Werewolf runs amok at Brookie
By Nick Walshaw
July 18, 2008
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,24043332-5001023,00.html
THERE was a full moon over Brookvale Oval and a werewolf on the loose.
Manly winger David Williams, arguably the hairiest NRL star since Geoff Robinson, bagged 12 points as the Sea Eagles scored their second improbable win over Parramatta for 2008.
Sure, 'Choc' Watmough was ferocious and fullback Brett Stewart provided one of the year's great flick passes. But still the crowd cheered loudest for Williams.
This is a rugby league cult hero who almost never was. He dodged death during childhood when he was rushed to hospital with a tree branch - yes, a tree branch - protruding from his stomach.
The story goes that "Werewolf" was climbing a giant eucalypt or something similar in his neighbour's back yard - chasing a paper aeroplane of all things - when he slipped and fell. A rogue branch pierced his stomach and finished only millimetres from his liver.
But not even a tree planted bang in the middle of Brookie could've stopped him last night.
Because after appearing on The Footy Show on Thursday night, Werewolf kicked his hairy highlights reel into top gear against the Eels - causing plenty of mayhem on the right flank and booting goals in the absence of Orford.
A former Parramatta junior, his efforts only added further insult to the Eels, who suffered their third consecutive loss, while cementing himself as a new Brookvale favourite.
But there were plenty of home-grown heroes to pick from last night.
Because despite looking more M*A*S*H than Manly, the Eagles still went to the break leading 10-6 thanks largely to the work of Matt Ballin and Williams.
Ballin gave the hosts their first points in the 28th minute when he burrowed between three defenders to score beside the posts. The Wolf duly converted.
