2008 PREMIERS Manly Warringah 40 def Storm 0 @ ANZ, Sun 5 Oct

[Dutchy]

You trolling Gong is starting to get pretty boring and lame...

 

[gong_eagle]

Stats show Sea Eagles are entertainers



September 29, 2008 - 8:04PM

http://news.smh.com.au/sport/stats-show-sea-eagles-are-entertainers-20080929-4q3n.html
Manly's reputation as little more than a dour defensive unit is a myth, with statistics revealing they have emerged as the NRL's new "entertainers".
Often described as modelled in the image of their no-frills coach Des Hasler, the Sea Eagles' complete game came to the fore in Saturday night's near flawless disposal of the New Zealand Warriors.
No moment typified that more than brilliant fullback Brett Stewart's through-the-legs pass for centre Steve Matai to score on halftime in the 32-6 thrashing.
"I think (Hasler's) pretty happy because it came off but if it didn't come off I think he'd have the sh*ts and rightfully so," five-eighth Jamie Lyon told AAP.
"That's just what some of the players can do in the team and in the NRL. It's a good spectacle to watch at the moment."
Six other superbly constructed tries also contributed to the Warriors admitting they were simply outclassed, something the stats show could also be the fate awaiting Melbourne in Sunday's grand final.
The Sea Eagles have scored more tries than any other side in the NRL this year, and with that figure currently standing at 132 that's 16 more - in one game less - than the minor premiers.
They make more line-breaks (5.3 per game) than Melbourne (4.6) and throw almost twice the number of offloads (12.7) than Melbourne do (6.5).
The surprise package of Manly's attack has been centre Steve Bell, who had notched 19 linebreaks by the end of the regular season, two fewer than table topping Storm fullback Billy Slater.
But the France-bound former Queensland representative puts his form down to his teammates.
"Good halves, the whole backline and especially Brett Stewart makes a bit of indecision for people," Bell said.
"If he's around sometimes they forget about you and worry about him because he's such a good tryscorer so I think that helps as well.
"We probably wore the Warriors down a bit in the end there and our opportunities presented themselves towards the end, so if we can do that it gets a bit of space for the backs out wide.
"If our forwards go forward it just sort of helps us out and I think that's what's been working for us."
It was Ted Glossop's Canterbury teams of the 1980s who will forever be known as "the entertainers", but Bell said Hasler deserved more credit as an attack coach.
"We do just about 50-50 (at training), maybe a little bit more D (defence) but I think our attack this year's been pretty good and probably he should get a bit of credit for that."
Stewart said he didn't know how he had produced his miracle ball on Saturday.
"I don't know what I was thinking," he said.
"We haven't really changed too much.
"We've sort of struggled to put our defence and attack together probably the last two seasons, and this time of the year we seem to be clicking."
© 2008 AAP

 

[sting]

OK

no matter who is playing I will always watch the GF
your not a true league fan if you don't
this post should get some bites ;-)

yeh i'll bite ;-)

i haven't watched a grand final in years. nothing to do with being a sore loser, would just rather go to parklife and party. whats wrong with that? in fact in 05 or 06 i saw gaz an reni there haha..

if saints were playing.... hmmm i'd just have to do both..

 

[Lungfish]

Manly by 10

Lyon wins the CC medal

 

[Timmah]

You trolling Gong is starting to get pretty boring and lame...

Funny that, gongy got boring and lame a looong time ago.




I've got to keep involved in discussion somehow... not like I can discuss the Bulldogs at this time of year :sarcasm:

 

[Sea_Eagles_Rock]

Funny that, gongy got boring and lame a looong time ago.




I've got to keep involved in discussion somehow... not like I can discuss the Bulldogs at this time of year :sarcasm:

I think I can speak for everybody on this forum, Timmah. You got boring 53257 posts ago. Which is your current figure.

 

[kia ora storm]

looks like someone got lost on the way to the kiddies chat room :roll:

Gees..even using some of my responses now...you are learning fast.;-)

 

[Timmah]

I think I can speak for everybody on this forum, Timmah. You got boring 53257 posts ago. Which is your current figure.

That's ok. I'll go back to hitting myself with that wooden stick.

:lol:

 

[lockyno1]

Care more about the Toyota Cup. Doubt I will end up watching the main game, might just tape it and just watch the tries to be honest. Have already planned to go to the movies at 5pm on Sunday with friends

 

[cupid]

Care more about the Toyota Cup. Doubt I will end up watching the main game, might just tape it and just watch the tries to be honest. Have already planned to go to the movies at 5pm on Sunday with friends

:shock:

 

[Timmah]

Care more about the Toyota Cup. Doubt I will end up watching the main game, might just tape it and just watch the tries to be honest. Have already planned to go to the movies at 5pm on Sunday with friends

If you care about the TC GF... then piss off here: http://forums.leagueunlimited.com/showthread.php?p=4568761

We don't want you

 

[Pumba]

Melbourne Storm
1. Billy Slater
2. Steve Turner
3. Matt Geyer
4. Israel Folau
5. Anthony Quinn
6. Greg Inglis
7. Cooper Cronk (c)
8. Jeff Lima
9. Russ Aitken
10. Brett White
11. Michael Crocker
12. Jeremy Smith
13. Dallas Johnson

Interchange:
14. Scott Anderson
15. Adam Blair
16. Sika Manu
17. Antonio Kaufusi
18. Aiden Tolman
19. Brett Anderson

Melbourne Storm Media Release

 

[Tommax25]

As a manly fan I'm glad to see anderson in instead of tolman, anderson is crap.

 

[Cletus]

I don't care who they've got, without Smith we'll still smash them!

 

[Butters]

I don't care who they've got, without Smith we'll still smash them!

You have Orford.... :lol:

 

[Noa]

I don't care who they've got, without Smith we'll still smash them!

Cooper plays like he did last week, we win. Might have something on him for CC.

 

[kia ora storm]

I don't care who they've got, without Smith we'll still smash them!

Settle down kid...Smith does not make the team.

Ever heard of Inglis, Folau, Cronk, Manu, Slater...maybe not ??.;-)

 

[pantherz9103]

If Smith loses the appeal it won't be too much of a loss and the victory would be sweeter for them to prove they can do it without Smith.

Typically in past seasons, the healthiest team at this time of year with the best momentum wins. In that case then tipping Manly makes more sense. The way the game will be played in the ruck will not really allow for a blowout, which is why I think the best bets are 1-12 either side.

 

[Cletus]

Never heard of them, who do they play for?
I think Smith is a huge loss for the Storm, he gets them going with his forward passes, and is as grubby as they come in defence. Shame he's not playing really.
Should be a tight game though.

 

[pantherz9103]

Never heard of them, who do they play for?
I think Smith is a huge loss for the Storm, he gets them going with his forward passes, and is as grubby as they come in defence. Shame he's not playing really.
Should be a tight game though.

We'll only know if he was really a loss if they lose. They proved last week they can cover for his absence alot better than most people anticipated.

Clive Churchill Medal prediction: Cooper Cronk