Manly quick to praise home-wrecking Dragons
Andrew Stevenson | September 11, 2008
http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/news/playing-those-mind-games/2008/09/10/1220857636436.html
HAPPY to play reverse mind games with pike, Manly were almost ready yesterday to roll over and concede victory to St George Illawarra before the whistle is blown at 8.30pm on Saturday.
What might be Fortress Brookvale to everyone else is a run-down suburban backyard to the Dragons, who boast an imposing record against the Sea Eagles, with a high conversion rate at Manly's home ground.
The Dragons have won seven of the past eight games between the two clubs, holding their record at a time when Manly have surged to the top of the ladder. At Brookvale, the Dragons have won three of their past four matches. And in their only recent finals clash, the Dragons flogged Manly 28-0 at the SFS in 2006.
If that record rankles Manly, coach Des Hasler and players such as returning five-eighth Jamie Lyon were doing their best not to show it.
"They're our bogy team, I suppose, and they should beat us, the way they've been going," Lyon deadpanned.
Hasler was only slightly more circumspect, suggesting, "They should be pretty confident. They'll come ready to play. I guess it's a tick in their box."
The more confident they come, the better Hasler seems to like it, having spent a year trying to keep his Sea Eagles flying under the radar, undeservedly so, with Manly pipped in the last round for the minor premiership.
But the coach is always ready to praise his opponents, acknowledging the imminent departure to France of centre Mark Gasnier (to play rugby with Stade Francais) and prop Jason Ryles (to play with Catalans in the Super League) may well inspire the Dragons to an even better performance.
"They've got some great individuals," Hasler said of the Dragons. "They've certainly got a side that can beat anyone. That's what I think about this top eight - it's a lot tougher than it was last year."
Centre Steve Matai predicted the Dragons would continue with their fiery approach, most obviously on show when St George Illawarra stood toe-to-toe with eventual minor premiers, the Melbourne Storm.
"I definitely think they're going to come out like that. The way they've been playing this year, they've definitely run the ball hard and tackled hard, and I don't think it's going to change," he predicted. "We're going to do anything we can to help us win the game, and I'm sure they will be the same."
Matai will resume his battle with Gasnier, for whom a loss will mean an end to his NRL career. The Kiwis centre was sent from the field for a late and high tackle that knocked Gasnier senseless in a Test last October.
In recent weeks, Matai's trademark rushes out of the defensive line have been on show, with rib-tickling effect.
But he admitted he'd have to take things more carefully against the wily Dragon.
"He's got great footwork and a great fend so if we rush up on him he's definitely going to put one on me and I'll look stupid," Matai said of Gasnier. "He's one of the strike players, and I'm going to have to be on my game to stop him. I've got to get up in his face and cut his thinking time down."
While the Dragons have their stars, so too do Manly, with captain and halfback Matt Orford walking off with this year's Dally M player of the year award. Orford was thrilled with the honour.
"I'm probably still pinching myself," he said.
Matai reckoned the captain would go on to even bigger things with the recognition.
"I thought he turned up this morning with a spring in his step," he said.
