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Sea Eagles ready to rock Eels' fortress
Greg Prichard | July 28, 2007
http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/news/sea-eagles-ready-to-rock-eels-fortress/2007/07/27/1185339261711.html
THE BIG MATCH
All but a few of the Manly players named for tomorrow's game against Parramatta were still at school the last time the Sea Eagles beat the Eels at Parramatta Stadium. But one member of the current side played in that winning team, in 1997. He was actually into his fifth year of first grade by then. You can guess who it is - Steve Menzies.
"I didn't think it was that long since we've won there," Menzies said yesterday, before adding: "I can't really remember the game. I've played a lot of them, so it's tough on the memory when it's that long ago."
Manly won the game 18-8, after leading 8-4 at half-time. Among the others playing for the Sea Eagles that day were Geoff Toovey, at five-eighth, halfback Craig Field, hooker Scott Fulton and prop Mark Carroll. John Hopoate played in the second-row, and Cliff Lyons came off the bench. No current Parramatta players played in the beaten Eels side.
Parramatta have won six out of six at home against Manly since then, and it is the home-ground advantage that justifies them being favourites in this latest clash. But they are not overwhelming favourites - far from it. The Sea Eagles are second on the ladder with the Eels third, and it promises to be a compelling battle.
Menzies, who has mostly started from the bench since returning from a groin injury and will do so again tomorrow before joining in at lock or second-row, is looking forward to the big-match atmosphere.
"You can feel the rivalry between the two clubs even when neither of us is doing that well, but now, when we're both up near the top, the rivalry will be at its best," he said. "There'll be a big crowd, the Parra fans will want to give it to [Manly five-eighth] Jamie Lyon when he goes back to the ground for the first time. It's going to be a massive day.
"All of the hype will be good for the younger guys in our team who haven't played much finals footy, because it's going to tell them what it's going to be like when the finals are on. A game like this is going to be as close as you can get to finals footy without it actually being the finals."
Manly beat the Eels 22-12 at Brookvale Oval in round nine. Menzies realises it's going to be more difficult this time, playing away, but says there is good reason for Manly to believe they can break the 10-year drought.
"Parra have got a great record [7-2] at home this season, but we're 5-3 away from home, and that's a pretty good record on the road," he said. "It's tough to win away, and we had a hard game on the road last week [beating Cronulla 29-22], but we've proved we're good enough to get a decent share of wins away.
"You can't get carried away about your chances in a game like this, because Parra will be very hard to beat, but you've got to back your own ability, and I believe that if we go out and play the way we've been playing, then we're a 50-50 chance."
Unless the weather is bad, there will be no excuse for fans not to pack Parramatta Stadium for this game. The Eels could cement a top-four spot if they win - particularly if the fourth-placed Cowboys lose to Wests Tigers on Monday night - which would give the Eels a four-point buffer.
Greg Prichard | July 28, 2007
http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/news/sea-eagles-ready-to-rock-eels-fortress/2007/07/27/1185339261711.html
THE BIG MATCH
All but a few of the Manly players named for tomorrow's game against Parramatta were still at school the last time the Sea Eagles beat the Eels at Parramatta Stadium. But one member of the current side played in that winning team, in 1997. He was actually into his fifth year of first grade by then. You can guess who it is - Steve Menzies.
"I didn't think it was that long since we've won there," Menzies said yesterday, before adding: "I can't really remember the game. I've played a lot of them, so it's tough on the memory when it's that long ago."
Manly won the game 18-8, after leading 8-4 at half-time. Among the others playing for the Sea Eagles that day were Geoff Toovey, at five-eighth, halfback Craig Field, hooker Scott Fulton and prop Mark Carroll. John Hopoate played in the second-row, and Cliff Lyons came off the bench. No current Parramatta players played in the beaten Eels side.
Parramatta have won six out of six at home against Manly since then, and it is the home-ground advantage that justifies them being favourites in this latest clash. But they are not overwhelming favourites - far from it. The Sea Eagles are second on the ladder with the Eels third, and it promises to be a compelling battle.
Menzies, who has mostly started from the bench since returning from a groin injury and will do so again tomorrow before joining in at lock or second-row, is looking forward to the big-match atmosphere.
"You can feel the rivalry between the two clubs even when neither of us is doing that well, but now, when we're both up near the top, the rivalry will be at its best," he said. "There'll be a big crowd, the Parra fans will want to give it to [Manly five-eighth] Jamie Lyon when he goes back to the ground for the first time. It's going to be a massive day.
"All of the hype will be good for the younger guys in our team who haven't played much finals footy, because it's going to tell them what it's going to be like when the finals are on. A game like this is going to be as close as you can get to finals footy without it actually being the finals."
Manly beat the Eels 22-12 at Brookvale Oval in round nine. Menzies realises it's going to be more difficult this time, playing away, but says there is good reason for Manly to believe they can break the 10-year drought.
"Parra have got a great record [7-2] at home this season, but we're 5-3 away from home, and that's a pretty good record on the road," he said. "It's tough to win away, and we had a hard game on the road last week [beating Cronulla 29-22], but we've proved we're good enough to get a decent share of wins away.
"You can't get carried away about your chances in a game like this, because Parra will be very hard to beat, but you've got to back your own ability, and I believe that if we go out and play the way we've been playing, then we're a 50-50 chance."
Unless the weather is bad, there will be no excuse for fans not to pack Parramatta Stadium for this game. The Eels could cement a top-four spot if they win - particularly if the fourth-placed Cowboys lose to Wests Tigers on Monday night - which would give the Eels a four-point buffer.
