3 JJ - just keeps doing all the stuff that is needed in a footy team, 150m, 50 pcm, under 3s average play the ball speed, we got some good go forward off several of his runs, 38 tackles, 2 line break assists, 1 try assist, no errors or pens. Made certain we got the penalty when he got kicked in the head, would have been missed otherwise.
2 Doorey - in only 37 minutes had his best game of the season, 1 try, 60m in 5 runs, some key defense in 19 tackles made. No errors or pens.
1 OK - good try after the play fell apart, 108m, more pcm than anyone other than JJ and Patolo (43), no pens just 1 error, which is incredible in 80 minutes.
Special mentions
Patolo - with 36 minutes on the field he got 110m, 46 pcm, 1 line break, 12 tackles no misses, 1 pen. The poor read in defense that opened the hole for the Manly defense was I think as much a problem with the inside defense as Patolo.
Meaney - 139 run metres, constantly aware of opportunities for dummy half runs off quick play the balls, nearly got BBO into space, backed up the Wakeham break nicely, 1 error but it was a bad one, had nothing one on one against Turbo (needs to take notes from Flanagan on this).
Two that won't be popular, but hear me out:
Stimson - only starting because RFM, Elliott, Waddell aren't available. He kept it simple and it worked, stayed out of the way in attack with mostly dummy runs, made some fantastic tackles causing errors, 31 in all second only to JJ, 1 pen which was widely derided by all.
Flanagan - yeah yeah, shock horror. I'm not picking him for his attack clearly, but if he had the attacking ability of an average first grade half he would go fine in most teams based on his work in defense today, saw him take down Turbo one on one several times, put his body in the way, made 25 tackles, 3rd most of the team, and had a better tackle efficiency then everyone bar Ava, Patolo, and Hoppa. If he could find a decent 5th tackle option half a dozen times a game he might be worth persevering with.
Hetho - this is a grudging one, he did some good things, 120m, 40pcm, 1 tackle bust, but with 69 minutes on the field he still isn't presenting good value, only 21 tackles with 4 missed, a penalty (bit unlucky) and two 6 agains given away. With 69 minutes on the field he was the prop who needed to really produce (Ava had 40, Ogden 40, Patolo 36). For minutes on the field he was well below metres and tackles made per minute compared to the other 3. He gets the attention without really putting in the hard work that is needed.
