Vic I hope your right, but they have promised the world and delivered bugger all to many times for me to share your confidence.
I think they will be a better side than this year but my gut feeling tells me there will be eight teams that will do better, but I could be wrong
No offense, but how do you expect this team to finish in the top 8 with this spine? No Top class FB or Halves or Hooker. I think the Hooker is the least of our problems. If we aren’t in the bottom 4 then we’ve done well.
I'm relatively confident for '21, we have reasonable depth across the forwards and backs with, finally, some punch up front and speed out back.
The glaring weakness is the spine. It still appears to be unsettled and untested and, with zero depth, we're one injury away from catastrophe.
Agree with all this. Im aware of the short comings of our squad and am worried it could all fall in a heap like the back end of 2020. We get tipped for the spoon plenty yet Ive never been worried that we might get it. This year if things go pear shaped I know we could be down there in the mix.
It could be the fact that I havent seen us stink it up on the footy field for 4 months now, or pure unrealistic hope, however I dont often feel this way in a pre season. Im generally realistic bordering on pessimistic regarding the teams chances. Since 2013 Ive only tipped us to make the 8 twice (2017 & 2020) both were after encouraging seasons where we fell just short of the 8. Unfortunately both years we went backwards.
The spine is what worries me. To begin with the likely full strength of:
1. Mbye
6. Doueihi
7. Brooks
9. Liddle
Doesn't strike fear into anyone and understandably would be rated a bottom 4 one by a lot of teams supporters. Then after that the depth options are two kids who are largely untested even at nsw/qld cup level and didnt play a game in 2020.
However is it really much worse then the 8th placed Sharks of 1. Kennedy 6. Johnson 7. Townsend 9. Brailey?
Mbye was great at 1 in 2018, he then got a knee injury in the 2019 trials which hampered his whole season. IN his games back at 1 last year he dangerous, rewatch the Manly comeback win and youll see how well he chimed into the attack.
Doueihi and Brooks compliment each other well, we saw their combo with no training in the last round against Parra and they worked well. Brooks has always played his best when he is allowed to run the team and has a 9 who just passes him the ball, he won the Dally M 7 of the year in 18 when McIllwrick and Godinet did just that.
AS good as Harry was he negated Brooks as he liked to have a look at the defence himself before passing (similar to Robbie) he also much preferred playing to the right. Liddle doesnt play like this. As soon as he picks it up he runs or passes, theres no investigating.
The 2-5, pack and bench options are top 8 material IMO. If the pack can give the spine space the outside backs give them plenty of weapons to hit.
Also never underestimate how much a happy and unified squad means. Every player here has been signed or re-signed by Madge (expect Packer and Mbye). I just get the feeling a lot of the young guys like the hard work that the coach expects of them. Like I said these guys have grown up being the guns in their age groups. Blore captained NSW U16 and U18. Stefano and Simpkin were MOTM in 18 & 19 U18 Origin. The kid we just signed from NQ played for the Jnr All Blacks. These guys didnt come here because we were their only option and they came knowing Madges reputation. I just get the feeling we're in for some good times in 2021.
