Rumours and Stuff

[Obscene Assassin]

I’d love to see us hit the ground running as opposed to the disastrous start we had last season. We do that, I actually think we have a top 4 squad.

I wonder how the season changes if the bunker correctly ruled that the ball was placed behind Hodgson's foot rather than the penalty for walking through the ruck?

We get a full set 50m out and likely kick a field goal. May have gotten rid of the goal kicking yips Moses had in the first few weeks.

 

[King-Gutho94]

I wonder how the season changes if the bunker correctly ruled that the ball was placed behind Hodgson's foot rather than the penalty for walking through the ruck?

We get a full set 50m out and likely kick a field goal. May have gotten rid of the goal kicking yips Moses had in the first few weeks.

Would have been nice if we took Sivo's kicking licence off him as well.

I recall a stupid kick on 1st tackle with 5 mins to go with a scrum 30m out in front of the posts.

 

[King-Gutho94]

I’d love to see us hit the ground running as opposed to the disastrous start we had last season. We do that, I actually think we have a top 4 squad.

Yeah I agree we have a top 4 squad when fit and not suspended for absolute stupidity like what happened to least 3 or 4 players last year.

Last year's top 8 was one of the softest we have seen in years. Sharks, Raiders and Knights all benefited from cushy draws.

The warriors I suppose were the bolter but on the back of a vintage shaun Johnson who is a year older now and could break down at any moment.

Like every season the chooks are the concern for mine getting into the 4. They have enough talent and rep players to poke a stick at. If they get there act together they are dangerous.

There one side we just don't have a good record against either like souffs.

 

[Jake the snake]

I remember Jake Athur used to have great pre-seasons, too.

Some say he was at lead of all the jogging groups. Amazing!!!!

 

[King-Gutho94]

Manly obviously don't want to pay the 850k of excess baggage to Vegas

 

[hineyrulz]

2 months?? More like 2 years.

 

[Tiger5150]

Manly obviously don't want to pay the 850k of excess baggage to Vegas

This guy is going to be the next Owen Craigie and to think part of the reason Fulton got the chop from Tigers was he was trying to get Schuster to the Tigers. Bullet dodged

 

[Tiger5150]

This guy is going to be the next Owen Craigie and to think part of the reason Fulton got the chop from Tigers was he was trying to get Schuster to the Tigers. Bullet dodged

Then I read the actual article....to be fair there isn t much else he could do in the current situation.

 

[King-Gutho94]

Then I read the actual article....to be fair there isn t much else he could do in the current situation.

I dont think it matters.

He doesnt have that mentality to get himself better. Manly paying him 800-850k a season isn't going to create that drive and intensity to get better.

And at the end of the day i have seen enough over the years that players are either born with that like the Thurston's and Guthersons who will fight like a dog with a bone over anything & driven to get the best out of themselves.

Or you have the Jarryd Hayne's & Schuster's who will just cruise through on Talent but never have the drive, intensity about them to get best out of there talent no matter who is coaching them.

 

[T.S Quint]

Then I read the actual article....to be fair there isn t much else he could do in the current situation.

There's your problem.
You're not supposed to do that.

 

[Stevie]

I don’t want to be a downer but I see us being awful and don’t Think we have the squad at all. I hope I am laughed at and ridiculed more than normal if they succeed.

 

[T.S Quint]

I don’t want to be a downer but I see us being awful and don’t Think we have the squad at all. I hope I am laughed at and ridiculed more than normal if they succeed.

You think we will be worse than we were last season?

 

[EelsFan05]

I have absolutely no idea what to expect this season. I think the squad is very thin, and that's going to become a problem again.

 

[Stevie]

You think we will be worse than we were last season?

I hope not.

but yes. I do.

 

[Stagger eel]

I have absolutely no idea what to expect this season. I think the squad is very thin, and that's going to become a problem again.

I think it's thin in certain areas but not in the important areas ...plenty of clubs out there would love to trade our spine and middles to theirs.

 

[Stagger eel]

Would have been nice if we took Sivo's kicking licence off him as well.

I recall a stupid kick on 1st tackle with 5 mins to go with a scrum 30m out in front of the posts.

he's got 1 TA to his name of his boot which is more than plenty of others in the comp..lol

 

[hindy111]

I have absolutely no idea what to expect this season. I think the squad is very thin, and that's going to become a problem again.

I think top 4. Very good spine. Very good pack.
Backline looks a bit weak but I don't think Russel,Will or Simmonson where at peak so depends how much they improve.
Sivo will always be hot and cold but when he is on he is a terrific player.

 

[King-Gutho94]

he's got 1 TA to his name of his boot which is more than plenty of others in the comp..lol

When was that i can't remember haha.

 

[Twizzle]

 

[Eelementary]

I don’t want to be a downer but I see us being awful and don’t Think we have the squad at all. I hope I am laughed at and ridiculed more than normal if they succeed.

I'm as big a pessimist as they come - you kind of have to be, being an Eels fan.

But you would think the law of averages would ensure we don't have a repeat of 2023.

In 2023, off the top of my head:

* we had our first choice hooker miss games, and eventually medically retire (whether or not you believe he was contributing to the team is another issue; his absence would have caused disruption in the side)

* we had Matterson, RCG, Lane, and Greig, all miss long stretches of games (the reasons are what they are)

* we lost our 5/8 for a decent chunk of time (again, the reason why is not the point here)


It's actually rather amazing to me, given all the disruption we faced, that we were ever in the hunt for a top 8 spot.

I don't think our bad luck can repeat itself to this extent in 2024.

We're not a Premiership-calibre team, imo, but we are definitely a top 8 side, and a thorn in most teams' plans.

For mine, our issues with our outside backs is our biggest question mark - Gutho is just Gutho, Sivo is a try-scoring machine, Penisini is a talent... And then we have as-yet unproven players to fill the remainder of the spots.

Sean Russell knows his way to the try line, and I actually like Simonsson, but our backs depth is weak.