Storm favourites for epic clash
| August 04, 2008
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/sport/nrl/story/0,26799,24122333-5006066,00.html
MELBOURNE will start firm favourites for Friday's blockbuster with Manly in what is set to be the biggest NRL betting event of the season. According to TAB Sportsbet's Glenn Munsie, last year's grand final replay will see Melbourne start around $1.60 and Manly $2.30 at Brookvale Oval.
The Sea Eagles are also likely to be handed a 4.5 start when markets are released.
Storm CEO Brian Waldron and his Sea Eagles counterpart Grant Mayer exchanged niceties last night when told about the markets.
"I expect Manly to be hard to beat because they'll be on their own dung hill," Waldron said.
Mayer replied: "We're happy to be the underdogs and, after all, Melbourne are well and truly the best team in the competition."
Manly veteran Steve Menzies said his side had to somehow restrict a rampaging Melbourne to just two tries if they are a chance of winning.
That, Menzies says, will be a horrendous task given Melbourne will send out Billy Slater, Steve Turner, Anthony Quinn, Greg Inglis and Israel Folau.
Part of the Manly side thumped 26-4 earlier this year, along with last year's 34-8 grand final wipeout, Menzies said: "They (Melbourne) can put three to four tries on you pretty quickly so our defence will have to work overtime.
"Last time we beat them we only scored 13 points (13-12 at Brookvale in 2007).
"So to win I think we'll have to keep them to two tries - and that will be hard."