Big Pete
International Captain
- Mar 12, 2008
- 32,107
- 25,733
I reckon we're a little guilty of having tunnel vision.
While I doubt there wouldn't be a fan alive who wouldn't jump at the opportunity of signing DCE if he was available, chances are extremely remote which is fine because Manly deserve to reap the rewards for their development.
However, our inability to sign DCE doesn't rule us out of premiership contention. It makes life a little harder, but you just have to make the difference up elsewhere.
Take Sydney for instance.
They won with a halves combination of Maloney/Pearce. Sure on paper, that's an Origin combination but anybody who's watched their share of Rugby League know they're not great players. They're not going to go down in the annals of Rugby League history - they're not going to receive Lockyer esque celebrations or anything of that nature. Just two good halves who were able to do a job.
The Roosters didn't win because of them, they won on the back of a great defensive system and a smattering of key players across the park.
Brisbane can achieve those same results, but they've got to be smart about their recruitment and dare I say, particular with their coaching (but that's for another thread!!).
Right now we're looking at a player like Karmichael Hunt. I like Hunt despite the way he walked out on the club despite years upon years of being groomed as a successor. The kid just had something special about him. To me, he's the reverse of Mullen who was blessed with a lot of skill but lacked the mindset of a champion. Hunt had that mindset. I reckon you put Hunt in any position and he'll eventually make a name for himself in it. It's just the man he is really.
However, I don't want him at halfback. I just think it'd take too long to adjust and the results just wouldn't be worth it. If Hunt was to be re-signed I'd like to see him as a centre in a Lyon esque role provided his defence is ready.
But that's neither here nor there.
If I was playing fantasy coach, bring me Luke Keary. Heck, let's go back to the future and bring Izzy Folau home. Now there's a gamebreaker if I ever saw one and I believe the interest would still be there.
At the same time, I'd like to see some loyalty shown to our new brigade. Let's give them an opportunity to impress. I'm just an arm chair coach, so my opinion doesn't count for much, but if I was genuine about moving this club out of it's rut, I'd be very strong on my convictions and would be looking to blood and put my faith behind the youth.
In particular, I'd be giving Molo & Ofahengaue a chance. I mean, can you honestly see the likes of J. Wallace playing apart in a premiership? Me neither. So give these kids with genuine potential a chance! Hell, Wayne, who was considered one of the most conservative coaches of all time gave plenty of his young forwards a go.
I can already see the arguments being made against it. Mostly about QRL is the only way to judge form blah blah blah. However, clearly it isn't for the Broncos. If it was, our top prospects in the NYC would be getting more than one chance to perform.
That concludes ramble #1 of the season. We got a fair ways to go from here.
While I doubt there wouldn't be a fan alive who wouldn't jump at the opportunity of signing DCE if he was available, chances are extremely remote which is fine because Manly deserve to reap the rewards for their development.
However, our inability to sign DCE doesn't rule us out of premiership contention. It makes life a little harder, but you just have to make the difference up elsewhere.
Take Sydney for instance.
They won with a halves combination of Maloney/Pearce. Sure on paper, that's an Origin combination but anybody who's watched their share of Rugby League know they're not great players. They're not going to go down in the annals of Rugby League history - they're not going to receive Lockyer esque celebrations or anything of that nature. Just two good halves who were able to do a job.
The Roosters didn't win because of them, they won on the back of a great defensive system and a smattering of key players across the park.
Brisbane can achieve those same results, but they've got to be smart about their recruitment and dare I say, particular with their coaching (but that's for another thread!!).
Right now we're looking at a player like Karmichael Hunt. I like Hunt despite the way he walked out on the club despite years upon years of being groomed as a successor. The kid just had something special about him. To me, he's the reverse of Mullen who was blessed with a lot of skill but lacked the mindset of a champion. Hunt had that mindset. I reckon you put Hunt in any position and he'll eventually make a name for himself in it. It's just the man he is really.
However, I don't want him at halfback. I just think it'd take too long to adjust and the results just wouldn't be worth it. If Hunt was to be re-signed I'd like to see him as a centre in a Lyon esque role provided his defence is ready.
But that's neither here nor there.
If I was playing fantasy coach, bring me Luke Keary. Heck, let's go back to the future and bring Izzy Folau home. Now there's a gamebreaker if I ever saw one and I believe the interest would still be there.
At the same time, I'd like to see some loyalty shown to our new brigade. Let's give them an opportunity to impress. I'm just an arm chair coach, so my opinion doesn't count for much, but if I was genuine about moving this club out of it's rut, I'd be very strong on my convictions and would be looking to blood and put my faith behind the youth.
In particular, I'd be giving Molo & Ofahengaue a chance. I mean, can you honestly see the likes of J. Wallace playing apart in a premiership? Me neither. So give these kids with genuine potential a chance! Hell, Wayne, who was considered one of the most conservative coaches of all time gave plenty of his young forwards a go.
I can already see the arguments being made against it. Mostly about QRL is the only way to judge form blah blah blah. However, clearly it isn't for the Broncos. If it was, our top prospects in the NYC would be getting more than one chance to perform.
That concludes ramble #1 of the season. We got a fair ways to go from here.
