haha. Just getting my arguments in order for his next inevitable decline.
Difference with Manu is when he has a bad game it's "he's too old (since he was about 25!), too slow, too big, needs to be playing in the forwards, can't catch, shouldn't be in in first grade" etc. When he's playing well suddenly he's the most impressive specimen on two legs.
He's unusual in that when he gets criticised the criticisms seem to be fundamentally about whether he should even be a professional rugby league player. The perceptions of him are unusually extreme in their bi-polarity (if that's a word).
To be fair, I felt he was done on the wing last season. Done, done done. Too slow off the mark, too slow to turn, too this and too that.
And when he got injured in his first game this year, I saw history repeating and expected an injury-plagued season where he'd let in one or two for every try he scored.
I'm more than happy to admit I was dead wrong, Manu has done remarkably well with his rehabilitation and return (perhaps helped by better staff and more intelligent management?) and is now playing a true winger's game most of the time, and chiming in as the extra forward only when required.
He's got a fantastic combination going with Nielsen and the tries are ticking over with a minimum conceded down their flank.
I'll be back with the Manu to the forwards rant next time he looks lame for 3 consecutive games haha.
