Joey Manu

[Johnny Tobin]

Not at all. Aubusson's hole running should make it easier for the playmakers inside him to distribute the ball to the outside backs, not harder. He also has so few Possesions in a game he's never going to be a ball hog.

Manu's form in the back end of last season coincided with Aubusson shifting to the right edge. I think that's partially why Aubusson has been picked there and I don't expect it to change any time soon.

Aubbo can't pass though i take your point that he can be a very effective decoy. I would much prefer Sitili or Crichton though.

[The Axe]

Not at all. Aubusson's hole running should make it easier for the playmakers inside him to distribute the ball to the outside backs, not harder. He also has so few Possesions in a game he's never going to be a ball hog.

Manu's form in the back end of last season coincided with Aubusson shifting to the right edge. I think that's partially why Aubusson has been picked there and I don't expect it to change any time soon.

Watched maubs warm up. He practiced receiving and stepped back inside off his right. That’s exactly what he did in the game. I started a thread about our non existent RH attack earlier this year. I’m sure it’s part of the plan but at the moment maubs is not helping the players outside him in A. Brilliant D as always

[Old Man Rooster]

I wouldn't be surprised to see Manu hit peak form over the next month. He came of age around this time last year.

[Thirteen]

I would love to see a right edge of 12. SBW 4. Manu 5. Hall next year.

Absolutely lethal.

Manu's biggest issue at the moment is he's just getting no ball from his inside men. Teddy and Keary rarely venture down there and they're our two most creative distributors.

As I said in another thread I think the key is getting Radley into lock so he can push Cronk wider into a second receiver which should improve our spreads on the right edge.

I wouldn't have picked you for one of those 'Sonny is coming back' people.

[Thirteen]

Did you notice everyone's form improved at the back end of last year.
Its part of the plan, why over play players like Joey and Lattrel. Get in to the top 4 then let everyone loose.

Worked pretty damn well last year and hopefully will again this year, although it will be different again

Do you think Robbo tells them to play in second gear?
I think the stage determines their attitude. If he is pumped he should fire.

[Louis N]

Manu's biggest [problem hs been lack of ball. Often when he gets it, the defence is right on top and he has little options. When he did get the fullback gig, he demanded the ball, was hard to handle and returned to his best with a swag of tries.

The other missing factor has been Blake Ferguson. The Manu Ferguson combination powered through the finals last year. They were our main attacking weapons right up until the grand final and even then Manu still crossed for a try. He was then outstanding, out[laying Mitchell in the Australia New Zealand Test and winning MOM. He had a great finish to 2018.

Joey then went to England with the New Zealand team. So he has had a lot of footy for a young guy. No off season and to me has looked either tired or carrying injury this year. Resting him is a good idea. Anyone who watched him through the juniors would be hoping we keep him. And that he develops a good partnership with experienced Ryan Hall. For Joey is truly one of the best centres in the game.

[Old Man Rooster]

Manu's biggest [problem hs been lack of ball. Often when he gets it, the defence is right on top and he has little options. When he did get the fullback gig, he demanded the ball, was hard to handle and returned to his best with a swag of tries.

The other missing factor has been Blake Ferguson. The Manu Ferguson combination powered through the finals last year. They were our main attacking weapons right up until the grand final and even then Manu still crossed for a try. He was then outstanding, out[laying Mitchell in the Australia New Zealand Test and winning MOM. He had a great finish to 2018.

Joey then went to England with the New Zealand team. So he has had a lot of footy for a young guy. No off season and to me has looked either tired or carrying injury this year. Resting him is a good idea. Anyone who watched him through the juniors would be hoping we keep him. And that he develops a good partnership with experienced Ryan Hall. For Joey is truly one of the best centres in the game.

Well said Louis. The kid is a champion and we are lucky to have him.

[rented tracksuit]

I reckon Joey still has a LOT of development in him which is scary considering at times last year I think he was going as well as Latrell, if not better.

[Rooster_6]

Aubbo can't pass though i take your point that he can be a very effective decoy. I would much prefer Sitili or Crichton though.

None of them can pass.

Aubusson gives you structure which gives his outside men space. Crichton is a very unstructured footballer which is fine so long as he can create opportunities for his outside men through his own individual brilliance. Which he wasn't doing.

There were a number of really effective plays last year when Aubusson shifted to the second row that saw Manu get the quality ball that got him on that run of form.

Cronk can play first receiver with a middle acting as an option runner with Teddy out the back and Aubo as his option runner.

Cronk can play with Aubusson as his option runner and Teddy out the back.

Radley can play first receiver with a middle as option runner and Cronk out the back with a flat line and Teddy out the back.

And there are so many other variations that Cronk can run with as we saw in his Storm days. Radley outball to Cronk, Cronk inside pass to Teddy... That would be something to see. Seen Smith/Cronk/Slater do it so many times.

Aubusson isn't a long term second row option but for the time being he is the best fit for Cronk. Cronk likes to play with structure and Aubusson offers that, we saw this in the back end of last season when Cronk and Manu both hit their best form.

Cronk's try assist to Aubbo on the weekend wet the appetite just a bit.

[Rooster_6]

Watched maubs warm up. He practiced receiving and stepped back inside off his right. That’s exactly what he did in the game. I started a thread about our non existent RH attack earlier this year. I’m sure it’s part of the plan but at the moment maubs is not helping the players outside him in A. Brilliant D as always

You want him to run unders lines though. Aubusson isn't the type of player to be skipping on the outside of his man and quite frankly there isn't a second rower in our squad capable of doing so.

Because he is such a genuine threat as a line runner if he is running unders lines then when he becomes the decoy it holds up the inside defenders which gives Manu space.

[Rooster_6]

I wouldn't have picked you for one of those 'Sonny is coming back' people.

I can dream. I don't think Sonny is any chance of coming back but geez in his prime with Joey Manu on his outside...

SBW was a genuine ball player when he returned for Union. It would have been exciting.

[The Axe]

You want him to run unders lines though. Aubusson isn't the type of player to be skipping on the outside of his man and quite frankly there isn't a second rower in our squad capable of doing so.

Because he is such a genuine threat as a line runner if he is running unders lines then when he becomes the decoy it holds up the inside defenders which gives Manu space.

Generally agree. What I shared was an observation that the warm up showed the approach he took into the match. A contributing factor why we are not effective down RHS outside backs

[Mickie Lane]

I think Billy Smith will take Manu's position next year.

[The Axe]

I think Billy Smith will take Manu's position next year.

Big call. Billy S has pace and skill. Tackling? Jury out.
why do you say that ML?

[4 the all in brawl]

Big call. Billy S has pace and skill. Tackling? Jury out.
why do you say that ML?

It's because we all know Manu will be playing hooker.....