Top 10 Predictions For Manly In Season 2014

1. Young Front Rowers To Shine: A huge piece of the Manly 2014 puzzle is just how much support the young guns can provide returning Jason King. It’s been well documented we have lost hundreds and hundreds of games of experience in Kite, Rose, Gulavoi and Fa’aoso, but we are hardly without options. Brenton Lawrence was an absolute revelation last season and will likely partner King, when fully fit, in the run on squad. 20 year old Jake Trbojevic seems to the most likely to fill the bench position at this stage however James Hasson has been tipped to move into the front row if needed from his preferred second row position.


2. Peta Hiku To Provide Huge Utility Value: With the unfortunate news that the club is likely to be without its star wing pairing for round one, Peta Hiku immediately emerges as a round one certainty. Far from just filling in last season when Snake was injured, Hiku proved himself a class above the ‘handy first grader’ he was earmarked as. Hiku will fill in for Taufua in round one and will come into contention should any of the back five succumb to injury at any time during the season. Matai and Stewart have struggled with injuries in seasons gone by, but in young Peta, should injuries occur, the side isn’t going to lose much. A great player to have on board.


3. Snake To Feature In Origin: Will the news Jarryd Hayne is likely to move into the centres for the blues come Origin time, Snake becomes a huge chance of returning to the NSW lineup. Josh Dugan is just too inconsistent to demand a spot and you get the feeling Michael Gordon and James Tedesco are probably too far down the pecking order. For mine, Stewart has been there and done that on the biggest stage of them all before and will do so again. His combination with brother Glenn will play a big part in NSW’s attempts to stop the Queensland rampage. For the record Stewart, Morris, Jennings, Hayne, Morris will be the back five (injuries permitting)


4. Top 4 Spot Likely Again: Front rowers aside, the club was able to maintain the majority of their squad, while adding a few handy acquisitions. The back row remains one of the best in the competition, while the halves are THE best in the game. In Jamie Lyon we have arguably the most consistent centre in the competition and there is absolutely know arguing that the right edge is what all other clubs try to replicate. Stewart, Lyon and Wolfman will again be the source of many tries and will terrorise more than a few defences. If the young kids can give adequate support to Kingy, a top four spot is definitely within the club’s abilities this season.


5. Wolfman To Top Try Scoring List: Hardly a surprise for many considering the quality ball he receives from Jamie Lyon and Glenn Stewart, but you still have to find your way to the line. Wolfman has proven he loves nothing more than diving over into the corner, or running around under the posts. He will top the try scoring charts for the club and will give the Roosters wingers, Uate and Merritt a run for the top try scorer in the competition.


6. The Media will make more of a press conference than needs be: All eyes will be on Tooves in the post match conference should the side lose a penalty count after his famous blow up last season. I was close by when he spoke to the media after the Sharks trial and they completely blew his comments out of proportion. I get the feeling Tooves loves trolling the media as much as he does ripping in on the training paddock.


7. Cherry To Win Dally M: Came very close last season to snatching the coveted medal from eventual winner Cooper Cronk but fell just short. Some say he has overtaken Cronk as the game’s top halfback and will prove it this season by capturing the highest individual honour in the game. Greg Inglis will start favourite, however his knees worry me. Todd Carney, Cooper Cronk and Johnathan Thurston will push him all the way but expect DCE to be delivering the acceptance speech come awards time.


8. Jamie Buhrer To Parra, Stewie To Stay: Parramatta will make a huge play at Buhrer this season as they look to rebuild. Manly simply will not be able to match the money offered, however the loss of the talented utility will enable the club to sign Glenn Stewart for life. The numbers being thrown around by the media over the possible offer to Jamie are huge. I certainly wouldn’t blame him for taking the big contract. Stewart’s retention is absolutely vital and should be the club’s first priority. He bleeds Manly. For the record, don’t believe for a second the club is preparing a big money offer for Fifita.


9. DCE to be linked with Broncos and Bulldogs all season: I saw on the forum that DCE is being linked with a move to the Dogs. I wouldn’t look too much into it, it’s just Hasler expressing that he’d like DCE to switch sides. Any coach who said otherwise would be lying. The biggest threat comes from the cashed up Broncos. They don’t have a recognised first grade halfback in their squad and obviously Queensland product DCE would be an ideal signing. For the record I don’t see Cherry going anywhere.


10. Little player movement in 2014: The club’s main goals are to re-sign Glenn Stewart and lock DCE into a long term deal. There will be minimal player movement this season unless injuries or a huge loss of form occur. The money just isn’t there to attract a player that would improve the squad, however do look for the club to target a young centre if they don’t deem Cheyse Blair up to it. Steve Matai and Jamie Lyon are moving on in age and the club will surely look to a long term successor. Cheyse Blair was purchased mainly as back up incase of injuries, however he may turn into a long term stalwart of the side.

Agree/disagree? Please let me know