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Team v manly

Shaun Hewitt

Shaun Hewitt

First Grade
Messages
6,500
Fus is injured I believe.
Happy for Fish to be given another chance at top level. However, for me, he needs to perform (and not get injured!)
 
Blair

Blair

Coach
Messages
11,204
Meth said:
...Is it just me or do we always gets the games where the club has a point to prove...
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Yep, we do seem to cop plenty of these games, and we usually get wasted when it happens!

However, we've got a point to prove as well this week, so it should be a great game.

I was more concerned if Manly had beaten the Cows last Monday, and continued their come-from-behind 'roll' towards the finals. I reckon they'd have been harder for us to beat in that scenario. As it is, their mini-bubble has been burst.
 
Beavers Headgear

Beavers Headgear

Coach
Messages
10,074
hitro said:
It's helpful that Manly have a short turnaround after playing monday night.
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Ridiculous really, that short a turnaround shouldn't happen, especially when there is an overseas trip involved

Funny game this one, no manly fans give us a chance, and every warriors fan I speak too seems to think they will lose as well.

Our lack of line speed in defence and general softness is my biggest concern, can see them being torn to bits if they hang off. Brett Stewart is our key, absolute freak of a player who has a great record against the Warriors. He is capable of scoring/setting up 3-4 tries if given the space
 
Manu Vatuvei

Manu Vatuvei

Coach
Messages
17,221
I'm glad Fish is playing. I know Maumalo scored 4 tries but if you watch the highlights, Fish was absolutely carving.

The injury toll really sucks and the result is a serious lack of size/aggression in the backline. I'm concerned defensively and I'm concerned about getting our sets started. Fish/Wright/Tomkins is not a back 3 known for making big dummy half runs or hit ups. So having said that, maybe it would be good to have Maumolo back...
 
Iafeta

Iafeta

Referee
Messages
24,357
Maumalo had two tries where he just had to fall on the ground. Fish was about to cross and for some reason passed, Same with John Palavi.
 
R

Rennie

Juniors
Messages
84
I like the idea of having Big Ken on the bench at the expense of Havili/Lousi, would offer injury cover as well as extra grunt coming out of trouble if the others are struggling to make metres, If you need hooker cover then Fish goes to FB and Chad goes to hooker with Tomkins moving into the halves. Simple Really bench should be Ken,Lisone,Vete,Gubb (if fit).
 
A

Auckland4ever

Juniors
Messages
1,243
Beavers Headgear said:
Brett Stewart is our key, absolute freak of a player who has a great record against the Warriors. He is capable of scoring/setting up 3-4 tries if given the space
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Yeah, he's been one of the best players in the whole comp this season, IMO. And we like to make errors, so he may well be getting that space.

I'm really interested to see how your current halves go after they no longer have him at the back, particularly DCE. They had an absolute luxury introduction to first grade, being able to play with so much class around them, not least Brett Stewart.
 
A

Auckland4ever

Juniors
Messages
1,243
Manu Vatuvei said:
The injury toll really sucks and the result is a serious lack of size/aggression in the backline. I'm concerned defensively and I'm concerned about getting our sets started.
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Yeah, if it doesn't nullify any advantage we might have had over Manly's weak-ish pack, it certainly reduces it. And their backline is still one of the best.
I'm 50/50 on this one. I just hope if we do lose, it's not because we repeated the same kinds of f*ck ups as last week.
 
Beavers Headgear

Beavers Headgear

Coach
Messages
10,074
Auckland4ever said:
Yeah, he's been one of the best players in the whole comp this season, IMO. And we like to make errors, so he may well be getting that space.

I'm really interested to see how your current halves go after they no longer have him at the back, particularly DCE. They had an absolute luxury introduction to first grade, being able to play with so much class around them, not least Brett Stewart.
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Will be interesting, although Stewart says he thinks he still has another 3-4 years left in him. Trbojovic is highly rated to be a superstar but I doubt he will possess the ball playing ability of Stewart

I think DCE is good enough to get it done though and as he gets older he will continue to develop more consistency. Is apparently a really good young halve playing in the 20s side so interested to see if he comes through in a couple of years
 
A

Auckland4ever

Juniors
Messages
1,243
Beavers Headgear said:
I think DCE is good enough to get it done though and as he gets older he will continue to develop more consistency.
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More than likely.

I'm always interested to see how highly touted players go when there's a shake-up around them. Have enjoyed seeing Benji reinvent himself at St George, which I doubt would have happened if he'd stayed at Wests. Would especially like to see Adam Reynolds and Cooper Cronk play outside of their respective comfort zones - e.g. how would either fare at somewhere like Parramatta? Looking forward to seeing what Foran will bring to that side.
 
Beavers Headgear

Beavers Headgear

Coach
Messages
10,074
Auckland4ever said:
More than likely.

I'm always interested to see how highly touted players go when there's a shake-up around them. Have enjoyed seeing Benji reinvent himself at St George, which I doubt would have happened if he'd stayed at Wests. Would especially like to see Adam Reynolds and Cooper Cronk play outside of their respective comfort zones - e.g. how would either fare at somewhere like Parramatta? Looking forward to seeing what Foran will bring to that side.
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Cronk is 1 I have always wondered about as well, shame we will never know !

Foran will be an interesting one. Since about August last year I could count the games of he has played to his ability on 1 hand. Whether that is because he hates the place now and isn't putting in, a prolonged lack of form, or another rumour I've heard about having permanent injury concerns I don't know, but he certainly isn't playing up to his new price tag and I'm not convinced he is the man to lead and dominate a side on his own either. Will be interesting to watch

Apparently Toovey was on the news in Oz earlier confirming DCE will play, this a couple of hours after Ch 9 reported he was out, so who knows work that one
 
Blair

Blair

Coach
Messages
11,204
vvvrulz said:
No no no no stop reminding me of the 2008 playoff......
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Now that you mentioned it...it was a tough night, ay? We had so much hope, so much momentum. Manu could have opened the scoring but had a last gasp Manly hand deflecting the pass.

I recall Beaver out in the centres, and destroying us on the edges. A Witt bomb forced a rare knock on from Brett Stewart in front of the sticks (and in front of me) at a crucial stage (we could have come back), but Witt then dropped the pass from the first play. It wasn't our night.

32-6, with a late consolation try to the underrated Aidan Kirk. That season we showed what we could do with a well coached team that didn't rely on a few 'superstars'.

They say Manly supporters don't travel much but they were out in force that night, the whole northern stand seemed to be a sea of the noisy, conceited, flag-waving, Eagle Rock-aping, bastards.

'Manly to sack Geoff Toovey in the coming days' https://au.sports.yahoo.com/league/video/watch/29020263/manly-coach-toovey-to-be-axed/

They really are going to give us a hiding on Saturday, aren't they?
 
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Beavers Headgear

Beavers Headgear

Coach
Messages
10,074
I was there that night on 08, 1 of the great ones ;) probably the best finals campaign that will ever be seen, 110-12 over the course of 3 games.

Remember the crucial play being not long after halftime when Lyon went over the top of the fullback to grab a bomb and score, killed the game coming after the Stewart between the legs pass to Matai just before ht. Beaver came off the bench and scored work nearly his 1st touch
 
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