"SEA EAGLES FLEX POWER AND STEEL IN DEFENCE IN 40-24 TRIAL WIN OVER WESTS TIGERS
The Manly Sea Eagles showed brilliant early season form to easily beat the Wests Tigers 40-24 in shocking conditions at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday night.
Manly showed it had benefited greatly from the off season with a new steel in defence rocking the Tigers.
With most of its big guns on the sideline Manly led 24-6 after the first two quarters.
In this period props Kylie Leuluai,Daniel Heckenberg,second rower Glenn Stewart and centre Paul Stephenson were outstanding.
The props never stopped carting the ball up and were too big and strong for the Tigers pack.
Stewart was outstanding and is going to press hard for inclusion in the 17 for the start of the premiership.Stephenson relished the wet conditions and powered his way across for two tries and was difficult to handle.
Another to shine in this period was five eighth Michael Witt.
Witt was all class and a neat hip pass sent big second rower Sam Harris across for a try.He was Matthew Ridge like with the boot landing his first six straight from all angles in atrocious conditions.He will be a majaor bonus in 2005 with most fours turning automatically into six.
Manly introduced some big names after half time with the match well in hand with Ben Kennedy,Brent Kite and Jason King certainly showing they are in for excellent seasons.The trio wworked in tandem and their size and strength will worry every opposition.
Veteran centre Terry Hill was in the thick of the action and pleased coach Des Hasler with is effort.Hill will be monitered closely in the next week leading up to the trial in Albion Park on Saturday,March 26 against St.George Illawarra.
Manly will head to Kiama on Thursday afternoon and return after the trial.
Suspended second rower Anthony Watmough played strongly in the Premier League trial.
Manly came through the trial without any major injury worries.
The torrid off seasosn training program undertaken by the Sea Eagles showed obvious benefits with Manly playing a much more up tempo game than the Tigers.
Coach Des Hasler said it was an excellent start to the 2005 campaign.
"We came out running and I was really pleased with the newcomers and some of the old faces like Terry Hill and Hoppa played strongly,"Hasler said."
www.mightyeagles.com
The Manly Sea Eagles showed brilliant early season form to easily beat the Wests Tigers 40-24 in shocking conditions at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday night.
Manly showed it had benefited greatly from the off season with a new steel in defence rocking the Tigers.
With most of its big guns on the sideline Manly led 24-6 after the first two quarters.
In this period props Kylie Leuluai,Daniel Heckenberg,second rower Glenn Stewart and centre Paul Stephenson were outstanding.
The props never stopped carting the ball up and were too big and strong for the Tigers pack.
Stewart was outstanding and is going to press hard for inclusion in the 17 for the start of the premiership.Stephenson relished the wet conditions and powered his way across for two tries and was difficult to handle.
Another to shine in this period was five eighth Michael Witt.
Witt was all class and a neat hip pass sent big second rower Sam Harris across for a try.He was Matthew Ridge like with the boot landing his first six straight from all angles in atrocious conditions.He will be a majaor bonus in 2005 with most fours turning automatically into six.
Manly introduced some big names after half time with the match well in hand with Ben Kennedy,Brent Kite and Jason King certainly showing they are in for excellent seasons.The trio wworked in tandem and their size and strength will worry every opposition.
Veteran centre Terry Hill was in the thick of the action and pleased coach Des Hasler with is effort.Hill will be monitered closely in the next week leading up to the trial in Albion Park on Saturday,March 26 against St.George Illawarra.
Manly will head to Kiama on Thursday afternoon and return after the trial.
Suspended second rower Anthony Watmough played strongly in the Premier League trial.
Manly came through the trial without any major injury worries.
The torrid off seasosn training program undertaken by the Sea Eagles showed obvious benefits with Manly playing a much more up tempo game than the Tigers.
Coach Des Hasler said it was an excellent start to the 2005 campaign.
"We came out running and I was really pleased with the newcomers and some of the old faces like Terry Hill and Hoppa played strongly,"Hasler said."
www.mightyeagles.com
