battered from the last few weeks, he got smashed even more tonight (4 times alone by the freight train Tagataese), made 18 crunching tackles, was a constant threat in attack, and threw up a few awesome spiralling bombs. This guy is incredible. Even on the play when they scored for 16-12 he still made 2 incredible tackles, one on the left sideline and then miraculously another just seconds later on the opposite side of the field. Yes they scored but it was an incredible effort. The best thing is that his attack is only going to get better and better with those beautiful short balls to players in holes. How good is it to watch him.
On the whole an awesome guts effort and a huge reward for all with a massive 4 points in place now with the bye. The boys really deserve a mini break after 10 brutal rds. I hope Des gives them the rest of the week off. Man we have a real team on our hands, and to think we are doing this without our biggest attacking weapon 100 try Brett. bring on the Origin busted Broncos.
THE BAD:
Our wasted bench. Can't for the life of me figure why in a game this brutal we would not use all 17 players. Is there a problem with Mauro? Last week only the last 7 minutes, this week left cold on the bench. Des what's going on? And what a horrible waste when there's a talent like Harrison busting to get our there.
As for T Rex well I just don't get it. All he has to do is catch the ball and run forward REALLY REALLY HARD. But time and again his runs are disjointed, half hearted lazy gallops. This guy has the ability to be Jonah Lomu but he's seemingly got no concept of what to do. So frustrating. Stats don't lie 7 runs for that amount of game time is just appalling, and then there was the frozen dropped ball when we were on the edge of nailing the win which led to their try and an incredibly tense last 10 mins. Oh boy.
I know DCE kicked a pearler from the sideline, but gees you can't help wondering that his generally average ability from the sideline is going to cost us down the track. Lyon is such a great goal kicker what's the story? Is it simply to protect his hammy? Must be surely.
THE UGLY:
The amount of battering that our hero Foran is copping. But a 2 week break is a god send.
Shading the Roosters rd 2 win, this was our toughest and most brutal game of the season, and one we could easily have lost in those last 15 tense mins against a desperate opposition. We were literally out on our feet, but the sheer magnitude of our guts, will to win, and never say die impregnable defence has earned us a massive 2 points. There were broken and battered bodies out there but we just refused to buckle. What a great sign for things ahead.
Individually we were strong across the park again. Hoppa was a rock and made a whopping 200 metres, Robbo was simply sensational not only in defence defusing nightmare bombs but also constantly being there in attack. When Matai made that awesome bullocking run and had the ball stripped over the line there were 3 GC players there but Robbo out enthused them all to score. What a reward. Matai was his fantastic energetic self and Lyon's defence was awesome though I'd still like to see him get more ball in space. Great to see Wolfman back and putting in a safe solid effort too. DCE's penetrating kicking game time and again turning Campbell around was incredibly valuable. What an enormous boost, and wow how valuable are those 40 metre penalty kicks for touch.
In the forwards everyone worked their butts off, with Watmough (14 hit ups 33 tackles), Ballin (42 tackles), Glenn (41 tackles), big Joe (13 hit ups 19 tackles), Kite 28 tackles and Robinson 27 tackles. Ballin especially was my pick tonight.
But the very best player for Manly and for mine EASILY man of the match was the unbelievable Foran. Already battered from the last few weeks, he got smashed even more tonight (4 times alone by the freight train Tagataese), made 18 crunching tackles, was a constant threat in attack, and threw up a few awesome spiralling bombs. This guy is incredible. Even on the play when they scored for 16-12 he still made 2 incredible tackles, one on the left sideline and then miraculously another just seconds later on the opposite side of the field. Yes they scored but it was an incredible effort. The best thing is that his attack is only going to get better and better with those beautiful short balls to players in holes. How good is it to watch him.
On the whole an awesome guts effort and a huge reward for all with a massive 4 points in place now with the bye. The boys really deserve a mini break after 10 brutal rds. I hope Des gives them the rest of the week off. Man we have a real team on our hands, and to think we are doing this without our biggest attacking weapon 100 try Brett. bring on the Origin busted Broncos.
THE BAD:
Our wasted bench. Can't for the life of me figure why in a game this brutal we would not use all 17 players. Is there a problem with Mauro? Last week only the last 7 minutes, this week left cold on the bench. Des what's going on? And what a horrible waste when there's a talent like Harrison busting to get our there.
As for T Rex well I just don't get it. All he has to do is catch the ball and run forward REALLY REALLY HARD. But time and again his runs are disjointed, half hearted lazy gallops. This guy has the ability to be Jonah Lomu but he's seemingly got no concept of what to do. So frustrating. Stats don't lie 7 runs for that amount of game time is just appalling, and then there was the frozen dropped ball when we were on the edge of nailing the win which led to their try and an incredibly tense last 10 mins. Oh boy.
I know DCE kicked a pearler from the sideline, but gees you can't help wondering that his generally average ability from the sideline is going to cost us down the track. Lyon is such a great goal kicker what's the story? Is it simply to protect his hammy? Must be surely.
THE UGLY:
The amount of battering that our hero Foran is copping. But a 2 week break is a god send.
