DCE backflips to stay at Manly

[Porthoz]

Regardless of my opinion on DCE as a person, he hasn't been better than Hunt this season, or even last season imo.

He was dreadful last year in Origin as a starting half, but chances are Mal will pick him anyway, although it wouldn't be totally strange to see Morgan pairing Thurston and take advantage of their familiarity playing together at club level.

 

[Big Pete]

Daly Cherry-Evans criticism is over the top - it's just footy

Great article by Gus.

Really sums up the situation nicely.

 

[Nashy]

Regardless of my opinion on DCE as a person, he hasn't been better than Hunt this season, or even last season imo.

He was dreadful last year in Origin as a starting half, but chances are Mal will pick him anyway, although it wouldn't be totally strange to see Morgan pairing Thurston and take advantage of their familiarity playing together at club level.

You're absolutely mental if you believe this. Absolutely 100% mental.

 

[Porthoz]

He says a few good truths, namely how stupid the round 13 rule is, as well as how much of a shambles the Manly management was, but I doubt he would talk like this if it was Merrin turning his back on Penrith after they lost 2 of their most valuable players in order to get him...
He also poses a very interesting question, which I really would like to see answered, but now won't be anymore. What would a judge say about both contracts put in front of him?

As much as the Titans have some blame to trust DCE would honour his word, they are by far the biggest victim in all this, and people don't seem to care much because... well, it's the Tits from the fickle Gold Coast, who seem more like a NSW'ker team than a Qld team.

I hate the "it's just business" bullshit line, and it's a sad predicament that integrity and honour get trampled all over for the big $$$ with that excuse.

 

[Porthoz]

You're absolutely mental if you believe this. Absolutely 100% mental.

Which part... that Hunt has been better than him for 1.5 years, that he was dreadful in Origin last season, or that Morgan might be chosen?

Don't get me wrong, my dislike of DCE doesn't stop me from seeing he is the more complete player, but I don't think he is what we need. The one thing where Hunt is clearly not up to par (kicking), isn't something the Maroons need as much as the Broncos do. We don't have another go to guy in that department, Qld has Thurston and Smith.

In any other stake, Hunt has been better than DCE over the last couple of seasons, and not by a small margin either.

Having said that, if we didn't have a chief playmaker like Thurston in the team, I would sway the other way and prefer DCE.

 

[Cult]

Which part... that Hunt has been better than him for 1.5 years, that he was dreadful in Origin last season, or that Morgan might be chosen?

Don't get me wrong, my dislike of DCE doesn't stop me from seeing he is the more complete player, but I don't think he is what we need. The one thing where Hunt is clearly not up to par (kicking), isn't something the Maroons need as much as the Broncos do. We don't have another go to guy in that department, Qld has Thurston and Smith.

In any other stake, Hunt has been better than DCE over the last couple of seasons, and not by a small margin either.

Having said that, if we didn't have a chief playmaker like Thurston in the team, I would sway the other way and prefer DCE.

I think an obvious difference is Ben Hunt played and carried a shitty team last year and won games for them whilst DCE plays and carries a shitty team this year and doesn't win games for them.

 

[Foordy]

I hate the "it's just business" bullshit line, and it's a sad predicament that integrity and honour get trampled all over for the big $$$ with that excuse.

Here's the thing ... If it was "just business" and someone didn't honour a contract (i.e. DCE) then the wronged party (i.e. the Titans) would be in court faster than DCE could spout off the cliches that he was in the media conference.

and what a can of worms that would have opened ... especially if the courts ruled in favour of the Titans and forced DCE to play for them (unless they granted him a release)

 

[theshed]

Honestly I'm stoked with this decision. I hope the Titans, Manly, and DCE are negatively impacted by this for years.

I don't even blame him for doing it, I'd sell myself for a ham sandwich let alone 10 million big ones. I think a lot of the criticism is unfair but I love it.

At least I'll be honest and say it's almost exclusively because I hate his head and has very little to do with him hurting the Titans feelings or standing over Manly.

I just wish he didn't time it so well that everyone will forgive him plays well at origin. Oh boy, if he has a shocker and QLD lose the kid is gonna cop an absolute serving.

 

[john1420]

You're absolutely mental if you believe this. Absolutely 100% mental.

Which bit?


1 - Regardless of my opinion on DCE as a person, he hasn't been better than Hunt this season, or even last season imo.

2 - He was dreadful last year in Origin as a starting half,

3 - but chances are Mal will pick him anyway,


1, 2 or 3?

Because my opinion is;

1 - DCE is over rated and Hunt is playing outstanding footy. Is he outplaying DCE? I wouldn't say yes for sure, but be real, I'm not mental for thinking he might have

2 - It's hard for me to me imagine DCE's effort last year being thought of as anything other than dreadful, so I just have to assume you didn't mean this one

3 - Mal will go with loyalty IMO and select DCE; hard to imagine you meant this one either

Summary; you must have meant point one, and whilst you're entitled to your own opinion that Hunt hasn't outplayed DCE, others are entitled to think he has

 

[Nashy]

Which bit?


1 - Regardless of my opinion on DCE as a person, he hasn't been better than Hunt this season, or even last season imo.

2 - He was dreadful last year in Origin as a starting half,

3 - but chances are Mal will pick him anyway,


1, 2 or 3?

Because my opinion is;

1 - DCE is over rated and Hunt is playing outstanding footy. Is he outplaying DCE? I wouldn't say yes for sure, but be real, I'm not mental for thinking he might have

2 - It's hard for me to me imagine DCE's effort last year being thought of as anything other than dreadful, so I just have to assume you didn't mean this one

3 - Mal will go with loyalty IMO and select DCE; hard to imagine you meant this one either

Summary; you must have meant point one, and whilst you're entitled to your own opinion that Hunt hasn't outplayed DCE, others are entitled to think he has

1 - You are correct. Hunt is playing great. But he's not the better player yet. When he has fixed the little issues, and has more than 1 good kicking game a year, then he might be ready for the big stage.

2 - He hadn't trained as a half. This year he will. It will be different.

3 - So he should. Because DCE is the best option for Halfback.

 

[Morkel]

1 - You are correct. Hunt is playing great. But he's not the better player yet. When he has fixed the little issues, and has more than 1 good kicking game a year, then he might be ready for the big stage.

2 - He hadn't trained as a half. This year he will. It will be different.

3 - So he should. Because DCE is the best option for Halfback.

DCE might be the better player, but the argument is Hunt has been the better player for the last 2 years. And I agree.

 

[Nashy]

DCE might be the better player, but the argument is Hunt has been the better player for the last 2 years. And I agree.

Some people clearly have very low expectations of their halfback.

 

[ivanhungryjak]

Don't get me wrong, I think DCE is a very good halfback.
But I also don't think it's coincidence that he was very good when behind a great Manly pack but he's dropped off a bit since the Manly pack has turned to shit.

 

[Cult]

Some people clearly have very low expectations of their halfback.

Clearly. I think you'll need to start giving some reasoning as to why DCE is better soon because your smart ass comments aren't proving anything. Most people are calling for Thurston to play half and Hunt, five-eight. I'd also like to point out that Hunt has had more than 1 good kicking game.

 

[Morkel]

Some people clearly have very low expectations of their halfback.

Never said he was perfect. I know he has a long way to go. It doesn't matter that Hunt has to develop a fair bit more to reach where DCE's shown he can be, but that means **** all when DCE hasn't been playing to that level anyway. As in, regardless of ultimate potential, Hunt is maybe a 7 and DCE's an 8.5. But the last two years Hunt has been playing to that 7 level and DCE's been a 6, maybe a 6.5 at best.

 

[Nashy]

Clearly. I think you'll need to start giving some reasoning as to why DCE is better soon because your smart ass comments aren't proving anything. Most people are calling for Thurston to play half and Hunt, five-eight. I'd also like to point out that Hunt has had more than 1 good kicking game.

I've given my reasons. If you don't know them, you aren't reading enough. I'm not repeating my last 10 posts on the subject in every subsequent post I make.

1. His kicking game came good on Friday night.
2. His options for kick are obviously going to need more work, given he doesn't seem to get that right most of the time (Friday was different) - And don't give me a BS cop out excuse like a halfback not needing to kick. Pull the other one.
3. He hasn't been a halfback long enough to get selection into Origin.
4. I don't believe when people say a halfback and a 5/8 are an interchangeable role, so he has no experience in the 6 jersey
5. He has too many things he is still working on in his game, mainly his attacking options.

The way people react on here when I say DCE is better than Hunt is amazing. If he wasn't a Bronco, I doubt it would happen. DCE is just a more rounded, level headed player. It really is that simple.

There is one other massive reason. Mal picked DCE and Hunt didn't even get a look in.

 

[Nashy]

Never said he was perfect. I know he has a long way to go. It doesn't matter that Hunt has to develop a fair bit more to reach where DCE's shown he can be, but that means **** all when DCE hasn't been playing to that level anyway. As in, regardless of ultimate potential, Hunt is maybe a 7 and DCE's an 8.5. But the last two years Hunt has been playing to that 7 level and DCE's been a 6, maybe a 6.5 at best.

I disagree, and it's fine that you think that way. If it was down to the effort put in in every game, and the obvious effort to fix issues in their game, Ben Hunt shits all over DCE.

But while he's a developing player, which he most certainly, and very clearly is, he's not ready for Origin. That's my opinion.

People also compare it to the Morgan selection. Being selected on the bench is miles away from being thrown into one of the primary positions on the field.

In regard to potential, Hunt is leaps and bounds ahead. But potential should never pick a football team. If it did, we might as well put Ashley Taylor in instead of DCE. I'm pretty sure he's a QLDer.

 

[Cult]

I've given my reasons. If you don't know them, you aren't reading enough. I'm not repeating my last 10 posts on the subject in every subsequent post I make.

1. His kicking game came good on Friday night.
2. His options for kick are obviously going to need more work, given he doesn't seem to get that right most of the time (Friday was different) - And don't give me a BS cop out excuse like a halfback not needing to kick. Pull the other one.
3. He hasn't been a halfback long enough to get selection into Origin.
4. I don't believe when people say a halfback and a 5/8 are an interchangeable role, so he has no experience in the 6 jersey
5. He has too many things he is still working on in his game, mainly his attacking options.

The way people react on here when I say DCE is better than Hunt is amazing. If he wasn't a Bronco, I doubt it would happen. DCE is just a more rounded, level headed player. It really is that simple.

There is one other massive reason. Mal picked DCE and Hunt didn't even get a look in.

Five-eights are rarely just second receivers these days so they are definitely interchangeable in a lot of cases. Not needing to be able to kick consistently well is not a BS cop out excuse because he would have two of the best kickers ever playing alongside him meaning he could be a very good third option kicker. Kicking is the only thing DCE has done better than Hunt over the last 1.5 years. Hunt's defense and running game shits all over anything DCE has shown since 2014.

Many people seem to think Milford to fullback, Hunt to five-eight and Ash Taylor to half is a viable option for the Broncos. I would like to hope you're one of those who argue that Hunts abilities don't transfer to five-eight next time that discussion is had.

DCE has a lot of things to work on too, like being able to win games for his team like Hunt did pretty often last year. I'm sure that loyalty to a player who has been there more often in the past isn't the reason why Hunt "didn't get a look in", right?