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http://www.manlydaily.com.au/article/2006/09/13/587_sports.html
Jason Avedissian
13Sep06
MANLY prop Brent Kite yesterday admitted feeling "sorry'' for St George Illawarra due to the weight of expectation on his old club heading into Friday night's elimination semi-final at Aussie Stadium.
Kite was part of two failed finals campaigns with the Dragons before switching to the Sea Eagles at the end of the 2004 season.
"They have always got a lot of expectations on them,'' he said.
"I feel sorry for them in that way. Early on in the year they are always tipped to go well, if not win it.
"Last year they had extra expectation (in the semis) because they finished equal first and they were just coming off a really good run. This year, they seemed to have strung a few wins together in the later rounds and are coming in with less pressure.
"But they have always got high expectations.''
But so too have Kite and the Sea Eagles, who are chasing their first premiership in 10 years.
Kite knows a powerful game against Ryles, Bailey and co, and a victory on top of that will shorten his odds of securing an Australian jumper for next month's Tri-Nations series.
"I'd like to get in that squad,'' Kite said yesterday.
"It's (facing Bailey and Ryles) definitely a good measuring stick to see where I'm at.
"They are going well, Ryles and Bailey and the other guys in the forwards. It's going to be a big challenge. But playing in a sudden death semi-final, you don't need any more motivation than to go out and have a good performance.
"I'm a little bit nervous, just thinking about the game. I think everyone always wants to have a big game against their old club.''
Jason Avedissian
13Sep06
MANLY prop Brent Kite yesterday admitted feeling "sorry'' for St George Illawarra due to the weight of expectation on his old club heading into Friday night's elimination semi-final at Aussie Stadium.
Kite was part of two failed finals campaigns with the Dragons before switching to the Sea Eagles at the end of the 2004 season.
Now considered one of Manly's trumps, the in-form front-rower knows only too well the pressure the success-starved Dragons are under."They have always got a lot of expectations on them,'' he said.
"I feel sorry for them in that way. Early on in the year they are always tipped to go well, if not win it.
"Last year they had extra expectation (in the semis) because they finished equal first and they were just coming off a really good run. This year, they seemed to have strung a few wins together in the later rounds and are coming in with less pressure.
"But they have always got high expectations.''
But so too have Kite and the Sea Eagles, who are chasing their first premiership in 10 years.
Kite knows a powerful game against Ryles, Bailey and co, and a victory on top of that will shorten his odds of securing an Australian jumper for next month's Tri-Nations series.
"I'd like to get in that squad,'' Kite said yesterday.
"It's (facing Bailey and Ryles) definitely a good measuring stick to see where I'm at.
"They are going well, Ryles and Bailey and the other guys in the forwards. It's going to be a big challenge. But playing in a sudden death semi-final, you don't need any more motivation than to go out and have a good performance.
"I'm a little bit nervous, just thinking about the game. I think everyone always wants to have a big game against their old club.''
;-)
