Manly V Cowboys Gf Qualifier

[gong_eagle]

TEAMS

01. Brett Stewart
02. Michael Robertson
03. Steve Bell
04. Steve Matai
05. Chris Hicks
06. Jamie Lyon
07. Matt Orford ©
08. Jason King
09. Michael Monaghan
10. Brent Kite
11. Anthony Watmough
12. Glenn Stewart
13. Luke Williamson
Interchange:
14. Travis Burns
15. Glenn Hall
16. Mark Bryant
17. Steve Menzies
18. Matt Ballin
19. Jack Afamasaga
20. Adam Cuthbertson
(3 players to be omitted)

01. Matt Bowen
02. Ty Williams
03. Ashley Graham
04. Paul Bowman
05. Ben Farrar
06. Justin Smith
07. Johnathan Thurston ©
08. Matt Scott
09. Aaron Payne
10. Carl Webb
11. Sam Faust
12. Matthew Bartlett
13. Mark Henry
Interchange:
14. David Faiumu
15. Jason Smith
16. Jacob Lillyman
17. Ray Cashmere
18. Neil Sweeney
19. Ben Vaeau
(two to be omitted)




TICKET INFO
SEA EAGLES SEATING BAYS
The NRL has set aside Bays 33-34 (Cat 1), Bay 31 and 45 (Cat 2) and Bays 29-30 (Cat 3) for Sea Eagles fans, please request to be seated in the Sea Eagles bays when purchasing.
We expect our fans to fill these bays quickly and therefore if they are full you should request seats in adjacent bays or alternatively just fill the entire northern end of the ground. We have been advised that our bench will be on the northern side of the tunnel. For more info go to
http://manlyseaeagles.com.au/news.asp?tx=39&newsid=2507

WEATHER FORECAST
Thursday Fine.
City: Min: 15 Max: 23
West: Min: 11 Max: 24

Friday Fine.
City: Min: 12 Max: 21
West: Min: 9 Max: 24

Saturday Fine.
City: Min: 13 Max: 21
West: Min: 11 Max: 21



MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: PAUL SIMPKINS
Sideline Officials: Steve Chiddy & Steve Lyons; Video Referee: Bill Harrigan/Phil Cooley
Stand by Referee: S Clark; Stand by Sideline Official: R Lawrence




STATISTICS
HEAD TO HEAD RECORDS (1995 - )

Overall Head-to-head Records
Played 11; Manly 6, North Queensland 5

Head-to-head at Sydney Football Stadium
Played 0; Manly 0, North Queensland 0

Record Crowd these Clubs (Excludes Finals)
23936 at Dairy Farmers Stadium, 18/3/2006 (Rd 2), North Queensland Won 20 - 16

Last 11 Games Head-to-head:
Played 11; Manly 6, North Queensland 5

North Queensland 30 - 26 Dairy Farmers Stadium 28/4/2007 (Rd 7)
North Queensland 20 - 16 Dairy Farmers Stadium 18/3/2006 (Rd 2)
North Queensland 26 - 24 Brookvale Oval 31/7/2005 (Rd 21)
Manly 24 - 20 Dairy Farmers Stadium 13/3/2004 (Rd 1)
North Queensland 31 - 20 Brookvale Oval 24/5/2003 (Rd 11)
North Queensland 30 - 20 Dairy Farmers Stadium 22/3/2003 (Rd 2)
Manly 28 - 26 Dairy Farmers Stadium 3/7/1999 (Rd 18)
Manly 26 - 22 Brookvale Oval 8/5/1999 (Rd 10)
Manly 28 - 12 Brookvale Oval 16/8/1998 (Rd 23)
Manly 46 - 4 Brookvale Oval 5/5/1996 (Rd 7)
Manly 36 - 14 Willows 26/4/95 (Rd 7)

Biggest Head-to-head Wins
Manly 46 - 4 Brookvale Oval 5/5/1996 (Rd 7)
North Queensland 31 - 20 Brookvale Oval 24/5/2003 (Rd 11)

Points
Overall:
Manly 294 (55-37-0)
North Queensland 235 (42-33-1)



--------------------

Stats from NRLSTATS.COM
​

 

[gong_eagle]

Kennedy an inspiration

Glenn Jackson | September 17, 2007
http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/sea...1189881343120.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1
HE WON'T need the $2 contract he signed midway through the season, but retired former Manly lock Ben Kennedy will still answer an SOS from his old teammates this week as they prepare for their grand final qualifier against North Queensland.

Manly players spoke yesterday of wanting Kennedy to be a part of their preliminary-final campaign against the Cowboys at the SFS on Saturday night.

After retiring this time last year, Kennedy has been a regular at Brookvale Oval throughout the season despite living and working in Brisbane, even signing a $2 contract to enable him to make a comeback at the height of an injury crisis among the forwards.

He was never called upon to play, but Kennedy confirmed to the Herald yesterday that he would be sitting in the Manly bunker during Saturday's game - although it was unclear exactly what role coach Des Hasler had planned for him during the build-up to the match.

"He's such an inspirational leader," Sea Eagles prop Jason King said. "To have him come down would be fantastic. He's such an experienced player, and his commitment level ... he gave it all every week. It always rubbed off on every player. To have him say a few words, it would rub off again."

The advice of Kennedy - a premiership winner with Newcastle in 2001 - would be invaluable. Veteran Steve Menzies is the only current Manly player with title-winning experience, disregarding five-eighth Jamie Lyon's success in England.

Fullback Brett Stewart said: "Especially for the younger blokes. He's got a mountain of experience and everyone would be all ears if he was talking."

The Sea Eagles have also been boosted by the expected return of Test and Origin front-rower Brent Kite, who missed the qualifying final against South Sydney due to a groin injury. Kite is still yet to train with the side, but chief executive Grant Mayer confirmed he was expected to make his return.

The picture is bleaker, however, for second-rower Glenn Stewart and winger Chris Hicks, who suffered ankle sprains against the Rabbitohs.

Mayer said both were 50-50 propositions "at best" of playing against the Cowboys. Neither has trained since they were injured, although they did manage some minor rehabilitation work on Saturday. The loss of Stewart, particularly, would be felt significantly. The brother of brilliant fullback Brett has been one of the reasons Kennedy's retirement has not hurt the Sea Eagles too much.

In the Cowboys, they will play a side on a seven-match winning streak and near the peak of their powers following a 49-12 dismantling of the Warriors, in which the brilliant, sucker-punch combination of half Johnathan Thurston and fullback Matt Bowen was outstanding.

The Sea Eagles lost their only clash with the Cowboys this season, in round seven in Townsville, but will be favoured to become the first side into the grand final.

Hooker Michael Monaghan, who will be playing possibly his last game for Manly having signed with English Super League club Warrington, made it clear that stopping the Thurston/Bowen partnership would be central to the Sea Eagles' approach.

"I didn't see anything different [against the Warriors] to what they've been doing all year," Monaghan said. "They're certainly a difficult team to play against, but we know what we're going to come up against. We know Thurston and Bowen run the show.

"There's no confusion about how we're going to have to play it. We know we're not going to be able to go 80 minutes without Thurston or Bowen coming up with some big plays. We've just got to try and shut them down."

Brett Stewart is still adamant the Sea Eagles could improve significantly, having won just two of their past four outings.

"We haven't hit our straps yet," Stewart said, adding the players were "touched up" at their last training session on Saturday by Hasler. "We've just been winning games. But we'll be looking to make it all click next weekend."

King said: "There's still plenty of improvement left. Des has highlighted plenty of things in the video, especially against Souths."

 

[gong_eagle]

Stats with Paul Simpkins
Total games with Simpkins
Manly 23 won 10 lost 13
Cowboys 30 won 11 lost 18

Simkins has Refereed Manly v Cowboys 1 time
Cowboys winning 20 - 16

 

[chileman]

Here's hoping Beaver kicks that virus and Glenn and Hicksie get over their injuries!

 

[RainMan]

Surely Burns will be dropped?

 

[domdom]

i'd drop jack, burns and bryant.

burns has been pretty poor since returning from injury. jack has been a little too inconsistent for my money. he needs to get a good off season under his belt and he'll come good.

cuthbo has been in some good form, so is worth a bench spot. the more i see of ballin, the more i like of him, i doubt des would do it, but i'd love to see him get some game time.

my money is on des dropping burns, jack and ballin. keeping bryant. even then, its still a good bench. glad willo is back to 100% fitness! one of my fave manly players this season.

i love how we have been flying under the radar all season, even now, all the focus is on JT and his stint with the judicary. no focus on us at all. no focus on the match up between the 2 likely picks for the australian number 1 jersey, no focus on the cows overachieving neville pack lining up against one of the form packs of the season. all on JT and his stupid tackle. love it.

i hope he gets off (even though it'll ruin what faith i had left in the judiciary), as beating them with JT in the team will make it that much sweeter.

With JT, manly will win it by 6 in a tight one. without JT, manly will thrash 'em.

by the way, is bowen 100% fit? i saw him heavily strapped and walking gingerly in a large chunk of the warriors match.

 

[gong_eagle]

Here's hoping Beaver kicks that virus and Glenn and Hicksie get over their injuries!

Beaver Will play from what I saw today

 

[*Sandy*]

Does anyone know what Hicksy's chances are to date pulling his boots on Saturday night?
Personally I would love to see him play and win a GF. I felt he was robbed at Penrith and deserves the chance.

 

[gong_eagle]

I would say 70/30 against playing

 

[gong_eagle]

Stats from NRLstats

 

[Cletus]

I'd say Hicks won't play. He looked the worst of the injuries. Hopefully Glenn Stewart will play.
I'm not really sure what the bench will be. If Monaghan can play 80 minutes I'd like to see
Hall
Bryant
Beaver
Cuthburtson

 

[nitabita]

Hopefully cuthbo doesn't get dropped - he's been impressive all year!

 

[morri (cWo)]

cowboys are on a very hot streak