Pullleeaaasseee. Anyone fair dinkum putting any onus on anyone BUT Manu Vatuvei for Manu Vatuvei's disgraceful defensive reads needs to report to OPSM as soon as possible. Goodness gracious me. Last week, game on the line, the defensive line is scrambling on the line but is ok, Benji has the ball, Vatuvei decides to race 5 metres in for absolutely no reason whatsoever leaving Beau Ryan open to score the match winner. This week, last tackle, Cowboys have the ball at dummy half, defensive line is in the best possible structure possible, all are doing their job, dummy half is looking for some kind of miracle option, Manu gives it to him by running 5 metres in field (before falling over) for absolutely no reason whatsoever. How bad a read was it? Well, the centre still nearly got the winger into touch. So, ergo, if the winger had have been in his rightful position there's no chance whatsoever of a try being scored bar a really poor missed tackle which shouldn't happen in those circumstances at this level. Two or three sets later, Manu someway, somehow, gets caught IN BEHIND the player two in on his side. IN BEHIND! What is he? A soccer sweeper? End result, big line break, Locke ankle taps the runner, Johnson saves the day in scramble.
Manu is without a doubt in the top 5 worst defensive wingers in the competition. Not because he can't tackle (he can), but because he thinks its paramount on him that everytime the ball goes his way that he race up and in and try to catch thin air. Great ball runner (although the fumbling hands are back it seems) but a horrific defender. The pity of it was, Fisiiahi decided he'd follow suit. God only knows why. Thurston sensed it and smashed them both for it, yet they kept repeating the dose, over and over and over and over and over and over and over again. Golly me, you'd think costing the game last week would be an opportune time to address the issue, not for Manu it seems.