Pearce to Manly | A question not a rumour

[melon....]

Bottom line...again.

Pearce could be one of the best players to wear the jersey.

Pearce is currently one of the dumbest young men youd ever meet. No personality. Cant speak, Um Yer IS a conversation. He seems as Sid once sang "Pretty Vacant". He hangs with two of the biggest trouble makers around - The Foran idiots. It rubs off. Pearce is at a cross road. He will either grow up in 2010, or it will be his doom. I know his mates well. The Marist Brothers Boys. I know their culture. They are the epitomy of the empty headed youth of today. They can play football. But they are yet to gain life skills.

Lumps of clay. But who's driving the potting wheel? Not Demi Moore.

[melon....]

totally agree. Everyone knows im a big pearce supporter and i have plenty of confidence in his ability. This is the year though - i wouldnt say make or break as i dont think he has floundered at all but under someone like smith with quality backs and potentially the best standoff outside him in carney with a forward pack full of size, power and aggression, I think this is the year that will show whether pearce will be a superstar or strong first grader

Roz, Id wish to God people would stop OVER RATING both First Grade and Reserve Grade teams. We arent that great.

[Guest]

Pearce is the most overrated player in the comp. Incapable of taking the line on, creates no opportunities for anyone else, and like so many current halfbacks (except the good ones) he's addicted to kicking. Someone made the point the other day that judgement should be reserved on him until he gets the chance to play in a properly structured side. That's a fair call, but this is a make or break year for him. Please Brian, get him taking the line on. We desperately need our halves to threaten the line. Anasta's too slow and lacking in footwork, and that's why Carney MUST play in the halves, and not at fullback. If Pearce doesn't start to have some genuine impact on games this year, then he should go.

I agree with your sentiment except for the part about taking on the line. I agree wholeheartedly that coming into 2009, that was the major issue many had with him. This year however I believe he took the line on on a regular basis and scored many individual tries that showcased a brilliant left foot step and class. In a side that had nothing he continued to look for the ball and try and make things happen. What his downfall was was what was going on outside of him in particular - everywhere pearce sent the ball the play would die - the nature of our backline and side. I think he has heaps to offer and his attitude to footy is second to none imo. He and jake friend with carney at 5/8 will be the Australian trio before their career's end mark my words. Pearce thrives on having someone outside him who enjoys to take the line on and plays a more off-the-cuff and instinctive game. Thats why when jones partnered him a couple of times we looked more exciting. Pearce as a half is best at controlling the first reciever area with his great long and short kicking game and organisational skills. He does not play like thurston or prince but much more like a cooper cronk imo. Carney outside him will provide the that running game and speed which i think is the key. With a good forward pack in particular, they should both run riot. I think anasta has been just as much of a hinderance as a help to pearce - notice whenever anasta doesn't play pearce seems to play his best footy and seems to improve exponentially. He needs to be given all the responsability and have carney outside him as a player with complete freedom. This will have them both at their very best imo.

[Guest]

Who are these quality backs you talk about?

Forward pack still has a few holes in it.

agree on the forward pack. Imo when we get rid of mason and anasta their money should be spent on another strike outside back and a fitzy style backrower like hoffman, heighington, waterhouse etc.

I think the backline does have some quality about it. I think graham has shown his tryscoring prowess on many occassions throughout his career, if mini can get fit and strong we are looking at the former best player in the world, perrett is coming along really well and if he continues to improve he will become one of the vital cogs in our backline. I think williamson is the missing link so if he comes good we are set. As silly as this may sound, I actually think that irrespective of who is in the backline, Carney at his best can make any one look good - just look at canberra - a previously average set of outside backs all of a sudden start thriving - his service and the confidence and pace at which he plays can make the worst look decent which i think will be the major difference. Also dont forget that if you look at sides like the dragons this year, I would not say that they exactly had the most potent backline going around - beau scott is not a 'strike centre' and boyd at fullback was a failure imo. With hornby at halfback, a side that had plenty of gaps in the backline still mustered first place - i would put our set of backs and halves ahead of theirs straight away. Its in the forwards that things happen and whilst I will conceed that gaps are still prevalent in that area, its looking bloody strong

[Vasco]

Bottom line...again.

Pearce could be one of the best players to wear the jersey.

Pearce is currently one of the dumbest young men youd ever meet. No personality. Cant speak, Um Yer IS a conversation. He seems as Sid once sang "Pretty Vacant". He hangs with two of the biggest trouble makers around - The Foran idiots. It rubs off. Pearce is at a cross road. He will either grow up in 2010, or it will be his doom. I know his mates well. The Marist Brothers Boys. I know their culture. They are the epitomy of the empty headed youth of today. They can play football. But they are yet to gain life skills.

Lumps of clay. But who's driving the potting wheel? Not Demi Moore.

Most rugby league players can't speak and hang around trouble makers.

[Guest]

hes not going anywhere at all

promise ?????

[Guest]

Manly are chasing Marc Herbert from Canberra.

Pearce ain't goin' nowhere.

I heard they are making a play for Thurston as well...

[Guest]

agree on the forward pack. Imo when we get rid of mason and anasta their money should be spent on another strike outside back and a fitzy style backrower like hoffman, heighington, waterhouse etc.

I think the backline does have some quality about it. I think graham has shown his tryscoring prowess on many occassions throughout his career, if mini can get fit and strong we are looking at the former best player in the world, perrett is coming along really well and if he continues to improve he will become one of the vital cogs in our backline. I think williamson is the missing link so if he comes good we are set. As silly as this may sound, I actually think that irrespective of who is in the backline, Carney at his best can make any one look good - just look at canberra - a previously average set of outside backs all of a sudden start thriving - his service and the confidence and pace at which he plays can make the worst look decent which i think will be the major difference. Also dont forget that if you look at sides like the dragons this year, I would not say that they exactly had the most potent backline going around - beau scott is not a 'strike centre' and boyd at fullback was a failure imo. With hornby at halfback, a side that had plenty of gaps in the backline still mustered first place - i would put our set of backs and halves ahead of theirs straight away. Its in the forwards that things happen and whilst I will conceed that gaps are still prevalent in that area, its looking bloody strong

Darius Boyd was a failure at St George last season?

You can't have watched a single game

[Guest]

It'll be interesting to see what manly will do now with their existing players coming off contract next year.

They were going to have problems fitting foran under their cap if orford stayed but that will be solved now. Watmough is all set to join the storm in a year's time but manly should now be able to up their offer to him as well as glenn stewart.

[Guest]

We also have another halfback in Liam Foran who could also come into contention. The kid took Newtown from last to the top eight so could be a real chance at the half spot

you do realise that premier league had only something like 11 teams in the whole comp.

[Guest]

Darius Boyd was a failure at St George last season?

You can't have watched a single game

i did and saw him not even score a try - he may have got one or so late on in the season. I also saw a bloke go from Australian rep winger to being dropped. Fullback is not his position. He did not play poorly - positonally decent, broke some tackles, few errors etc but did not offer the killer blows from fullback, did not back up the play up the middle of the ruck and was not involved enough/threatening enough. The bottom line is that irrespective of the degree to which you believe his performances were strong or weak, I think its safe to say that for a team that came first they had far from the best backline and a fullback that would probably sit comfortably outside my top 5. Whether you put that down to inexperience, average service or whatever is beside the point. He didnt play offer enough thats what I am saying

[Guest]

i did and saw him not even score a try - he may have got one or so late on in the season. I also saw a bloke go from Australian rep winger to being dropped. Fullback is not his position. He did not play poorly - positonally decent, broke some tackles, few errors etc but did not offer the killer blows from fullback, did not back up the play up the middle of the ruck and was not involved enough/threatening enough. The bottom line is that irrespective of the degree to which you believe his performances were strong or weak, I think its safe to say that for a team that came first they had far from the best backline and a fullback that would probably sit comfortably outside my top 5. Whether you put that down to inexperience, average service or whatever is beside the point. He didnt play offer enough thats what I am saying

HAHA! You've gotta be kidding - Boyd shredded at 1 for St. Filth.

[TheBigFella]

I heard they are making a play for Thurston as well...

I heard the same thing yesterday from an avid Eagles supporter..

[TheBigFella]

I wanna see Pearce behind a pack that goes forward.. just about nobody looked good last season!
I believe that he'll take that next step when the pack gives him some room..

Go Pearcey

[Geohood]

HAHA! You've gotta be kidding - Boyd shredded at 1 for St. Filth.

He was good at kick returns but in try scoring and try assists he was pretty shit.. from memory.. I havn't got the stats.

Oh and he became the premier crab of the competition too..