New Eagles make history

[gong_eagle]

New Eagles make history

• sport
  • Rugby League

26 Dec 08 by Peter Peters
http://manly-daily.whereilive.com.au/sport/story/new-eagles-make-history/




NEW buys Tony Williams, Chris Bailey and Shane Rodney look odds-on to create history and make their debuts for the Sea Eagles in England.
With Manly’s only pre-season games in London and Leeds before the start of the 2009 premiership defence, coach Des Hasler has no option but to use matches with English Super League opposition as his premiership warm-ups.
The preparation is unique in Manly’s history.
“It is different that’s for sure - but we have hand-picked Williams, Bailey and Rodney to Manly and are well aware of what they can do,” Hasler said.
“The games against the Harlequins and the Rhinos will be tough and we will have a week after we get back home before we play the Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium to start the premiership.”
Hasler has left his squad for England open for players who impress at summer training to force an inclusion.
Manly will play the London Harlequins at the Stoop in London on February 22 and the World Club Challenge with Leeds Rhinos at Elland Road on March 1.
They return to Sydney on March 3 with the premiership starting on the weekend of March 13-16.
RONNIE “Rambo” Gibbs, the 1987 premiership-winning forward, reports a a massive surge in support for the Sea Eagles in the far western outposts of NSW.
Gibbs travels to Bourke, Nyngan, Broken Hill and Cobar while headquartered at Dubbo in his role as a development officer for the Australian Rugby League and is a tireless worker for the game - particularly among indigenous children.
But Gibbs never stops pushing the Sea Eagles’ brand and has offered to produce 50 new members in his travels over the next few months.
“I’m so proud of the way the team played in 2008,” he said.
“The brand of football, their sportsmanship and the way they obviously enjoyed their football was uplifting and they are the flavour of the month at the moment in the far west of NSW. Kids want to play like Brett Stewart, Brent Kite, Matty Orford, ‘Choc’ Watmough and the ‘Wolfman’ Williams.
“Manly has always had great support out here but they have come out with the recent success.
“I just want to do my bit for the club which helped me win a premiership.” Gibbs will travel to Sydney next month to plan and make good his promise of chasing new members.

 

[gong_eagle]

Classy Eagles must not be intimidated

• sport
  • Rugby League

19 Dec 08 by PETER PETERS

http://manly-daily.whereilive.com.au/sport/story/classy-eagles-must-not-be-intimidated/

FORMER Manly star Chris Hicks has warned his ex-teammates of an “in-your-face assault” from the Leeds Rhinos in the World Club Challenge at Elland Road, Leeds, on March 1.
Hicks is spending Christmas and New Year back in Manly after a successful first season with the Warrington Wolves in Super League.
He is predicting a physical assault from the big Leeds pack to try and intimidate the more skillful Sea Eagles.
“They will make it an up-close, physical encounter but if Manly can evade that and play their own game on the fringes then they will be too classy,” Hicks said.
He said Manly’s emphatic premiership win over the Melbourne Storm had created a lot of interest in England.
“They can’t wait for the game and it will be a sellout,” Hicks said.
“Jamie Lyon is a huge star over there from his days at St Helens while Brett and Glenn Stewart, Anthony Watmough, Steve Matai and David Williams are all seen as exciting players by the English fans.
“Manly is very popular with the Poms and it should be a heck of a match.”
Hicks has one season left on his Warrington contract but has been offered an extension.
He will join his former Manly mates on Sunday at a farewell get-together for grand final winners Mark Bryant and Steve Menzies.
WITH a heavy snow dump in Yorkshire, Steve Menzies is going through the strangest December training program of his life at the Bradford Bulls.
Menzies has found that he needs to leave for training 45 minutes earlier with snow on the road.
Despite the weather change, Beaver is enjoying his new surrounds. He has settled into his home at Headingley in Leeds and has former NSW Origin and Test teammate Danny Buderus as a close neighbour.
THE signing of former West Coast Eagle Ben Cousins to the Richmond Tigers throws up the question of how many chances do we give our sporting stars who break the law?
The Sea Eagles got burnt badly a few years back when the club signed Andrew Walker. I will never forget the phone call I received from Walker when he told me he had tested positive for cocaine.
Two days later he was out of the club and his career in league over. Yet even though in the veteran stage of his career Walker got another chance in French rugby and subsequently with Queensland in Super 14.
Two league players sitting out their careers - Cronulla’s Greg Bird and Canberra’s Todd Carney - are in great demand overseas.
Carney has a contract waiting to be fulfilled at Huddersfield and Warrington are eager to sign Greg Bird.
THE Sea Eagles will break ranks from summer training to enjoy Christmas and New Year with their families but will be back on January 5 to start the back-to-back campaign.
Every game in 2009 will be a battle now the premiership trophy is on the northern beaches but coach Des Hasler will have the team ready at the right time.
Hasler is well aware of the challenges ahead but said he is excited at the prospect - starting with the World Club Challenge in Leeds.

 

[chileman]

Rambo Gibbs, what a legend