Young Hoppa - Gotta be in top 17 in 2025

[maxta]

Not sure where ppl have young Hoppa, but I reckon the perfect combination of class and skill and a Must to be in top grade from day 1 in 2025.
I reckon outside Talau who was super in 2024, Hoppa was our best outside back.
Where do we fit him in and if so, who misses out ?

 

[The Wheel]

Not sure where ppl have young Hoppa, but I reckon the perfect combination of class and skill and a Must to be in top grade from day 1 in 2025.
I reckon outside Talau who was super in 2024, Hoppa was our best outside back.
Where do we fit him in and if so, who misses out ?

Good problem to have, seems we always have on back injured but my guess it would be between Hoppa and Talau. However if Saab doesn’t improve his mistake/missed tackle rate he could be the one

 

[maxta]

Good problem to have, seems we always have on back injured but my guess it would be between Hoppa and Talau. However if Saab doesn’t improve his mistake/missed tackle rate he could be the one

What's your thoughts tho Wheel
Always like your opinion- would you find a place for Hoppa in the 17 ?

 

[mave]

Hoppa 100% must start next year in the 17, initially on the wing. Beware 2nd year syndrome though.

As much as I like him, Garrick misses out.....mainly because of the insistence to play in the centres (either by him, or the coach)....I still maintain we are weakening 2 positions with this stance.

Tommy Talau back to centre.

DCE to goalkick .


If Garrick would simply revert to the wing, its a different discussion.

 

[Ron E. Gibbs]

If L'il Hoppa is not in our 17 best players every day of the week, I know nothing about the game of rugby league.*

*Sure, there's a chance I'm just another sausage-roll-eating numpty who knows nothing about the game of rugby league, but there's a better chance Lehi is going to be a good 'un.

 

[manlyfan76]

Hoppa 100% must start next year in the 17, initially on the wing. Beware 2nd year syndrome though.

As much as I like him, Garrick misses out.....mainly because of the insistence to play in the centres (either by him, or the coach)....I still maintain we are weakening 2 positions with this stance.

Tommy Talau back to centre.

DCE to goalkick .


If Garrick would simply revert to the wing, its a different discussion.

2nd highest points in a season ever. Rubs is a good winger, but not our best centre.
Id agree Koula and Talau centres.
Lehi Saab wingers.

 

[Phobia]

This will upset people here, but the guy is at Manly until at least 2026, and from something Seibs said, he might be signed until 2027. He was monstered by the Dogs and Roosters in the finals, whereas Talau had great games. There's no rush to give him a starting 17 spot. He should grow into his own body, and grow his own game, and not be shunted out, when there is a person there already (Talau).

For the sake of consistency, and Hopoate's own development, as playing him at fullback in NSW cup will develop and prepare him and the team better for a Turbo injury, Talau should be getting the starting wing spot. Garrick and Koula should be the centres, and if that is changed, it should be a move for getting Koula into games.

This was Garrick's first year playing in the centres since 2018. Given he has a representative jersey at centre now, and we made the 8, I think everyone is just looking for an excuse for team-wide issues, and the whipping boy without Parker, Harper, Schuster, etc, becomes Garrick. He will improve, like he always has, at wing, fullback, and now centre.

 

[mave]

This was Garrick's first year playing in the centres since 2018. Given he has a representative jersey at centre now, and we made the 8, I think everyone is just looking for an excuse for team-wide issues, and the whipping boy without Parker, Harper, Schuster, etc, becomes Garrick. He will improve, like he always has, at wing, fullback, and now centre.

I would suggest Garrick would have been well in the conversation for a SOO gig this year, if he had stayed on the wing, and continued his improvement there.

 

[maxta]

This will upset people here, but the guy is at Manly until at least 2026, and from something Seibs said, he might be signed until 2027. He was monstered by the Dogs and Roosters in the finals, whereas Talau had great games. There's no rush to give him a starting 17 spot. He should grow into his own body, and grow his own game, and not be shunted out, when there is a person there already (Talau).

For the sake of consistency, and Hopoate's own development, as playing him at fullback in NSW cup will develop and prepare him and the team better for a Turbo injury, Talau should be getting the starting wing spot. Garrick and Koula should be the centres, and if that is changed, it should be a move for getting Koula into games.

This was Garrick's first year playing in the centres since 2018. Given he has a representative jersey at centre now, and we made the 8, I think everyone is just looking for an excuse for team-wide issues, and the whipping boy without Parker, Harper, Schuster, etc, becomes Garrick. He will improve, like he always has, at wing, fullback, and now centre.

It's all about opinion mate and I respect yours 100%
Personally, I reckon Hoppa should be a lock in 2025, but you certainly make honest and some valid points - good post I say 👍

 

[The Wheel]

What's your thoughts tho Wheel
Always like your opinion- would you find a place for Hoppa in the 17 ?

I would start the year Turbo, Garrick, Talau, Tolu, Saab.

Lehi will get his chance and play plenty of games. Need to be careful of 2nd year syndrome, it will be a long season if he goes in first up.

But when he gets in he will probably stay in.

 

[Disco]

The way the game is played these days I'd carry a back on the bench which is Hoppa for mine (for now).

So often a back goes down and teams struggle to recover.

 

[maxta]

I would start the year Turbo, Garrick, Talau, Tolu, Saab.

Lehi will get his chance and play plenty of games. Need to be careful of 2nd year syndrome, it will be a long season if he goes in first up.

But when he gets in he will probably stay in.

That's 100% fair mate

I love a fair thread with different opinions
I just gotta have young Hoppa there, but everything you have posted is on point also 💯

 

[davohan123]

This will upset people here, but the guy is at Manly until at least 2026, and from something Seibs said, he might be signed until 2027. He was monstered by the Dogs and Roosters in the finals, whereas Talau had great games. There's no rush to give him a starting 17 spot. He should grow into his own body, and grow his own game, and not be shunted out, when there is a person there already (Talau).

For the sake of consistency, and Hopoate's own development, as playing him at fullback in NSW cup will develop and prepare him and the team better for a Turbo injury, Talau should be getting the starting wing spot. Garrick and Koula should be the centres, and if that is changed, it should be a move for getting Koula into games.

This was Garrick's first year playing in the centres since 2018. Given he has a representative jersey at centre now, and we made the 8, I think everyone is just looking for an excuse for team-wide issues, and the whipping boy without Parker, Harper, Schuster, etc, becomes Garrick. He will improve, like he always has, at wing, fullback, and now centre.

Don't think this will upset people.

I think he needs to still build into his adult body and if one of our starting 5 Starts poorly he will be in.

He will get his chance in 2025 when Turbo breaks down like normal.

 

[Dion Johnson]

Not sure where ppl have young Hoppa, but I reckon the perfect combination of class and skill and a Must to be in top grade from day 1 in 2025.
I reckon outside Talau who was super in 2024, Hoppa was our best outside back.
Where do we fit him in and if so, who misses out ?

Hoppa is a generational player, you find ways to have players of this ability in your team, he would play left wing and continue to build his first grade career.

The same way Turbo developed while Snake was in the 1 jumper, you just find a way to have him in the starting 13, it means making a tough call on another player then that’s what it’s got to be, I would have him over Saab and Garrick on form.

 

[maxta]

Hoppa is a generational player, you find ways to have players of this ability in your team, he would play left wing and continue to build his first grade career.

The same way Turbo developed while Snake was in the 1 jumper, you just find a way to have him in the starting 13, it means making a tough call on another player then that’s what it’s got to be, I would have him over Saab and Garrick on form.

As always - makes sense Dion

 

[double hoops]

I've always wanted DCE to want the goal kicking. Just never imagined it in his last year of footy.

 

[GrahamHughesHairHat]

Hoppa will start at fullback if TT suffers a shoulder/ pec / hammy/ ankle injury playing for Australia
Hope he doesn’t but ……..

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

Hoppa will start at fullback if TT suffers a shoulder/ pec / hammy/ ankle injury playing for Australia
Hope he doesn’t but ……..

It’s a moral

 

[Dion Johnson]

Hoppa 100% must start next year in the 17, initially on the wing. Beware 2nd year syndrome though.

As much as I like him, Garrick misses out.....mainly because of the insistence to play in the centres (either by him, or the coach)....I still maintain we are weakening 2 positions with this stance.

Tommy Talau back to centre.

DCE to goalkick .


If Garrick would simply revert to the wing, its a different discussion.

I found this article on when the club resigned Garrick after the rainbow jumper fiasco.

It states in the article it was Garrick and his manager wanting to play centre, was made clear up to Mestrovs level, I personally don’t like it where players demand where they want to play when they are not up to it.

Could be a similar call that was made on Schuster for me after the club signed Brooks, the plan was Schuster playing backrow.

Sea Eagles to offer Reuben Garrick long-term deal and positional switch

Manly are eager to lock up the outside back following the interest from Newcastle.

www.zerotackle.com

 

[Sheikheagle]

The way the game is played these days I'd carry a back on the bench which is Hoppa for mine (for now).

So often a back goes down and teams struggle to recover.

Yep given the HIA rule a back on the bench makes sense.