14/4/07: our biggest challenge yet - the dogs at home.

[domdom]

guys,

as far as games go, this is set to be a cracker when our in form, under the radar pack comes up against a pack loaded with internationals and footy show hosts.

seriously, the match against the dogs will be our biggest challenge yet, as they came off a dominant performance against an improved souths outfit last round.

luckily for us, the arm wrestle we had at brookie against the warriors was the best lead up for us into this tough game.

considering we had 4 tries disallowed last week and scored 2, we are creating opportunites, and the work rate of our forwards is up there with the best.

even without ox, beaver (who i think is back) and matai, i think we'll keep our 100% record intact, but not by much. margin by only 6 points i reckon.

the corresponding fixture last season saw us trounce an out of form dogs team, but i wont be anything like that match this saturday.

thoughts?

 

[tbone10]

menzies is meant to be out for the next three weeks now according to the telegraph
mystery illness caused by the first round injury

 

[domdom]

just read that too...not good.

ox is due back and matai might also be available. although if we field the same team as we did againast the bro's, we'll give a good account of ourselves.

having ox will definitely be a massive plus and if we could play matai off the bench, he could be very damaging coming fresh off the bench against tired players late in the halves.

 

[>zuzu<]

You guys smashed us last year. Only thing i laughed about last year was when Menzies boot "Mysteriously" flew and wound up on the 20 meter line. Pretty funny (But grubby) stuff.

But otherwise, if you guys get on your roll i think you can do it again. We havent beat you at Telstra since Walker missed a side line conversion to level it in 2004. You beat us 18-10 in 05, Smashed us in 06.

Hope its nothing like that. I think a raging O Meley could very well be the differnece. I would tell O Meley to think that Orford (Or Monoghan) is Prince is drag.

 

[atomic_crimson]

I love watching the dogs play manly! Esp up at brookie!!! Will definitely be there this saturday at telstra!!! Hopefully there is a good Manly turnout aswell!!!

Hopefully scoreline is nothing like the corresponding game last season!

 

[Dutchy]

easy manly win 13+

 

[Smartman]

Dogs by plenty.

I just think Manly havent been tested yet, similar to Souths last week.

It could get ugly for the eagles this coming saturday night.

Dogs 20+

 

[KiWi_BoI_15]

Manly forwards will need to step up big time, but if we manage to get a roll on. Should be us.

Manly by 10.

 

[domdom]

Dogs by plenty.

I just think Manly havent been tested yet, similar to Souths last week.

It could get ugly for the eagles this coming saturday night.

Dogs 20+

dont know about that. last week was a good test of our credentials and we came through it pretty well, scoring 2 and having 4 disallowed. NZ's pack would have to be among the toughest in the comp and we coped pretty well against them.

the dogs were the new souths team's first real test and they came quite short. the manly side are an established team, with guys that have been together for a few seasons and have been regulars in the finals. no way are the dogs going to roll over manly like they did against the bunnies.

it'll be pretty close, no way will the score be a blow out!

 

[Sea Eagle Scuba]

I think the Dogs will win.. but a Manly upset wouldn't surprise me..

Our attack needs to improve significantly for us to have any chance..

I'd be tipping Dogs 1-12

 

[Dutchy]

I think the Dogs will win.. but a Manly upset wouldn't surprise me..

Our attack needs to improve significantly for us to have any chance..

I'd be tipping Dogs 1-12

JUDAS!!!!!!!

 

[ByRd]

ahahahaahahaha

 

[effnic]

Orford in Manly by 13+
Orford out Manly by 6

Raining and Orford in Dogs by 2
Raining and Orford out Dogs by 16

 

[Harold Bishop]

Dogs by plenty.

I just think Manly havent been tested yet, similar to Souths last week.

It could get ugly for the eagles this coming saturday night.

Dogs 20+

I think it is the Dogs who haven't been tested yet. Wins over souths and titans - not real impressive.
You guys have let in 13 tries, while we have let in 5.

The Warriors were probably the form team coming into round 4 along with the Storm and Cowboys. We passed that test.

 

[RainMan]

We passed that test.

Not yet. The Dogs forward pack is relentless, this will be a massive test.

 

[domdom]

I think the Dogs will win.. but a Manly upset wouldn't surprise me..

Our attack needs to improve significantly for us to have any chance..

I'd be tipping Dogs 1-12

BOOOOOOO!

for it is written in the lozza, cheif and johns book of footy tipping:

"thou shall not tip against thyne own team lest ye be smoten by a dogs fan holding a burning flare"

 

[jimmy_the_greek]

should be a great game this week, hopefully a lot closer last time we played you guys at telstra, good luck for saturday!

 

[Disco]

should be a great game this week, hopefully a lot closer last time we played you guys at telstra, good luck for saturday!

yeah, should be good, im really looking forward to this game

 

[Chris_Columbo]

The Bulldogs pack will all be hoping they play their way into test jumpers from this game and should be on fire. Roberts looked like he was starting to find his feet better last week and hopefully will show even more skills this week, and despite somebody mentioning the 13 tries we have let in we have recovered the ability to win games in the second half which we have ben missing for about 2 years. Should be a tough game, i think the Manly back slightly outdo ours in terms of experience but the Bulldogs are on the improve and will hope to smash another of the favourites to imrpove on a season that is starting to look good. Dogs by 8.

 

[willvillain]

despite somebody mentioning the 13 tries we have let in we have recovered the ability to win games in the second half which we have ben missing for about 2 years.

Funnily enough, this has been Manly's strength this year - and we've outscored all of our opponents in the second half of our four games of 2007, despite basically playing with a three man bench in all of those games (Menzies, Matai missed the entire second half against the Raiders, and Orford missed the last 15 - and Halden has played something like 7 minutes across three games since he came into the team in Round 2).

I think the differences between the Dogs pack and Manlys pack, and the two backlines, is a bit overrated. Neither is vastly better than the other. Manlys pack is in great form, just as the Dogs backline is.

I think it will be a good game this evening, and I can definately see the Sea Eagles finishing stronger and getting the chocolates.