http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,16520262-23214,00.html
Hill 'no soft target'
By Brent Read and Peter Kogoy
September 7, 2005
MANLY centre Terry Hill has issued an open invitation to the Eels to target him in Sunday's qualifying final, warning they will do so at their own peril.
Hill, renowned as one of the game's best sledgers, also claimed the game against Parramatta, the minor premiers, at Parramatta Stadium was "tailor-made" for the Sea Eagles.
The 33-year-old Hill has made a career out of needling opponents and the beat went on yesterday when he was asked whether he thought Parramatta would come after him. "At the end of the day I think (Parramatta coach) Brian Smith is too clever for that," Hill said.
"I'm sure he'll have his players fully focused.
"In saying that, it's a semi-final, I have been there and done that before.
"It's not as though I'm going to be nervous. They can go for their life."
Hill, who publicly thanked his team-mates for giving him the opportunity to farewell rugby league in the finals, was a picture of confidence as he faced the media at the club's training headquarters yesterday.
Despite his side being rank outsiders, Hill brazenly claimed the Eels would be feeling the pressure.
"They'll be sweating, put it that way, they'll be sweating," Hill said.
"I just think this is a tailor-made game for us.
"This goes back decades - the '70s, '80s, '90s and now we're into the 2000s, Manly versus Parramatta.
"It's a love-hate relationship between both teams, it always has been for a long, long time.
"Why do I say it's tailor-made? I just think we're running into a bit of form at the right end of the season.
"It's sort of like we had a medium spa a couple of weeks ago, we had a warm spa and now we're hopping in the hot water. We're ready to go."
The Sea Eagles' confidence has been fuelled by the absence of Parramatta second-rower Nathan Hindmarsh, the Eels' most influential player, and their performance against Canberra.
The Eels' forward pack could be further depleted if bench player Fui Fui Moi Moi fails to beat a high-tackle charge and nine-week suspension at the judiciary tonight.
With its season on the line, Manly responded with a big win over the Raiders in the national capital last Saturday night.
Meanwhile, Wests Tigers coach Tim Sheens yesterday revealed a punter's streak to his steely demeanour by sticking with centre Shane Elford for the match against North Queensland Cowboys.
Sheens has kept faith with Elford who only returned to the line-up in the Tigers' loss to the Panthers last Sunday after missing the previous five games with a knee injury.
The Tigers coach has also tweaked his pack by shifting Anthony Laffranchi to the front row at the expense of Bryce Gibbs, who will move to the bench.
Former captain Mark O'Neill will partner Ben Galea in the second row, while Dene Halatau will be the new lock at the expense of the dumped Ray Cashmere.
Fullback Bret Hodgson, ranked among the game's players pound for pound, says the Tigers' lack of size, particularly in the forwards, has not worried the team as it prepares for its first finals series.
"The reality is that we are not as big as other sides, but our forwards have got more grunt and more muscle on their day than anyone in the competition," Hodgson said.
"I've got no doubt they will turn up on the night and provide scoring opportunities for the likes of myself, Benji Marshall and Scott Prince to play off the back of them."
Hodgson declared the Tigers were in the finals on merit and not just to make up the numbers.
"We may just surprise a few people because we know we've got the confidence and the ability to do something special in these semis," he said.
He was quick to downplay the team's recent loss of form including successive defeats against Melbourne and Penrith going into Friday night's first qualifying final.
"There's no doubt that finals football is a different ball game," he said.
