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08 :: R18 Sat :: Sharks 6 Sea Eagles 34 @ Toyota

Round 18 Result :: Sharks v Sea Eagles

  • Total voters
    34
  • Poll closed .
gong_eagle

gong_eagle

First Grade
Messages
7,655
Matai makes a remarkable recovery

July 09, 2008

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,23993721-23214,00.html

MANLY centre Steve Matai is confident he will be fit to play in his team's top-of-the-table NRL clash with Cronulla despite suffering a serious chest injury in the win over Gold Coast.
Matai was vomiting blood after a heavy collision early in the Sea Eagles 34-14 NRL win over the Titans last Friday night and sent to hospital where he was diagnosed with a bruised lung.

But both the Kiwi Test centre and his coach Des Hasler were confident he would be fit to face the Sharks at Toyota Park.

“I'll see the doctor and hopefully the scans come up well and I'll be right to play,” Matai said.

“I feel alright, today was the first time I did some running since the game and I feel pretty good.”

AAP
 
gong_eagle

gong_eagle

First Grade
Messages
7,655
Spud fires up Choc

Jason Avedissian

9 July 2008
http://manlydaily.com.au/article/2008/07/09/10992_sports.html

EX-MANLY enforcer Mark Carroll has nominated Anthony Watmough as the man to target Sharks bad boy Paul Gallen in Saturday night's round NRL clash at Toyota Stadium.

The highly-anticipated match will present the Sea Eagles with a genuine test of their premiership credentials.

Both clubs have been in outstanding form, sharing the premiership lead with the Roosters.

Carroll believes if "Choc" Watmough can dominate over Gallen, Manly will win.

"Watmough should target him (Gallen)," the former Manly and Blues prop said yesterday.

"Football is about a contest - you've got to get out there and get over your opposite.

"Hopefully Choc does that against Gallen. If Choc goes forward and gets really aggressive, Manly win games.

"The others will follow him, just like they follow Gallen."

When asked how he would take on Gallen and his at times violent antics, Carroll said:

"I'd look forward to playing against him ... that's all I'll say.

"He's got grit and determination, hopefully the Manly boys will fire up."

Another former Manly tough guy, Terry Randall, said he would simply ignore the Sharks captain.

"The silent tongue is a wise head," Randall said.

"I'd tell them to just get on with their game."

Sharks coach Ricky Stuart yesterday defended Gallen who was under recent pressure to retain the captaincy at Cronulla.

"What I'm doing at the moment is doing everything I possibly can with Paul to keep him captain," Stuart told 2KY radio station

"Paul's an intelligent person and a very, very competitive person and I don't want to change that one iota.

"What I do need to change is just the way Paul thinks at certain stages of the game and when something doesn't go his way, he's just got to take it on the chin and roll on.

"He's the image of the team, he's the captain and he's got to lead by example."

Manly coach Des Hasler last night named an unchanged line-up for the clash against the Sharks with injured centre Steve Matai picked.

Manly Daily
 
gong_eagle

gong_eagle

First Grade
Messages
7,655
Sharks v Sea Eagles Preview
NRL.com
Toyota Stadium
Saturday 7.30pm

NOW this is a blockbuster in the making!

Two fierce seaside rivals gear up for a top-of-the-table clash.

If Sharks’ fans can’t get off their butts and get out to this one then the club might as well pack up and shift off to Timbuktu as it shapes as an absolute bellringer.

The two sides have always had an extreme dislike for each other, going back to the famous brawling grand finals of the 1973 and 1978, and now they sit equal first on the ladder (Manly first, Sharks third on percentages) with just nine rounds left until the finals.

The winner of the clash is likely to push forward towards a top-four finish and possible minor premiership, while the loser will have a small battle on their hands to stay in the home semi-final atmosphere.

The Sharks are still without Greg Bird but are rested from the bye and welcome Paul Gallen and Brett Kearney back to the fold.

Kearney slots straight in at fullback in place of Mitch Brown while Gallen slides in easily at lock as Paul Stephenson is injured (calf).

Grant Millington also comes into the side in the back row which sees Luke Douglas move up to prop; Danny Nutley finds himself on the bench.

Bryan Norrie and Jayson Bukuya make way from the side that defeated Canberra at last start.

Manly have the luxury of naming the same 17-man squad that pulled away from the Gold Coast last weekend, although Steve Matai is still in doubt following bruising to his lungs.

Watch out Sharks: The Manly attacking juggernaut has run their eye over the try scoring data and noticed the discrepancy on the right side.

The Sharks have conceded 11 tries on the left, 10 tries up the middle but 23 tries on the right, giving the Sea Eagles’ right-side attack the perfect excuse to get plenty of ball.

Steve Bell and David Williams are licking their lips, and both scored great tries against the Gold Coast last start. Look for Steve Menzies to pop up at times also, while tryscoring freak Brett Stewart will find his way into the backline also.

Watch out Sea Eagles: Referee Jason Robinson won’t take any rubbish and considering the Sea Eagles have conceded more penalties than any other side in the NRL they could be in for a tough day away from home at Toyota Stadium.

The Sharks have been much more disciplined so far and are ranked fifth in conceding free kicks.

If the Manly boys rack up the indiscretions, the Sharks will be ready to capitalise.

The Sharks also have a more impressive kick accuracy compared to their opponents.

With 65.6 per cent of kicks finding space they are ranked second in the NRL compared to the 11th-ranked Sea Eagles at just 52.5 per cent.

This kind of edge could help them to a dominant display in terms of field position.

Where it will be won: Taking chances.

Both sides are fairly strong defensively but when it comes to attack, the Manly boys are light years ahead of the Sharks.

Manly have scored 70 tries so far this season, or 4.67 tries a game, to be the NRL’s most prolific team up to this point.

The Sharks on the other hand have crossed for just 49 tries this season and this has them at 3.27 a game, ranked equal last in the NRL.

If they are to compete with the northern beaches boys they’ll need to ensure that every break they make turns into points.

They currently are the worst side in the NRL at breaking the line with just 45 line breaks… yes that’s right, they have less breaks than tries!

They make up the discrepancy with tries from kicks.

If they don’t a) break the line and B) score points when they do, Manly will win this easily.

The History: Played 73; Sharks 22, Sea Eagles 49, drawn 2.

In 28 matches at Toyota Stadium the teams share the spoils 14 apiece.

Earlier this season the Sharks won 16-10 at Brookvale to continue a win/loss trend over the past seven matches (which for those of you who react to patterns means a Manly win is due).

Conclusion: Manly are running hot with ball in hand at the moment and while the Sharks’ defence is relatively strong their attack still can’t compete.

If there isn’t too much dew about look for the Sea Eagles to make a point with their offence but if the track is overly wet, the Sharks come back into the contest.

Manly is the safe choice but don’t underestimate the resolve of this Sharks’ outfit, they’ll give a good account of themselves in front of what should be a sell-out crowd.

Get out there!

Match officials: Referee – Jason Robinson; Sideline Officials – Phil Haines & Russell Turner; Video ref – Phil Cooley.

Televised: Fox Sports 2 – Live 7.30pm.

HEAD TO HEAD RECORDS (1967 - )

Overall Head-to-head Records
Played 73; Manly 49, Cronulla 22, Drawn 2

Head-to-head at Toyota Stadium
Played 28; Cronulla 14, Manly 14

Record Crowd these Clubs (Excludes Finals and Double Headers)
20168 at Toyota Stadium, 9/4/1994 (Rd 5), Cronulla Won 26 - 14

Last 10 Games Head-to-head: Played 10; Cronulla 6, Manly 4
 
Inferno

Inferno

Coach
Messages
18,329
"Watmough should target him (Gallen)," the former Manly and Blues prop said yesterday.
Click to expand...

haha, excellent advice Spudy. After Gallen's shocker in Origin I think he will be primed for a big one, and after the ridiculous calls for him to lose the captaincy, and Sticky getting into his ear I don't think he will be losing his cool in this game.
 
Patorick

Patorick

Moderator
Staff member
Messages
8,995
Poll Results: Round 18 Result :: Sharks v Sea Eagles
This poll will close on 12-07-2008 at 12:04 PM
Cronulla Sutherland 17 62.96%
Manly Warringah 10 37.04%
 
effnic

effnic

Bench
Messages
4,699
After the game we should all meet up at sharkies league club and enjoy a drink in the premiers lounge section..................wait.
 
gong_eagle

gong_eagle

First Grade
Messages
7,655
FACE-OFF!

11 July 2008

BenandPerry.jpg

Sharks' Ben Ross and Eagle Josh Perry will go head to head tomorrow night. They are pictured at the SCG where 30 years ago Manly and Cronulla battled for the title.
Picture: Phil Hillyard

HARD-RUNNING Cronulla prop Ben Ross has declared his motivation for beating Manly tomorrow night is about giving the Sharks credibility in this year's competition not about exacting revenge on Josh Perry.

Ross and Perry were involved in one of the most ferocious collisions in recent memory when the two clubs met in the opening round of this season.

Just five minutes into the new season and with the Sharks in possession, Perry launched himself at flying Ross, with the pair coming together in a sickening clashof heads.

The Sharks forward was left unconscious for four minutes, lost two teeth in the Brookvale Oval turf and had fears of permanent neck damage as he was stretchered from the field.

Speaking to The Manly Daily ahead of tomorrow night's highly-anticipated re-match at Toyota Stadium, Ross scoffed at suggestions he was after a ``get-square'' with Perry.

``I'm not going out there looking at getting back at anyone,'' Ross said.

``I know it was just an accident It took me probably about four weeks to get my head right. I hold nothing against (Perry). This is a huge game for (our club). No one really gives us much credibility.

``Everyone believes Cronulla are chokers people always talk about Melbourne, Manly and Brisbane as favourites.

``We haven't even spoken about the finals, we're just looking at Manly and getting another win.''

Perry, whose intimidating presence has been a big feature of the Sea Eagles pack this year, doesn't believe he will come in for any extra attention from the Sharks forwards.

``They had it all game last time to get me square,'' the ex-Knight said.

``I'm not worried too worried about that, I'm just worried about playing well. It will be good to get back out there and have good tussle.''

And a tight tussle it should be with both clubs sharing the competition lead on 26 points along with the Roosters.

The Sea Eagles are in sensational form winning nine of their past 10 matches but coach Des Hasler believes the Sharks deserve favouritism tomorrow night.

``They're probably just above us,'' Hasler said.
 
R

RainMan

Juniors
Messages
2,034
Sharks should have every right to be favourites with Manly's record down there. It will hopefully be close but the hoodoo will strike again for Manly.
 
effnic

effnic

Bench
Messages
4,699
The second that kick from Matai hit the crossbar and went out i believed in the hoodoo.
 
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