NEWCASTLE players have been ordered to muscle-up and not be trampled again by Manly's big forwards in tonight's first NRL finals match at EnergyAustralia Stadium.
Setting the scene for an explosive opening to the 2006 playoffs, Manly are aiming to repeat the physical dominance they established over the Knights in round 23 by picking five props in their 19-man squad.
But Knights coach Michael Hagan has turned to 35-year-old hardman Craig Smith, along with Luke Davico and tackling machine Kurt Gidley, to halt Manly's juggernaut. Veteran enforcers Smith and Davico, both coming off the bench, were absent the last time the teams met, while Gidley has been rushed back to five-eighth because he is more physically dominant in defence than young Jarrod Mullen.
"They've got three front-rowers on the bench, so they've made no secret of how they're going to play the game, it's going to be up the middle," Davico said.
"We're all fresh, we've had the week off, so we're looking forward to ripping in. They've got some big fellas that we'll have to stop."
Hagan said tonight's match would be intense, physical and tough.
"I think the game will have a bit of heat in it given where both teams sit and what they've done this year," he said. "There isn't much between the teams. They came here with a plan in round 23 and it worked.
"But we didn't have Luke Davico and Craig Smith on the bench back then. They are looking forward to the challenge.
"In that game they slowed us down in the ruck because of (the danger of) Joey and Danny Buderus. That limited Joey's time and space.
"They've got the big men to try and work us over on the ground.
Asked about Smith's presence, Hagan said: "He brings respect to our team. He plays a simple, uncompromising and direct style."
Manly coach Des Hasler admitted his team would again try to crash through the Knights forwards.
"At the end of the day, semi-finals come down to forward clashes," Hasler said.
"We think our pack is fairly healthy and can match it with any other forward pack. Finals tend to be won playing ugly footy. You need to call on your forwards."
Kennedy agreed the Sea Eagles' pack can match it with any in NRL.
"But the Knights pack deserves respect and they'll get it from us."
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/
and here are the two pics that go with the article
http://www.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,,5238622,00.jpg
http://www.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,,5238624,00.jpg
Setting the scene for an explosive opening to the 2006 playoffs, Manly are aiming to repeat the physical dominance they established over the Knights in round 23 by picking five props in their 19-man squad.
But Knights coach Michael Hagan has turned to 35-year-old hardman Craig Smith, along with Luke Davico and tackling machine Kurt Gidley, to halt Manly's juggernaut. Veteran enforcers Smith and Davico, both coming off the bench, were absent the last time the teams met, while Gidley has been rushed back to five-eighth because he is more physically dominant in defence than young Jarrod Mullen.
"They've got three front-rowers on the bench, so they've made no secret of how they're going to play the game, it's going to be up the middle," Davico said.
"We're all fresh, we've had the week off, so we're looking forward to ripping in. They've got some big fellas that we'll have to stop."
Hagan said tonight's match would be intense, physical and tough.
"I think the game will have a bit of heat in it given where both teams sit and what they've done this year," he said. "There isn't much between the teams. They came here with a plan in round 23 and it worked.
"But we didn't have Luke Davico and Craig Smith on the bench back then. They are looking forward to the challenge.
"In that game they slowed us down in the ruck because of (the danger of) Joey and Danny Buderus. That limited Joey's time and space.
"They've got the big men to try and work us over on the ground.
Asked about Smith's presence, Hagan said: "He brings respect to our team. He plays a simple, uncompromising and direct style."
Manly coach Des Hasler admitted his team would again try to crash through the Knights forwards.
"At the end of the day, semi-finals come down to forward clashes," Hasler said.
"We think our pack is fairly healthy and can match it with any other forward pack. Finals tend to be won playing ugly footy. You need to call on your forwards."
Kennedy agreed the Sea Eagles' pack can match it with any in NRL.
"But the Knights pack deserves respect and they'll get it from us."
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/
and here are the two pics that go with the article
http://www.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,,5238622,00.jpg
http://www.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,,5238624,00.jpg
