Strictly Footy

Laurie Daley has stated we needed someone who can play edge on the bench and that Ford is mainly a middle. Jackson Ford has 108 starts in the backrow across all competitions, Radley has 29. Also, Murray has quite literally repped AUS and NSW in the backrow who is already there.

What on earth has happened to this team? Alot are talking about their inability to score points but the defence has fallen off even more. Did they become complacent? Did they lose faith in the system? Seriously, I don't know how to diagnose this anymore

The attack is good with Foz but its the defence that's made the major difference. In the era of Vlandysball Manly haven't conceded more than 18pts in their 6 games with Foran. The intensity is wild, they're forcing errors and tiring the opposition out with their attack.

Keep a huge eye out for the #7 for Gold Coast this week Zane Harrison. Hard worker, alot of talent. I get a real leadership vibe about him, played U19s origin last year and lead his high school team to the schoolboys championship.

Imagine telling someone in 2021 that, TIGERS captain Jarome Luai has just announced he's joining PNG, Foran has lead Manly on a 4 game win streak.... as coach, Reynolds is captaining the reigning premiers... Brisbane against a DCE lead... Roosters. Storm are sitting 16th.

Don't twist my words it sucks that Luai is leaving, but this is the first time in a long time that the Tigers are set up to deal with a loss like this. Luai will be 32, they've still got Madden, Fainu, U19s origin MOTM Javon Andrews and $1m + to sprinkle around the squad.

Everyone has thought of the extreme where nobody wants to move to PNG and the club bombs out but has anyone thought about the other extreme? What does the NRL do if PNG build a super squad and dominate? Do they have the power to strip those financial incentives away?

The last time the Wests Tigers finished a round inside the top 4 before 2026 was round 8 2014. This also happens to be the exact round the Melbourne Storm last finished outside the 8 before 2026. We live in a simulation. Swipe to see how both teams lined up.

I may be in the minority, but I think Lehi should be in the 1 jersey. Koula looks best when he gets early ball and can skin his centre 1 on 1, much harder to break through a full defensive line. With the way Manly attack, having a ball player out the back of shape is important.

If Haas is out of origin 1, I think it's got to be Terrell May as his replacement. He's not Haas but hes the only one I can see having a similar sort of impact at his best. QLD will look to put shots on early, I reckon T.May would go after it and give it back.

The Dragons halves have been in the firing line of the media all season. With a new coach this week there's a chance we see mass changes? Who do you think should be the 6 & 7 moving forward this season? More on the Poddy dropping 6am tomorrow.

The Melbourne Storm are looking to avoid losing 5 straight NRL games for the first time in 14 years. Ironically, the last time they lost 5 straight, they went on to win the comp. Swipe to see the team they lined up with in that 5th loss.

The problem with 6 agains is most wouldn't have been a penalty. The 6 agains were brought in to replace the penalty and keep the game flowing, not as a middle ground between penalty and no penalty. We are still getting 10-15 penalties a game, we've just added 10-15 6 agains.

Reports suggest the Dragons are going hard at an immediate release for Trai Fuller. If they're able to pull this off, where does Gutherson play? Will he be shifted to the halves? Centres? What do we think?

It's incredible what happens when you actually use your forward pack and earn the right to shift the ball. 170 for Paseka in his opening 30 min stint. 270 for Haumole with 123pcm. Burbo 155, Waddell 185. Probably the best performance ive seen from a Manly pack in years.

@SCWhisperer People captaining Sua while im considering not even stick the R on him

Sua Fa’alogo is the most popular captain this week. Penrith conceeding 46.7 to FLBs. Tom Trbojevic has played 3 games against the Dolphins for scores of 128,71 and 173.

@SCWhisperer 14m a run isnt good enough

Does anyone scream “Man Of Steel” more than AFB? Feel like he’s just no where near the forward he was 2-3 years ago.

Burton looked great attacking at centre, surprise surprise. I can't understand this obsession with Crichton ball playing. They've already made the decision to drop Xerri, just move Burton to centre, get Galvin in his best position and bring in an actual halfback like O'Sullivan.

Jock Madden has laid the blueprint for Tigers success. Him, along with the 13 rotation of Twal and L.Fainu straightened the attack right up and allowed Doueihi to run the football. If you can do that with guys like KPP and Fainu running hard lines you're bound to score points.

I love the idea of Foran coaching Manly. The only knock on it is his lack of experience as an NRL coach but he's got an elite footy brain, is well spoken and most important has a good relationship with alot of the playing group from his playing time at Manly.