Eels Blogs

Manu Ma'u

Posted by Michael Ericson on May 19, 2015 at 11:42am

Hasn't been very effective this year.

I don't know if I blame Manu. I think its up to Brad Arthur to get him to add some variety into his game.

He runs the same inside shoulder to outside shoulder line every single time. He also doesn't really mix up his footwork or do any other type of deception before the line.

If he continues this way I think he will end up a spent force in the NRL and will be gone in a season or two.

I am not saying he is playing terribly, I just don't think he is anywhere near the top second rowers in terms of effectiveness.

You need to be a member of 1Eyed Eel to add comments!

Join 1Eyed Eel

★

Votes: 0

Email me when people reply –

Replies

ParraLAD May 19, 2015 at 11:48am

He has probably been out best forward all season. Id hate to hear your thoughts on the rest of the pack.
In some ways, I understand that he isn't necessarily making the same impact he did last year, but do y forget he is coming off a serious injury that almost cost him his career. That my have made him change his approach to the game.
- Gower Power > ParraLAD May 19, 2015 at 5:03pm
  
  I read that his broken arm last year was so bad, that it cracked a metal plate in his arm from a previous injury. Apparently he needs to wear a protective cast on that arm for the rest of his career. Also, he's been one of our best players this season, so not sure what you're talking about... have you watched every Eels game this season? I have.
The Offside Eel May 19, 2015 at 12:03pm

I agree he's very good at what he does but a bit of a side step or angle running will help his game
Mitchy May 19, 2015 at 12:23pm

he's a good player and think we should see his stats first. I rate him and he's very strong and hits the edge well.
Muttman May 19, 2015 at 12:31pm

Hmmm it seems unless a player pulls a miracle out of his arse every week he's not playing well.
- Michael Ericson > Muttman May 19, 2015 at 2:26pm
  
  I would just like to see some variety and for him to make the defence miss a couple of times.
  
  That aint a miracle
chris May 19, 2015 at 12:58pm

Another brad arthur is a shit coach blog.getting tired of all this someone better fo a team blog for 2027
josh jones May 19, 2015 at 1:05pm

I agree. They can't fix everything in a week. I think they should probably just concentrate on completions and defence first but what effective for Ma'u is now regressed as they do the same play. He needs to change running angle once in a while and use the outside then inside step on the edge as weapon at the right time. He always runs outside and watmough always runs back in on the inside. Change it up n keep n try to keep defence guessing. Not hard.
josh jones May 19, 2015 at 1:09pm

A bit like RTS. Teams are defending that left foot step and it was becoming less effective coz he kept doing it. Last week he blitzed it coz he changed it up and teams were expecting him to step but he didn't at times and went s8 through.
The Offside Eel May 19, 2015 at 1:39pm

I don't think he was saying manu wasn't playing well just imagine an extra dimension like running different lines all though that is more a game plan issue