2025 R18 Sun - Manly 30-12 South Sydney @ 4 Pines

[yobbo84]

All things considered, last week was probably the worst we've played all year. Probably even worse than getting thrashed by Newcastle. Can we play that badly again? Probably.

 

[t-ba]

Manly by 10, Seibold 3 year extension.

 

[Sime_11]

Manly to slip up and cost everyone a perfect round in tipping - Bunnies by 4

 

[speedster]

Manly to slip up and cost everyone a perfect round in tipping - Bunnies by 4

Not me. That will likely give me a perfect round.

I just can't tip Manly. Manly hates me too.

 

[yobbo84]

Dodd and Mamouzelos both playing reggies right at this moment.

No Jacob Host or Brandon Smith, so assume they'll both play NRL.

 

[speedster]

Smith will play. Aitken is out and he was selected at centre so Wayne is going to have to play another forward in the backs - probably Tallis Duncan. Host to take his spot. Walker definitely won't play.

That will be good news for the Manly attack who have tons of speed out wide.

Wonder if Wayne will be tempted to start Smith at dh and shift Havili to bench considering he will have to play the reggies hooker Ryan Gray on the bench to take over at dh at some stage for Smith to get a rest and then play some middle maybe?

 

[speedster]

Manly just need to execute their plays efficiently and they win this.

Of course, if they stuff up their execution ....

 

[yobbo84]

Smith will play. Aitken is out and he was selected at centre so Wayne is going to have to play another forward in the backs - probably Tallis Duncan. Host to take his spot. Walker definitely won't play.

That will be good news for the Manly attack who have tons of speed out wide.

Wonder if Wayne will be tempted to start Smith at dh and shift Havili to bench considering he will have to play the reggies hooker Ryan Gray on the bench to take over at dh at some stage for Smith to get a rest and then play some middle maybe?

Shuffling deck chairs more than Ciraldo.... except Dogs are trying to fit a half in, while Wayne is trying to keep a half out

Just play Wighton at centre and Dodd in the halves FFS

 

[speedster]

Shuffling deck chairs more than Ciraldo.... except Dogs are trying to fit a half in, while Wayne is trying to keep a half out

Just play Wighton at centre and Dodd in the halves FFS

But Dodd has shown next to didley on the field. And that's in reserve grade. He has had more than half a season to acclimatise and show his best. Wayne is desperate for a win yet he isn't confident enough in Dodd to steer the side around Brookvale to get that win.

Neither am I for what it's worth. I'd rather Duncan at centre than Dodd at half.

 

[speedster]

Just on Jack Wighton at centre: I think he is wasted there unless he has Cody and Latrell doing the play making inside him.

Much better for him to run the side and put up booming kicks from 5/8 while they are out.

 

[yobbo84]

That's only one side of the ball. Restructuring your entire defensive line ain't going to work. Manly's outside backs will run rings around us.

 

[speedster]

That's only one side of the ball. Restructuring your entire defensive line ain't going to work. Manly's outside backs will run rings around us.

Dodd's not known for his defence either. Duncan is a much better defender and is quite nimble. Defensively, he slides just one spot further out. Yes, he'll have more space to cover against faster opponents but little to no difference between him and Aitken frankly. He has adapted really well to playing on an edge over the past few months. Really impressed with his ability to learn and grow as a footballer. He now runs great lines to hit gaps and is getting better and covering width in D although is not the finished product by any means as yet. But quick between the ears is the impression I get.

We have to score points to be a chance. Dodd at 5/8? He is very slow and only has a bit of a short kicking game. His running and passing threat is minimal from what I've seen. He's a dudd I'm afraid.

We offloaded Ilias because we didn't want a reserve grade half on $500k so we ended up with a reserve grade half on $650k. Good work! (not)

 

[Warrimoo3]

It’s fitting that Sheriff Raymond is in charge today. Because this is the last chance saloon for both teams. In the next month Manly play 3 of the top 4 plus the Roosters(who on their day are a top 4 team). Souths have to arrest their losing trajectory.

Ideally I’d like to see the run on teams before making a selection. Or more specifically who will Souths put at centre. Aitken in the centre is a recipe for disaster against Manly. Duncan has been channeling Dylan Lucas and looks a likely lad. Looks great as an edge runner. Wighton has been working into form. Keppie out is a blow ( to Manly). Host on his day can do a job.

Souths can muscle up in the forwards and rattle Manly. Getting down and dirty is the only way I can see Souths winning this. Luckily they have one of the best 3 props in the game available (not sure what Laurie was thinking there) .Without Haumole and Paseka Manly’s forwards lack any intimidation factor. They also will miss Brown’s leg speed and even his little bit of ball playing.

We’ll know what mindset Manly have after about 10 minutes with their first up contact in defence. Sometimes they look like they’re just not in the mood to play football and would rather be somewhere else.

An old fashion ambush. Souths by 10.

 

[speedster]

It’s fitting that Sheriff Raymond is in charge today. Because this is the last chance saloon for both teams. In the next month Manly play 3 of the top 4 plus the Roosters(who on their day are a top 4 team). Souths have to arrest their losing trajectory.

Ideally I’d like to see the run on teams before making a selection. Or more specifically who will Souths put at centre. Aitken in the centre is a recipe for disaster against Manly. Duncan has been channeling Dylan Lucas and looks a likely lad. Looks great as an edge runner. Wighton has been working into form. Keppie out is a blow ( to Manly). Host on his day can do a job.

Souths can muscle up in the forwards and rattle Manly. Getting down and dirty is the only way I can see Souths winning this. Luckily they have one of the best 3 props in the game available (not sure what Laurie was thinking there) .Without Haumole and Paseka Manly’s forwards lack any intimidation factor. They also will miss Brown’s leg speed and even his little bit of ball playing.

We’ll know what mindset Manly have after about 10 minutes with their first up contact in defence. Sometimes they look like they’re just not in the mood to play football and would rather be somewhere else.

An old fashion ambush. Souths by 10.

No doubt Manly will look to go wide early and often. That can sometimes be the downfall of plenty of sides who forget to earn the right to go wide by first winning the middle. They will undoubtedly score a few tries out wide with their superior pace advantage similar to how Purdue burnt Chan yesterday in the Cows-Storm game. But he only managed it once. The Storm were good enough to spoil that party on all the other occasions.

Souths only real chance is to aim up in the middle and play a tight, spoiling game where they frustrate Manly's attack by holding the middle and sliding effectively. They have done it in patches against top 4 sides in recent times. They need to be desperate enough to do it for longer patches in this game.

The last however many weeks, a real barometer for Souths in the middle and at the rucks has been the opposition dummy half throwing a dummy and scoring easily from a metre away. If we see that again today, especially early on, then Souths are cooked. Hopefully we see they have learned from their mistakes to not fall for that shit, slow the ptb the f**k down, give away a 6-again if they have to but hold the fort. Icing on the cake would be to see Brandon Smith do that very thing for Souths - something he has been renowned for when playing dh.

Souths can still pull off an ambush here.

 

[Fangs]

I backed Manly but a Souths win today would be the better result.

Make that top 8 log jam bigger.

 

[eagles4eva]

Lets see what she-Balds lads deliver today...Still thinking us by 8..

I'm ready to be disappointed

 

[Belza1]

If Mouldy plays he might give the Myxos 15 minutes at best. Wouldn't waste time playing him

 

[Mr. Shaman]

This game has been cancelled lads.

 

[yobbo84]

Turbo vs Duncan and Tass should be fun, if you're a Manly fan or a masochist

 

[t-ba]

Who wants this season to be over more?

DCE or me?