Who should we have never let go?

[legend]

A tough one because over the past couple of years we've lost some talent to other clubs and seems to be an ongoing trend.

 

[Raider_69]

Stuart, because if we didnt i have no doubts right now he would be Raiders coach, not the roosters

 

[legend]

Kennedy was a massive loss and one that came back to hurt us as he is the best lock in the game and was easily the best player in the 2001 GF. We could have rebuilt an awesome side around Kennedy had he stayed with us.

 

[woodgers]

Yeah, I tossed up between Michael Monaghan and Kennedy. I went Monaghan simply on the fact that it is easier to build a team around a good playmaker than a forward. Brett Finch shouldn't be near that poll, we gave him to charity out of the goodness of our hearts.

I was obviously upset to lose Ricky, Clyde and also Ruben but I felt that with each one of those guys that the Raiders got their best years anyway.

 

[Tidus_Raider]

Ricky Stuart. I was devastated when he went to the Dogs.

 

[legend]

Good point on the elder statesmen but i believe Clyde still had two excellent years at the Dogs and would have been an enormous asset with Kennedy still at the club.

Clyde is still one of my all time favourite players. I'm yet to see a better forward than Brad Clyde.

 

[thickos]

Michael Monaghan - sadly quality halves do not grow on trees. He was finding his feet in 2003 after he broke his jaw and then we punted him. Now he is on fire and we are twiddling our thumbs waiting for Carney to arrive.

Ricky Stuart should not have left the way he did but sadly the old News Ltd management had no idea.

 

[legend]

Luke Priddis has been added as I believe he was a significant loss.

Just on Mick Monas. He's an ok player but he will never lift Manly to the premiership and I don't see him as that great a loss.

 

[TiTTieS_[CNTDN]]

M Monaghan just ahead of Vainikolo. If M Monas hadn't have left, maybe J Monas wouldn't have either????

Look what Jason Smith has done for the team with his organinsing. Michael Monaghan probably wasn't that far away from reaching that level. I would go as far as to say he has lead the manly resurgance.

Vainikolo was a devastating runner when he was with the Raiders. If the ball got out there to the wing, he would normally carry players 10 metres before they put him down.

 

[legend]

No way Titties. Manly would be nothing without Kennedy and this was evidenced in their thrashing at the hands of Souths a couple of weeks ago.

 

[woodgers]

Just on Mick Monas. He's an ok player but he will never lift Manly to the premiership and I don't see him as that great a loss.

Can't agree there Legend. I reckon he has singlehandedly turned Manly around. Look at what he did last year without Kennedy when he took over as captain. He has everything you want in a halfback. The only thing I don't like is his constant chats to refs, imagine having him and Woolford together on the park?

 

[legend]

We did remember? ;-)

Like I said, he's ok but I don't rate him in the upper echelon of halfbacks currently playing first grade.

 

[Bobby DIGital]

We also had Finch on that same field. 3 of the top 4 noted Whingers in the RLW players poll.

But yeah it's obviously Stuart. The game would be extremely different today if Stuart played out his career in Canberra. It changed the course of the entire game imo. It was monumental.

Imagine if Stuart was Raiders coach today. We'd have an excellent team, and countless rep players. His reputation as a coach would bring quality recruits to the club....and none of our good players would of left.

 

[woodgers]

His reputation as a coach would bring quality recruits to the club

He might not have had the reputation as a coach that he has now. Don't forget that he walked into a golden slipper job - the best squad and the most resources out of any club. He may have been like Nathan Brown trying to prove himself.

 

[Chachi]

It's a toss up between Stuart for his post-playing influence (as his playing career was all but finished when he left) and Kennedy for what he has done for Newcastle and Manly. I went for Kennedy because it's a complete hypothetical as to what Stuart could have done as our coach. With Kennedy I can see what our team has missed every time I watch that guy rip other teams apart.

 

[canberra_raiders2k2]

but would stuart of been a decent coach with nothing around him?

 

[Mr Saab]

Just on Mick Monas. He's an ok player but he will never lift Manly to the premiership and I don't see him as that great a loss.

i agree 100%.
Monas will never win a GF. He doesnt have that X factor.
Canberra would not be anywhere different with Monas at 7.
Ricky Stuart Monas aint.

 

[Mickxpt]

it might be a while ago but glen lazarus

 

[woodgers]

Monas will never win a GF. He doesnt have that X factor.

I bet anything that he goes close to the Dally M winner this year. I have said since the end of last year that he will win the Dally M if he plays all or most of the matches. Just annoyed I didn't put the cash on it. I haven't seen the table, I may be completely wrong, time will tell.

 

[canberra_raiders2k2]

the volcano,

He was young and was dominating.

also i think Macca could of been a great player if he had a decent playmaker near him.