Will we give him another chance?

[RHYTHM AND STEALTH]

i wouldnt lose any sleep if matulino f**ks off. he was one of the trouble makers a few seasons back and seems like he hasnt changed

 

[DRAGONSNZ]

i wouldnt lose any sleep if matulino f**ks off. he was one of the trouble makers a few seasons back and seems like he hasnt changed

Yes please, over here, dragons will take him..

 

[SpaceMonkey]

i wouldnt lose any sleep if matulino f**ks off. he was one of the trouble makers a few seasons back and seems like he hasnt changed

Except he'll sign somewhere else and destroy us twice a year...

 

[Penrose Warrior]

i wouldnt lose any sleep if matulino f**ks off. he was one of the trouble makers a few seasons back and seems like he hasnt changed

When I saw this post initially I said in my mind bloody oath.

But then I thought harder about it.

Last year, Ben was Player of the Year. He averaged 154m a game and 16.6 runs. That is beastly.

How is he rewarded? By being placed on the bench in round one. We all remember that right? He's then on the bench the next two weeks as well. Fourth week, he finally starts, and I'll never forget when he scored the try before halftime. I said to a mate, that is one f**ked off human being. He's then forced to play nigh-on 80 minutes for the next 3 weeks, then goes back to 45 mins v the Dogs (he makes 12 runs for 120m).

Now I'm not defending him in full. I've said for years he's never really had any desire to be a leader, which annoys me. But last year, he was a powerhouse. And McFadden goes and f**ks with it? Benching your player of the year, big time prop? You think his ego is going to like that? Then you want to take him from that to playing nigh-on 80 minutes? Probably tell him to put the offload away too?

I honestly believe that the ills of this team, at present, are down to our coach and his complete ineptness. Most of us here would've played sport to a decent level, and we know how we perform when we don't agree with the coach, don't like him etc. It's human nature. I truly believe it is what I'm seeing in Ben, Issac, Manu etc.

So we can send Ben packing, and some other team will turn him back into a beast. Or, we get rid of this useless coach, we sit Ben down and say 'hey - we weren't that impressed with you this year and your attitude. But we understand to a point. We'll take you forward under a new coach, as long as you take on leadership and set the attitude around here. You in?' If he's not, then fine. But our young props are MILES off, Lillyman is on the way over the hill and no good prop worth his salt wants to come to us. So we need Ben, and he needs good management right now.

 

[KeepingTheFaith]

We haven't been shopping Manu. Manu has received offers and due to what's been going on in his life, the club will let him leave if he so wishes. Sounds like that's what he wants.

No idea on who the other 2 are.

Honestly, it could be a number of players from this squad.

Hurrell - obvious choice
TL - Linked to ESL
Lillyman - was rumoured to be welcome to shop around last season
Hoffman - rumoured to want out of the last year during this past off season
Lousi - off contract, no point keeping
Palavi - off contract, taking up top 25 spot apparently
Allwood -Paid overs, tried to get rid of him before

Take your pick really, we're probably not short on players we're looking to ship off or who want to leave.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

When I saw this post initially I said in my mind bloody oath.

But then I thought harder about it.

Last year, Ben was Player of the Year. He averaged 154m a game and 16.6 runs. That is beastly.

How is he rewarded? By being placed on the bench in round one. We all remember that right? He's then on the bench the next two weeks as well. Fourth week, he finally starts, and I'll never forget when he scored the try before halftime. I said to a mate, that is one f**ked off human being. He's then forced to play nigh-on 80 minutes for the next 3 weeks, then goes back to 45 mins v the Dogs (he makes 12 runs for 120m).

Now I'm not defending him in full. I've said for years he's never really had any desire to be a leader, which annoys me. But last year, he was a powerhouse. And McFadden goes and f**ks with it? Benching your player of the year, big time prop? You think his ego is going to like that? Then you want to take him from that to playing nigh-on 80 minutes? Probably tell him to put the offload away too?

I honestly believe that the ills of this team, at present, are down to our coach and his complete ineptness. Most of us here would've played sport to a decent level, and we know how we perform when we don't agree with the coach, don't like him etc. It's human nature. I truly believe it is what I'm seeing in Ben, Issac, Manu etc.

So we can send Ben packing, and some other team will turn him back into a beast. Or, we get rid of this useless coach, we sit Ben down and say 'hey - we weren't that impressed with you this year and your attitude. But we understand to a point. We'll take you forward under a new coach, as long as you take on leadership and set the attitude around here. You in?' If he's not, then fine. But our young props are MILES off, Lillyman is on the way over the hill and no good prop worth his salt wants to come to us. So we need Ben, and he needs good management right now.

I agree. We don't even need him to be a leader really- not every senior player has to do that. He can just be one of those guys who knuckles down to the task and does his job well and in a sense leads by example.

 

[Rich102]

Matulino is frustrated.
A good coach would fix that.

I would hate to lose him.

 

[Iron Lion]

When I saw this post initially I said in my mind bloody oath.

But then I thought harder about it.

Last year, Ben was Player of the Year. He averaged 154m a game and 16.6 runs. That is beastly.

How is he rewarded? By being placed on the bench in round one. We all remember that right? He's then on the bench the next two weeks as well. Fourth week, he finally starts, and I'll never forget when he scored the try before halftime. I said to a mate, that is one f**ked off human being. He's then forced to play nigh-on 80 minutes for the next 3 weeks, then goes back to 45 mins v the Dogs (he makes 12 runs for 120m).

Now I'm not defending him in full. I've said for years he's never really had any desire to be a leader, which annoys me. But last year, he was a powerhouse. And McFadden goes and f**ks with it? Benching your player of the year, big time prop? You think his ego is going to like that? Then you want to take him from that to playing nigh-on 80 minutes? Probably tell him to put the offload away too?

I honestly believe that the ills of this team, at present, are down to our coach and his complete ineptness. Most of us here would've played sport to a decent level, and we know how we perform when we don't agree with the coach, don't like him etc. It's human nature. I truly believe it is what I'm seeing in Ben, Issac, Manu etc.

So we can send Ben packing, and some other team will turn him back into a beast. Or, we get rid of this useless coach, we sit Ben down and say 'hey - we weren't that impressed with you this year and your attitude. But we understand to a point. We'll take you forward under a new coach, as long as you take on leadership and set the attitude around here. You in?' If he's not, then fine. But our young props are MILES off, Lillyman is on the way over the hill and no good prop worth his salt wants to come to us. So we need Ben, and he needs good management right now.

Very good post, I cant workout what the hell cappy has been thinking rotating the props basically every single week, starting, bench, reserve grade, starting, bench,starting ........... simply incredible!

 

[JJ]

When I saw this post initially I said in my mind bloody oath.

But then I thought harder about it.

Last year, Ben was Player of the Year. He averaged 154m a game and 16.6 runs. That is beastly.

How is he rewarded? By being placed on the bench in round one. We all remember that right? He's then on the bench the next two weeks as well. Fourth week, he finally starts, and I'll never forget when he scored the try before halftime. I said to a mate, that is one f**ked off human being. He's then forced to play nigh-on 80 minutes for the next 3 weeks, then goes back to 45 mins v the Dogs (he makes 12 runs for 120m).

Now I'm not defending him in full. I've said for years he's never really had any desire to be a leader, which annoys me. But last year, he was a powerhouse. And McFadden goes and f**ks with it? Benching your player of the year, big time prop? You think his ego is going to like that? Then you want to take him from that to playing nigh-on 80 minutes? Probably tell him to put the offload away too?

I honestly believe that the ills of this team, at present, are down to our coach and his complete ineptness. Most of us here would've played sport to a decent level, and we know how we perform when we don't agree with the coach, don't like him etc. It's human nature. I truly believe it is what I'm seeing in Ben, Issac, Manu etc.

So we can send Ben packing, and some other team will turn him back into a beast. Or, we get rid of this useless coach, we sit Ben down and say 'hey - we weren't that impressed with you this year and your attitude. But we understand to a point. We'll take you forward under a new coach, as long as you take on leadership and set the attitude around here. You in?' If he's not, then fine. But our young props are MILES off, Lillyman is on the way over the hill and no good prop worth his salt wants to come to us. So we need Ben, and he needs good management right now.

Yeah, bottom line is Ben is an elite prop - McFadden has handled him poorly - unlike Hurrell (who he's also handled poorly) Ben has shown he is one of the best in the comp...

 

[ozbash]

He would be a bigger loss than Manu. He hasn't been happy for a while now..

 

[Sanchez]

Being on the bench as a prop is not a big deal at all

 

[SpaceMonkey]

He would be a bigger loss than Manu. He hasn't been happy for a while now..

Losing either is geniused. Manu should be a one club player even if his on field value isn't quite what it was.

 

[Blair]

Remind me when and where?

Dunno what game the big fella scored his first, I'd confidently say it was in 2004 though, when he debuted with the flaming orange 'do.

I've had the pleasure to see three of his tries. That 'if you're gonna kick it towards Manu then make sure it doesn't sit up beautifully for him to run onto' length of the field job against Penrith. That was our must-win end of season loss in 2014. He ran that one straight into my corner, which was some sight!

The GF in 2011. Manu was getting bagged by people for not scoring tries like an 'athletic winger' (i.e. diving one-handed into the corner). He did that night and took us into a comeback that had us 13 minutes from a premiership. Wow, how far away are we now?

Then Gosford this year, as I've already described.

 

[ZEROMISSTACKLES]

If I haven't said so already, let him go. Any player that's good enough to play NRL but is not being selected by the Warriors should be sent away to make money for themselves and their families. Some of these guys are father's, f**k the fans.

 

[Matua]

Being on the bench as a prop is not a big deal at all

It is when it's the first game of the season and by the time you get on the field the game is already over and you've lost to the lowly Tigers.

That was just stupidity.

I can't believe that there are fans out there who are backing a coach who had a sackable record last year (similar to Blueys when he was sacked) over two of the longest serving and best Warriors we've ever had.

 

[vvvrulz]

The GF in 2011. Manu was getting bagged by people for not scoring tries like an 'athletic winger' (i.e. diving one-handed into the corner). He did that night and took us into a comeback that had us 13 minutes from a premiership. Wow, how far away are we now?

Who's pulling out misty eyed memories now!

Those 15 minutes or so were the last, truly epic moments we've had as a club.
Four years of forgettable plod ever since, damn.

 

[Blair]

Who's pulling out misty eyed memories now!

Those 15 minutes or so were the last, truly epic moments we've had as a club.
Four years of forgettable plod ever since, damn.

I'm sorry this time!

Just a little more though, before we settle back into the harshness of the present time...it was the 67th minute, we had an almighty roll-on (the Sea Eagles looked rattled), down 18-10 (those Maloney conversions sailed inside then, at the last moment, outside of the sticks high up in the swirling gale).

Johnson grubbered inside the Manly twenty (should he have ran it?) and it somewhat flukily found its way into the feet, then arms, of a relieved Brett Stewart...

Thirteen minutes from glory...

...now back to 2016 .

 

[vvvrulz]

Wasn't it Jamie Lyon?

Jumped on some loose ball against the run of play, we were absolutely ripping into them and they were panicking. Game ended there effectively, if we scored there...

 

[TheDMC]

Wasn't it Jamie Lyon?

Jumped on some loose ball against the run of play, we were absolutely ripping into them and they were panicking. Game ended there effectively, if we scored there...

I have an awful memory, but I think I was at that GF.

Didn't Inu retrieve the ball near our goal line and make a great weaving run past 4 or five defenders and then randomly drop the ball (or one on one strip).

And flukey azz try by Manly with Cherry Evans infield kick as he was going over the sideline.

Good game though. The only year I have lived in Australia was 2011 Went to Melbourne for the semi too - best game ever. Watched us lose to the dragons at Wollongong too - typical loss against them, grinded down. Great place to watch footy though.

Sigh.

 

[vvvrulz]

I have an awful memory, but I think I was at that GF.

Didn't Inu retrieve the ball near our goal line and make a great weaving run past 4 or five defenders and then randomly drop the ball (or one on one strip).

And flukey azz try by Manly with Cherry Evans infield kick as he was going over the sideline.

Yep those happened, Inu clean dropped it, typical f*cking Inu.
He got in some epic smashes with Matai though.

The fluke try was off a Glenn Stewart grubber (if we're talking about the same one), Gus creamed himself about it with his "Origin Play" bs.

Not a lot went our way actually, Martel got stripped with two in the tackle, play on, no replay.
Gorgeous George stuck his elbow in Heremaia's face and escaped the bin.
Watmough played the ball both facing touch and knocking on. Play on.

All this after that shocking ref during the Tigers playoff (another epic!)

Ah good memories.... I miss the days when we were taken seriously.