Sea Eagle Scuba
Bench
- Messages
- 4,854
Eagles shift game
MANLY boss Grant Mayer is prepared to wear flak from hardcore fans after last night confirming the Sea Eagles will shift a home game to the Central Coast next year.
The peninsula club will play Newcastle at Central Coast's BlueTongue Stadium in round 22 - their first competition match in Gosford since the joint venture collapsed in 2002.
The match against the Knights will commemorate the 10th anniversary of the famous 1997 ARL grand final between the two sides.
The club will play for the Malcolm Reilly Perpetual Trophy. The anniversary match is the only home match Manly will move in 2007 after flirting with the idea of playing interstate and/or in New Zealand.
Mayer admits the Central Coast switch will be contentious. ``It's inevitable there will be some criticism because whatever you do some people will find cause to be negative,'' he said.
``But I hope the majority of supporters will take it for what it is and that is a great celebration of a historic moment in rugby league at a neutral venue.
``We don't give up home games easily but as a promotion for rugby league and this club - not to mention the financial benefits - we felt it was justified.''
Manly hooker Michael Monaghan is a fan of the move.
``You want to play as many home games as possible, especially with our record, but it's always good to take the game to places where they don't see much top level rugby league,'' he said.
``The Central Coast loves its rugby league and I'm sure they will get right behind this.''
Asked if he feared a backlash from locals still angered over the Northern Eagles debacle, Monaghan said: ``Not really. That was a fair while ago and I think everyone has moved on.''
MANLY boss Grant Mayer is prepared to wear flak from hardcore fans after last night confirming the Sea Eagles will shift a home game to the Central Coast next year.
The peninsula club will play Newcastle at Central Coast's BlueTongue Stadium in round 22 - their first competition match in Gosford since the joint venture collapsed in 2002.
The match against the Knights will commemorate the 10th anniversary of the famous 1997 ARL grand final between the two sides.
The club will play for the Malcolm Reilly Perpetual Trophy. The anniversary match is the only home match Manly will move in 2007 after flirting with the idea of playing interstate and/or in New Zealand.
Mayer admits the Central Coast switch will be contentious. ``It's inevitable there will be some criticism because whatever you do some people will find cause to be negative,'' he said.
``But I hope the majority of supporters will take it for what it is and that is a great celebration of a historic moment in rugby league at a neutral venue.
``We don't give up home games easily but as a promotion for rugby league and this club - not to mention the financial benefits - we felt it was justified.''
Manly hooker Michael Monaghan is a fan of the move.
``You want to play as many home games as possible, especially with our record, but it's always good to take the game to places where they don't see much top level rugby league,'' he said.
``The Central Coast loves its rugby league and I'm sure they will get right behind this.''
Asked if he feared a backlash from locals still angered over the Northern Eagles debacle, Monaghan said: ``Not really. That was a fair while ago and I think everyone has moved on.''
