Why the FOLD every time games are tough ?

[maxta]

There has been games Manly have lost this season that they looked likely to go close to a win, but folded when the game became a contest....soon as the game becomes a real battle, the opposition seem to win the arm wrestle and from there, it often gets quite ugly.
I realise when Kapow ha finished his first stint, there's a decline, but this is more dramatic than that.
The first impression I had was they had given up - a bad Attitude.
After the emotion is not clouding thoughts 100%, the logic comes up other things it could be.....

No BK/ Watmough like competitors lifting the team ?
The team is very young across the board ?
The leadership is not great ?
Fitness drops badly after 15 mins ?
Poor game plan ?
Leadership / direction in the spine ?
Poor defensive reads and structures ?
No control of ruck tempo ?
Off field pressure ?
Not a well bonded team / inside issues ?
Refs making bad calls ?
A few quality players shy of a winning team ?
Negative tactics ?

Or is it simply Attitude ?

Whats the thoughts out there, including other options for the drop during the games - the opposition does not suddenly change yet takes complete control of the game ?

 

[manlyfan76]

I think Pasaka and tapow should start. AFB should start on the bench and come on after 15 mins, replacing Pasaka and hopefully get 25_30 out of Tapow. Afb should go 25 mins to half time and start the second half.
We lose to much with them both off the field (afb and Marty)

Next year Siro in winterstein out.
Back row of Siri Jake and Thompson.

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

I think Pasaka and tapow should start. AFB should start on the bench and come on after 15 mins, replacing Pasaka and hopefully get 25_30 out of Tapow. Afb should go 25 mins to half time and start the second half.
We lose to much with them both off the field (afb and Marty)

In a nutshell, tremendous go forward when they are both on, but stops in its tracks at the change AND the other sides know it!!

 

[manlyfan76]

I like a utility on the bench, two props ( afb plus 1) and a good back rower on the bench

 

[manlyfan76]

In a nutshell, tremendous go forward when they are both on, but stops in its tracks at the change AND the other sides know it!!

Wind up big paseka to start and get him off before he is tired?

 

[Woodsie]

I think you hit the nail on the head with the ... no Ben Kennedy type player ... I believe it was hoped Myles would provide some grit ... but Alas ....

In all tough games there comes moments that can turn the game ... we keep missing those moments. ... not necessarily by incompetence or lack of trying ... simply by a lack of forceful personality ....

The closest we have to a competitor or warrior spirit is Walker ... but he is a hot headed hit or miss type motivator .... not the sustainable answer. I think Joel Thompson was also purchased with the belief he would add the mental starch ... but in this area I think he has been found wanting ....

.. All up we are a young side .... but as important as getting a good 5/8 is .... finding that never say die motivator is just as important ..the bloke that says (sorry for the corn) .. seize the day ...

 

[NYEagle]

No BK/ Watmough like competitors lifting the team ?
The team is very young across the board ?
The leadership is not great ?
Fitness drops badly after 15 mins ?
Poor game plan ?
Leadership / direction in the spine ?
Poor defensive reads and structures ?
No control of ruck tempo ?
Off field pressure ?
Not a well bonded team / inside issues ?
Refs making bad calls ?
A few quality players shy of a winning team ?
Negative tactics ?

The red ones would be my top 3.

NYEagle

 

[manly al]

Mental toughness usually plays a critical role in many N R L matches and think that this present Manly squad could do with a bit more of that trait .Also is often the cause for drifting in and out of games and losing some focus . Probably miss that steadying and even inspiring influence that players like Killer could provide but there are still experienced and well paid personal in the side now who should be offering this.. In some ways this side is still a work in progress overall but if this continues for too much longer , this is hardly going to be a blue print for some long overdue consistency and better results .

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

Can’t help but think we are really missing a known forwards leader.

Sadly Ben Kennedy’s don’t come around too often.

Jurbo wears his heart on his sleeve too much.

Marty is brilliant ( with a few errors ) but don’t see him firing up the pack.

Thommo is consistent and doing a good job each week but still not the standout I think we need.

Don’t know who they can target ( if anyone ) but I think this is an area we are short on!!

 

[Chip and Chase]

Refer to 2 or 3 previous threads regarding leadership, or lack thereof. Nothing has changed, if anything probably got worse as season progresses

Who is our most experienced player ?? probably Thommo or maybe DCE. DCE has shown numerous times he is not a natural leader - tries hard but hasn't quite got what it takes yet. Thommo also tries hard to set a standard but he hasn't quite got the game to influence the results when the chips are down. Once Killer retired the cupboard was left bare.

 

[HappilyManly]

Our players have these qualities within them, otherwise they could not have defeated the Scumos with 11 players , or beaten the Broncos with 35k deathriding them

Manly don't have the right staff to bring this out in the Team as a matter of course 🙁

Donny's post today highlights the type of off field mentor that the Team lacks. Someone who treats them as men, men united in a shared mission

The Ferris schoolboy prankster leader is not what Manly players need

 

[Fluffy]

experience, we are easily the least experienced team in the league, earlier in the year we had 1100 odd games of experience across our 17 where as others were close to 3000.

 

[conanu]

Experience as Fluffy said is a huge one. Although Jake and Tom are amazing players they haven't fully developed as leaders yet. With every season though they will get better and better and with younger players that come through over the coming years they will be more in awe of guys like Jake and follow him to war, much like the Melbourne rookies do with Smith and Slater. Jake and Tom if their health permits will become these players but unfortunately or fortunately they are so young at the moment that they probably don't have quite the same clout as they will in the future. Other than them the rest of the players we have are very much individually talented but don't have the pack mentality examples would be Tapau or Walker both brilliant but are also very much about themselves.
75% of the players dont strike me as the kind of guys that would hang out and have beers together because they actually enjoy each others company, they probably just hang out in a coffee shop and might play poker together or something more so because that is just what you do when you are in a team not because you love hanging with your team mates. the other 25% hit the strippers in Gladstone.