Manly?????

[Darkone]

Maybe I'm biased but I wouldn't swap JWH/SST/Rads for Manly's middle 3.

I keep hearing a new name for game's best prop every week - well every name except JWH - who for me would be the first prop on my team sheet any day. And that's been the case for a while. His combo of aggression, leadership, brutal carries and ferocious defence make him a one of a kind prop these days.

And SST is nipping at his heels. World class at club level, and morphs into Taumalolo for Tonga. Should have been an easy choice for Golden Boot under the new criteria.

So as good as the Manly duo are - and they're great, powerful with tremendous 2nd phase - there's no way I'm swapping.

As for the locks well JakeT is 2nd only to Taumalolo; but Radley is by far the best ball playing no.13 in the game and suits us down to the ground. He's more important than ever, acting as a 2nd halfback to Flanagan. I could easily make a case for him being our most important forward.

So yeah, huge huge respect for Manly's middle. But as you said the dual loss of Api and the knife wielding churchie are a savage blow.

Yeah Radley is so much promise and as you say a second half back to Flanno will be a headache given the speed of the game.

[Chook]

If you don't rate Manly...

Chook.

[Kentucky_Fried_Rooster]

IMO Manly would have gone close last year without injuries. Trying to judge them off the first two games is as foolish as all the people who wrote the Roosters off after two rounds. Manly have some of the best forwards in the comp, and a backline suited to the new rules. It will again come down to injuries for them.

Agree, can't say they are grand final bound after a few matches but they will go close.
Parra are on top at the moment and are being talked up. We are no chance if you look at the start of the season.
Come August the top 4 will be different, for me in no order it will be East, Parramatta, Manly & Canberra and from there any of those teams will win the comp.
Parra have an easy draw which may hurt them against the other top 4 sides in the finals, but you can only play whats ahead of you. This may also allow them to rest players during the season.

Injuries effect every team and loose two or three of your star players long term and the season is over. Manly have almost no one to cover if they get a few injuries.
Our season would be over too if we lost JWH, Teddy, Keary

[Mad_Rabid_Rooster]

Unfortunately, we are now in a similar boat to them.

It is going to be a monumental challenge to remain a threat in this competition I have to say. Robbo and co will have to be in overdrive to come up with a plan to combat these injury woes, so let's see how they handle and deal with it.