Is Des fairdinkum?

[Cletus]

I thought Des did a good job this year. A few bizzare selections but I'm more than happy to make the grand final.

I'm not convinced about Lyon at 5/8, tbh I'd prefer Menzies there. I thought we missed fowards like Hall and Rose. Cuthbertson is the only foward last night who you'd call an impact player. All the rest are toilers, and Bryant isn't that good really.

I'm looking foward to next year. We'll be a better side next year i think, the only thing I'm worried about is having to rely more on Orford's hopeless long kicking game without Monaghan there.

 

[Johns Magic]

Do they have less superstars, Yes. Do they have less talent available to them, Yes. Their success came because they played better as a team and also had less injuries.

You asked if any other clubs had better squads.

 

[Cletus]

I think Brisbane and Parramatta had just as good if not better squads. There certainly wasn't anything in that Manly squad pre-season that screamed out that they were going to do as well as they did and I wouldn't be surprised if they fell back to the pack next year.

Like Brisbane did this year?

 

[axl rose]

Agree with all of the above.

You forgot -

* Ban Steve Roach from any coaching duties.

He was coaching the Tigers under 20's about 15 years ago and he was a dud, ran dead last. He followed Alan Jones to Souths and it was the same story. Must have been mates with Des from a Roo tour or something, no other explanation.

 

[Glen]

I agree that Hasler probably could have made a few better selection decisions, but Melbourne still would have been far too good

 

[Mr Saab]

Like Brisbane did this year?

They started the yr lazy, then won 5 in a row before being shut down with injury
Brisbane, injury permitting, will be back competing again in 08

 

[Garts]

If Brisbane did not get hammered with injuries they would have been challenging for the premiership this year. They will be back in 08 as Saab said, no doubt.

 

[salivor]

Like Brisbane did this year?

Pretty hard to keep with the pack when half your first grade squad is sitting on the sidelines.

 

[Cletus]

They started the yr lazy, then won 5 in a row before being shut down with injury
Brisbane, injury permitting, will be back competing again in 08

I thought they might challenge before Lockyer got injured. But they were dead ordinary at the start of the year.

 

[CharlieF]

You asked if any other clubs had better squads.

In 2007 they had a better squad available to them than all the other teams bar Melbourne due to less injuries and improved player consistency. This in itself brings competion among the players for positions and keeps feeding itself. Lucky season, maybe. Successful season surely.

 

[Mr Saab]

They were ordinary. I guess it is the lack of hunger, or thinking things would be handed to you.
But, no matter how good you are if you dont work hard then the results won come.
They pulled their finger out and the results started to happen.

 

[Johns Magic]

If Brisbane did not get hammered with injuries they would have been challenging for the premiership this year. They will be back in 08 as Saab said, no doubt.

Webcke, Thorn, Carlaw, Berrigan, Tate, Civoniceva, McGuire. All gone from the 2006 premiership winning side.

I think the Broncos are entering a few lean years.

 

[Garts]

Webcke, Thorn, Carlaw, Berrigan, Tate, Civoniceva, McGuire. All gone from the 2006 premiership winning side.

I think the Broncos are entering a few lean years.

They will still be one of the top sides, still have Hunt, Hodges, Lockyer, Carroll, Ennis, Eastwood etc. All class players.

 

[Mr Saab]

If Joel Clinton can pull his finger out and show his 2003 form then Brisbane will be a factor in 2008.
Looking forward to the new guys in him, Simms and Wallace...and the emergence of David Taylor.

 

[salivor]

Webcke, Thorn, Carlaw, Berrigan, Tate, Civoniceva, McGuire. All gone from the 2006 premiership winning side.

I think the Broncos are entering a few lean years.

Similar things were said when we lost Walters, Carroll, Thorn, Campion and Walker after the 2000 premiership and the "lean years" that followed were preliminary finals for 2 years straight. We've got some very good young talent in our squad and have brought quite well so I'm quietly confident we can have a fair crack at it next year.

 

[Johns Magic]

They will still be one of the top sides, still have Hunt, Hodges, Lockyer, Carroll, Ennis, Eastwood etc. All class players.

Their forward pack will be pretty average next year unless Clinton plays to his potential.

 

[mave]

...

 

[Misty Bee]

They will still be one of the top sides, still have Hunt, Hodges, Lockyer, Carroll, Ennis, Eastwood etc. All class players.

Geez, that list tapers off real quick to PL standard.

I struggloe to believe that Eastwood is an example of a class player making his club a top side.

 

[Dutchy]

If I was a Manly fan I'd be absolutely filthy at Des for at some of his team selections this year, I have no doubt that with the playing roster they had in front of them they should of not only been neck and neck with Melbourne for the MP but also should of won that game yesterday if he did the following..

* Kept Lyon at Right centre - easily his best position and easily one of the best in the world

* Put Burns at five-eight - proven to be one of the most competative players in the comp and a prick to play against.

* Had Matai come off the bench - capable of rattling any oppsition during the danger period of the game [30th to 50th minute] and should of been as a forward.

* Matt Balin should of also been given more of a run especially coming of the bench.

* Mick Monaghan should of been the skipper enuf said.

for a guy that was given alot of money to tinker with the side, assistance from blokes like Dennis Moore and Steve Roach and structure and technology that Peter Sharp never had the opportunity to use, I don't think he's done a great job..

your thoughts? especially Manly fans.

That plus the selection of Bryant every week.

Been my thoughts and what Ive put up with since the start of the season mate.

But hey, he got us to the GF. Not a bad coach IMO.

 

[skinnydragon]

Steve Roach wasn't on the Manly coaching staff this year, just thught I'd point that out.