ROUND 11 DISCUSSION : NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS vs MANLY SEA EAGLES

[Kurriboy]

Well, with Clifford getting here apparently after this game, this should be the last game we have to endure Mann in the 6.

 

[Billy]

Reserve Grade

1 Bailey Hodgson
2 Jacob Kiraz
3 Shibasaki
4 Dom Young
5 Harry Van Dartel
6 Mac Baker
7 Zane Camroux
8 Dan Ticehurst
9 Luke Huth
10 Matt Croker
11 Jaron Purcell
15 Jirah Momoisea
13 Zac Hosking

14 Chris Veaila
18 Cooper Jenkins
16 Garrett Smith
17 John Toleafoa

I expect Hoy, Sasagi, and King or Johns will be dropped into that side.

 

[Beatell]

Can we please for the love of God throw the ball around and get rid of the one out crap and then bomb on last.

I don't care if we get flogged but at least try to be entertaining

Can for the love of god we give Best early ball or any ball for that matter!!!

 

[HarVeeGee13]

Simi Sasagi our first player to show something at right centre in years. Let’s chop him. Yep cool.

 

[Frank McWilliams]

Musgrove playing with busted ribs can't be great. You want someone 100% on the wing in this day and age. Someone with speed at least, mussy looks like his stuck in mud. I'd give my left one for someone like Garrick.

Could drop Musgrove, Tuala to left wing, Sasagi to centre

 

[JOJO82]

Can for the love of god we give Best early ball or any ball for that matter!!!

Yeah exactly....we are the dumbest team in the comp

 

[KnightsUnite]

It will be funny if Green is named in reserve grade, although he desperately needs a run in reserves for fitness.

Green retired... makes room for Lodge seen this coming a mile away!

 

[danknights]

Could drop Musgrove, Tuala to left wing, Sasagi to centre

Yep I could go something along those lines.

 

[The Artist Formerly Known as Aku'd]

Could drop Musgrove, Tuala to left wing, Sasagi to centre

Too smart

 

[oweysdaughter]

Well, with Clifford getting here apparently after this game, this should be the last game we have to endure Mann in the 6.

I don’t think I can sit through another round of Mann!

 

[OnTilt]

I don’t think I can sit through another round of Mann!

The plan has to be give the ball to Crossland and Ponga when attacking and Mann just make his tackles and put in the occasional kick.

 

[Rear Admiral Butthead]

The plan has to be give the ball to Crossland and Ponga when attacking and Mann just make his tackles and put in the occasional kick.

Hopefully Ponga doesn’t burn out covering fullback as well as doing Mann’s job. Doesn’t need another injury.

 

[Owey]

I don’t think I can sit through another round of Mann!

I'd like to welcome my daughter to the forum. She has gone a lot easier on Mann here than she does at the ground. And still she is a bigger fan then her grandfather is of Mann...

 

[Kurriboy]

I'd like to welcome my daughter to the forum. She has gone a lot easier on Mann here than she does at the ground. And still she is a bigger fan then her grandfather is of Mann...

Welcome to the forum Oweysdaughter.

 

[logicalfallacy]

I don’t think I can sit through another round of Mann!

Totally and utterly agree. I am speechless Mann is in the side. I'm not going to watch live that's for sure. It is just weird.

 

[Billy]

Mann has had a couple of shocker's and O'Brien's diagnosis of "trying too hard" is correct IMO.
He is only supposed to be filling a spot at 5/8 - not trying to be our main playmaker.
Ponga has shown in a few games at the end of last year (before he got injured) and the game against Canberra that he can now be our main playmaker and run the team around the park.
Crossland is also growing more comfortable with his role as playmaker on the left side and big kicker when we need it.
Mann can sit back and concentrate on being a running 5/8 and putting in a few kicks when needed.
In short, he just needs to do his job and let Ponga and Crossland do the organising.
He has been good enough at just doing his job when Pearce is in, and that's all he needs to do now.

I hope Brailey has been working with Crossland since our last game and will now give him the ball as our main playmaker, but when Ponga calls for the ball, he should get it every time. Ponga only needs to have 5 or 6 good plays and turn 2 or 3 into tries, and maybe our forwards or winger find another couple, and we are in with a chance.

 

[Tim]

I know everyone says Mann can concentrate on his running game... but is he really any good at that? It's run towards a bunch of players, stifle our momentum, stop dead, look confused and then be monstered in a tackle. Every time.

 

[Frank McWilliams]

Super optimistic Billy I will be cheering but maybe not convincingly

 

[Saint43]

If Ponga is being asked to basically play as a 5/8th, why not just give him the jumper. Can’t play both positions and seems to be more suited in the halves. Definitely our best chance at creating anything. Would rather a less creative fullback that just hits holes, supports every break and can compete in the final line of defence. Wouldn’t mind seeing best have a shot there.

But then Clifford coming kind of makes things more complicated in my opinion. Should be spending money on some strike out in the centres and wing.

 

[Lefty]

The plan has to be give the ball to Crossland and Ponga when attacking and Mann just make his tackles and put in the occasional kick.

It is common sense is that Crossland should be the dominant half but I can’t see it happening, for whatever reason Mann is a ball hog and he kills our attack time and time again.