Team vs Manly.

[jaseg]

I'm with the Beaver... (all over the place)

Taufua is like crap Manu / better Maumalo. Happy they went Lyon at 6 and not in the centres with an actual half (Godinet) brought in. They're down an extra middle forward of real quality (I'm looking at Starling's spot, despite us helping him get off his duck last time), and Green has never caught my eye. Parker seemed good in NYC but playing a different position and not sure if he'll translate.

That being said, DCE now seems fit, Trbojevic bros are dangerous (particularly Tom!!), they don't lose much with Api coming in for Parcell and Taupau could bully some of our middles. Add the Perth factor (though thankfully not a late game this time at least) and our record against Manly.. plus Fonua-Blake looks very good, even Buhrer had a good game recently. Wright goes ok too.

Brown plays better against us than anyone also..

 

[Beavers Headgear]

Beaver, make up your mind! You started off saying how the Warriors should have this win and then riffed with several valid reasons why we won't.

Even with those reasons mate a team with their 6th and 7th choice centres should be beaten every week (Matai, Lyon, Walker, Williame, Trbojovic the top 5)

Shame Issac John isn't fit so Lyon can move out to the centres

If we could get some of these bloody Pokemon things out on the field we might have more of a chance, I see Johnson is right into that craze lol

 

[TheDMC]

Not happy seeing Lolohea on the bench!

I'm okay with it, think it is our best option considering no RTS. Not ideal having to play Ken and Manu together, but having Futs and Lolohea in starting line up messes up our bench as no utility back cover, cept Allwood I guess. Wonder how he has been going in reggies?

So what would you do Blair if coach?

 

[Blair]

I'm okay with it, think it is our best option considering no RTS. Not ideal having to play Ken and Manu together, but having Futs and Lolohea in starting line up messes up our bench as no utility back cover, cept Allwood I guess. Wonder how he has been going in reggies?

So what would you do Blair if coach?

Well, it's a toughie isn't it? Is he taking into account the Perth situation and anticipating a tiring team, which would benefit from the fresh legs of Lolohea off the bench? That could be one reason for benching our second most talented player. That didn't work recently in Cronulla though.

I see Leuluai as the obvious bench/utility option. Fusitua looks to have got that fullback spot sewn up (despite scoring all those tries out on the wing of late) and I like him there now. That leaves Lolohea to start in the halves with Johnson. Something we've discussed widely on this forum.

Hey, if it doesn't work then bring TL on to get our halves revving again! Geez, it's only a call down to the touchline to save the day.

I'm looking forward to seeing a few reserves this Sunday at Brookvale, particularly Lane. I've been calling for his inclusion in the seniors but have no facts to back it up. I've heard he's both ace and not much chop at all. That's from two posters here who seem to have been to games.

Can't wait to say g'day to Ali, too. It's been so long.

 

[Mr Angry]

On Fletch and Hindy the three NSW players were asked who they would not like to play for, Warriors because of all the travel they said. Was Graham Bird and Tedesco

 

[Leber]

Put tui at fullback, fus on the right wing and Maumalo at 14. Much better balance.

 

[Meth]

Or just put Tui on the wing and Maumalo on the bench.

 

[JJ]

Quite the fall from grace for Tui, most of us thought he was one of our best this year, but coach says not so...

 

[WithTheDawn]

There has to be more to Tui not being in the starting side, maybe some issues in training or something. There is no way you don't have him out there for the 80 otherwise. The only game we didn't have him out there for the full game in recent times was the only game we lost...

 

[Rich102]

I see Tui turning into our next Lance Hohaia. Great fill in but has a few flaws that mean he doesn't command a starting spot. His main weakness, though not only, is defence.

 

[Penrose Warrior]

I'm always first in the queue alongside JJ to speak negatively about our coach...but I think Fus has/is earning his FB spot. The only issue lies in Maumalo. We all think/know he's not FG standard, yet apart from that appalling first 15 minutes v the Roosters he hasn't done much wrong - hasn't been caught out on D, hasn't dropped high ball etc. So really, I think Cappy is picking the best side, at least where the outside backs are concerned.

 

[Meth]

There has to be more to Tui not being in the starting side, maybe some issues in training or something. There is no way you don't have him out there for the 80 otherwise. The only game we didn't have him out there for the full game in recent times was the only game we lost...

I think that leg is still not 100%

I think the other issue is that we still aren't clear on what his position is and blokes are starting to nail down their spots.

 

[vvvrulz]

I second the notion that Fus has won the fullback spot over Tui,

I also agree with Meth, Tui should then take the wing and Maumalo should play in the forwards or on the bench.
There isn't an easy fix though, as suspect as Ken's defence is Tui was atrocious with his bomb defusing.

 

[jaseg]

Fus performing better than Tui at fullback is kind of secondary though - as someone said some weeks back now, it's about absolute vs comparative advantage. We, as a team, get more out of having Lolohea at fullback at Fusitua on the wing than we do the reverse (or any combination containing Fusitua at fullback, like this one), despite Fus having performed better there.. and that's arguable to me - he's been good, but after all, Lolohea at fullback has been one of our best players this year...

And the only reason Maumalo hasn't been exposed outside of two windows in the Roosters game is because the ball hasn't gone out that way (and Kata has been amazing at pushing up and cutting it off early when they try to get it out there - but that's high risk, if we keep relying on it the good teams will punish us... and presumably he's got a different type of centre inside him now), and opposition teams haven't kicked in behind him.

 

[JJ]

Fus performing better than Tui at fullback is kind of secondary though - as someone said some weeks back now, it's about absolute vs comparative advantage. We, as a team, get more out of having Lolohea at fullback at Fusitua on the wing than we do the reverse (or any combination containing Fusitua at fullback, like this one), despite Fus having performed better there.. and that's arguable to me - he's been good, but after all, Lolohea at fullback has been one of our best players this year...

And the only reason Maumalo hasn't been exposed outside of two windows in the Roosters game is because the ball hasn't gone out that way (and Kata has been amazing at pushing up and cutting it off early when they try to get it out there - but that's high risk, if we keep relying on it the good teams will punish us... and presumably he's got a different type of centre inside him now), and opposition teams haven't kicked in behind him.

Spot on, I think... seems more good fortune than good management that Maumalo hasn't been exposed yet... he's built some confidence though, and good luck to him. Personally I'd prefer Lolohea at fullback and Fusitua on the wing, but McFadden's the one paid to make these choices...

 

[TheDMC]

Problem with Lolo at fullback and Futs on the wing is what happens with the bench? Can't have maumolo there surely.

I'm okay with Lolo on the bench at the moment as long as he gets at least 30 minutes or more game time no matter what, and if comes on the wing he gets a roving commission. He could be a stunning impact player if used well - tiring defence and all.

Just cant quite see how it would work Lolo playing in the halves with Johnson fulltime/fullgame, at least not at this pointy end of the season..they both run sideways! One of TL's few redeeming features is he runs straight which is vital for one half to do.

 

[RHYTHM AND STEALTH]

Christ on a bike! Surely we're not going to lose to Manly again. It's becoming an NRL joke, and Manly have been very poor this year.

Jamie Lyon's also 34 and a half...

Ps in the absence of first grade at Brookie it looks like I'm off to see the reggies on Sunday. I see Feleti Mateo is in the Manly side! Anyone know what they charge to get into these games? For reserves I'd balk at anything more than $20.

Edit: Entry: $10 adults, Children U16 free.

Good man Blair, get there and support

 

[RHYTHM AND STEALTH]

I see Johno Wright is travelling over to Perth as well as Tavenga

 

[Big Marn]

i would like to think the Kata v Brown is a potential mismatch. I would like to think that Kata if given enough ball will get the better of Brown and create some points. I would like to think that.
Also Badger is a ref easily affected by the crowd in his decisionmaking, so hope there are a few expats there.

 

[jaseg]

I'm looking forward to seeing a few reserves this Sunday at Brookvale, particularly Lane. I've been calling for his inclusion in the seniors but have no facts to back it up. I've heard he's both ace and not much chop at all. That's from two posters here who seem to have been to games.

Can't wait to say g'day to Ali, too. It's been so long.

I might go to that one too, if I can find the time. Moved to Ryde recently so not a big trip. If I make it, I'll be the guy with the Bears top and Warriors scarf giving crap to every Manly fan I see. Gee I hope we win...