Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Tom Shines]

So he just magically became better at Manly?

Maybe the coaching , pre season training program and the culture they have there may have had an impact ?

I don’t know the answer … I’m speculating … but he is a better player this season than he was here in his 5 seasons here…. Much better …

 

[Needaname]

Cam Smith is easily top

Cam Smith is easily top 5 most overrated players of all time

Pull the other one.

Universaly considered one of the greatest players ever is over rated lol I’ve heard it all now.

theres a reason why Farah ‘believing similar to the above post’ was never fit to tie Smiths laces.
Don’t believe me; watch the Australian forward pack play difference when both smith and Farah were hookers in the team a couple of years.

 

[Vicious]

I’m not getting too excited about anything he has shown so far …

I think he is superfluous to requirements in 2025 given JL, Latu and Galvin … but I’m not going to lose any sleep if they want to play Sullivan over Sezer this year

I’m a big fan of both Galvin and Latu Fainu, but they have yet to dominate and show the same attacking x-factor as what Sullivan has at this stage.
A 500k contract was obviously too much for Sullivan on what he’s proven in his NRL career so far, but that’s not his fault and paying Latu Fainu 500k per season was way too much for what he’s proven so far also.

 

[Red88_Tiger]

. I am gobsmacked with Talau … I laughed at my Manly supporting friends when they bought him … I didn’t think he was an NRL first grader … Im not laughing now ..

Tommy is getting schooled by Jess sergis isn’t he.
Enough of a reason for anyone to lift their game

 

[pawsandclaws1]

I’m a big fan of both Galvin and Latu Fainu, but they have yet to dominate and show the same attacking x-factor as what Sullivan has at this stage.
A 500k contract was obviously too much for Sullivan on what he’s proven in his NRL career so far, but that’s not his fault and paying Katu Fainu 500k per season was way too much for what he’s proven so far also.

Both Fainu and Galvin can defend. Fainu has had limited opportunities due to injury but I'd rather go with a highly talented youngster rather than Sullivan whose only consistency has been his inconsistency.

 

[Tom Shines]

I’m a big fan of both Galvin and Latu Fainu, but they have yet to dominate and show the same attacking x-factor as what Sullivan has at this stage.
A 500k contract was obviously too much for Sullivan on what he’s proven in his NRL career so far, but that’s not his fault and paying Katu Fainu 500k per season was way too much for what he’s proven so far also.

It may not be his fault … but you can’t keep them all… and he is my man to let go ..

He probably will go on to have a big career elsewhere though … because Tigers …

 

[Tucker]

Pull the other one.

theres a reason why Farah ‘believing similar to the above post’ was never fit to tie Smiths laces.
Don’t believe me; watch the Australian forward pack play difference when both smith and Farah were hookers in the team a couple of years.

Yeah it’s a silly narrative.
Hookers like Farah tried to score bragging points over Smith and whilst concentrating on that, he was engineering the loss of their side.

 

[Vicious]

Both Fainu and Galvin can defend. Fainu has had limited opportunities due to injury but I'd rather go with a highly talented youngster rather than Sullivan whose only consistency has been his inconsistency.

I agree the two youngsters have a more solid all round game, given their bigger frames and their defence generally being stronger, but I don’t believe either of them have the high end attacking x-factor in their game that Sullivan possesses.
None of the 3 have shown they have a kicking game near good enough as yet, but Galvin has shown glimpses of his getting better and I thought Sullivan showed a much improved kicking game in the first half against the Dragons also.
In any case none of them or Luai can save us if we don’t put a competent team around them.

 

[Red88_Tiger]

Yeah thought as much when it was announced basically got sacked from the sharks with the eye to Fitzgibbon because the sharks could attack but were completely out of sorts in defence.
We need to hire a defensive minded coach as a specialist assistant.

Josh morris was one of the best edge defenders
If he’s available might be worth a shot seen as that is one of our weaker areas

 

[Tom Shines]

I agree the two youngsters have a more solid all round game, given their bigger frames and their defence generally being stronger, but I don’t believe either of them have the high end attacking x-factor in their game that Sullivan possesses.

Sullivan is 3-4 years older than them … it’s not a completely fair comparison … The other two have more improvement left in them you would imagine …Sullivan is also a weaker defender … he has been poor at times this year at NRL level

 

[Oldman]

Both Fainu and Galvin can defend. Fainu has had limited opportunities due to injury but I'd rather go with a highly talented youngster rather than Sullivan whose only consistency has been his inconsistency.

What have I missed,
When have we seen anything that Fainu can do (tackle or attack) has he played any minutes in the NRL this year ?

Hope he can play as good as a lot of peoples expectations.

 

[Vicious]

Josh morris was one of the best edge defenders
If he’s available might be worth a shot seen as that is one of our weaker areas

The 13 is very important in getting a teams edge defence right these days.
The reason is they are the only front line player that does not have a designated side of the field, therefore they need to constantly make the right choice as they which side of the field needs him the most to ensure his team does not get easily stripped for numbers.
It’s easy to blame our edge defenders, but if they are regularly out numbered, there is very little they can do to prevent their teams defence from cracking other than th rush a player about to receive the ball and hope they can shut it down, that is always a risk in itself.

 

[Vicious]

Sullivan is 3-4 years older than them … it’s not a completely fair comparison … The other two have more improvement left in them you would imagine …Sullivan is also a weaker defender … he has been poor at times this year at NRL level

Sullivan done himself no favours when given his opportunities early in the season and showing none of his attacking flair along with a noticeable lack of effort when defending.
Not sure what was wrong with him, stage fright at a new club, who knows ?
His attack has been noticeably better in recent times and is finally showing the attacking quality he was signed to bring us, but it appears Benji has put a line through his name and there is nothing he can now do to change his mind.

 

[Tom Shines]

Sullivan done himself no favours when given his opportunities early in the season and showing none of his attacking flair along with a noticeable lack of effort when defending.
Not sure what was wrong with him, stage fright at a new club, who knows ?
His attack has been noticeably better in recent times and is finally showing the attacking quality he was signed to bring us, but it appears Benji has put a line through his name and there is nothing he can now do to change his mind.

well.. the last we heard from Sullivan was that he “wasnt going anywhere “… so maybe he will stay here and see out his contract …

 

[Needaname]

The 13 is very important in getting a teams edge defence right these days.
The reason is they are the only front line player that does not have a designated side of the field, therefore they need to constantly make the right choice as they which side of the field needs him the most to ensure his team does not get easily stripped for numbers.
It’s easy to blame our edge defenders, but if they are regularly out numbered, there is very little they can do to prevent their teams defence from cracking other than th rush a player about to receive the ball and hope they can shut it down, that is always a risk in itself.

I think relying on one player for that defensive direction is a bit out dated in today’s game. There’s a reason the lock makes the most tackles in a side and it’s not because he is going sideline to sideline, he is generally there in the middle with either the left side prop or right side prop making the first contact.

 

[Vicious]

I think relying on one player for that defensive direction is a bit out dated in today’s game. There’s a reason the lock makes the most tackles in a side and it’s not because he is going sideline to sideline, he is generally there in the middle with either the left side prop or right side prop making the first contact.

The point is the 13 should generally be defending on the side that is short on numbers, it takes a good footy IQ to always be that aware, especially when fatigued.
The 13 is a specialist role, but with us it’s a revolving door.

 

[Needaname]

The point is the 13 should generally be defending on the side that is short on numbers, it takes a good footy IQ to always be that aware, especially when fatigued.
The 13 is a specialist role, but with us it’s a revolving door.

It does, but no maybe by circumstance it is the lock that falls away to the side that’s short but the top sides generally have all of their forwards thinking in this manner. It is often the fullback that indicates what side of the ruck to return to. A pattern of ours is our forwards fall away to the blind for a breather leaving the open short.
Another pattern good teams deploy is allowing their 3rd man who is unable to fill in at marker to go back behind the defensive line ready for the following tackle with the remaining 9 players compressing across the line.
I just think we have too many players (multiple that don’t have the mindset of where to go to be ready for the next play and some others who think their job is done and are happy to clock off for the next play.
But rarely within outside do we have players thinking about positioning for the next run or play.

 

[batboy]

he will end up being like the second coming of Jonathan Thurston,

SMH....
I'm the best part of 50 and I've seen 1 Jonathan Thurston.
Saying there's another playing Ressies for the Magpies is just stupid (I am getting used to it though)

Bud has had more than a few coaches now, And a couple clubs....
And Bud is still Bud, Getting outplayed by a Rookie....

 

[Needaname]

SMH....
I'm the best part of 50 and I've seen 1 Jonathan Thurston.
Saying there's another playing Ressies for the Magpies is just stupid (I am getting used to it though)

Bud has had more than a few coaches now, And a couple clubs....
And Bud is still Bud, Getting outplayed by a Rookie....

We’ve got more chance of luai becoming the next JT than Sullivan.

 

[king_sirro]

The point is the 13 should generally be defending on the side that is short on numbers, it takes a good footy IQ to always be that aware, especially when fatigued.
The 13 is a specialist role, but with us it’s a revolving door.

The game is too fast for the 13 to adjust like you are suggesting. He would need to be superman.