Tough ask but Eagles are daring
http://manly-daily.whereilive.com.au/sport/story/tough-ask-but-eagles-are-daring/
PREMIERSHIP-WINNING coach Des Hasler is adamant complacency wont be an issue as the Sea Eagles look to become the first team in 16 years to win back-to-back NRL titles.
While it used to be a fairly regular occurrence, the last team to win consecutive premierships was Brisbane in 1992-93.
Since then some of rugby leagues best sides have had opportunities - Manly (1996), the Roosters (2002) and Melbourne (2007) - but failed to make it consecutive titles 12 months later.
Its an extraordinary sequence and Hasler is all too aware from now on the Sea Eagles are going to be in the crosshairs of every opponent they meet in 2009.
Its why the Sea Eagles boss has warned his players against getting to far ahead of themselves before trying to claim consecutive titles.
We have moved on, we have new goals to achieve with a new playing group, Hasler said after another gruelling pre-season session at Narrabeen.
Last year was great, but we wont be complacent and live in the past.
We wont be thinking about September until it rolls over.
Hasler and his squad are well aware of the recent difficulty of backing up a premiership a year on but grand final hero Michael Robertson is confident they have the tools to make that happen.
We have a great squad, the Scottish international said.
We have plenty of players who can do the job if we get some injuries.
The younger guys all have points to prove as well so competition for spots is going to be intense.
To win two premierships on the trot would be fantastic.
Crafty rake Matt Ballin added: Everyone has seen with the Storm in recent years how teams lift when they play them. Now that we are the premiers that will happen to us.
To go back to back would be unreal but we will need a few things to go our way.
Robertson believes Melbourne and Cronulla will pose the biggest threats to the Sea Eagles in 2009.
With their roster the Storm will always be thereabouts and the Sharks have bought well, he said.