From today's CT:
Backyard to Brookvale, Monaghan boys ready to rumble
By Peter Fitzgerald
Wednesday, 28 July 2004
Departing Raider Joel Monaghan will line up against elder brother Michael for the first time when Canberra travels to Brookvale Oval to challenge the Manly Sea Eagles on Sunday.
Michael Monaghan spent three seasons with Joel at the Raiders before joining the Seas Eagles this year.
He ventured to Manly with the guarantee of playing regular first grade. The clever halfback has also taken over as captain since former skipper Steve Menzies stood down midway through the year.
After playing with the Tuggeranong Buffaloes as kids, the only time the Monaghan brothers have come up against each other was in the backyard.
Joel - linked with Manly before announcing he would join the Roosters at the end of the year - said he was looking forward to finally playing against Michael.
"Our team will be looking at him, not just me personally, because of the position he plays. But it'll be good to play against him for the first time," Joel said, before joining his Raiders teammates in a go-kart session yesterday.
"He's captain as well now so he and Germ [Simon Woolford] will no doubt have a few words on the field which will be good to see."
As a tribute to the 1987 premiership decider between the two teams, the Raiders and Sea Eagles will heritage jerseys on Sunday, similar to those worn 17 years ago.
The initiative is part of the National Rugby League's "80s week". The NRL decided to launch the idea with the Raiders-Manly match this weekend, but the rest of the teams will wear their '80s uniforms in Round 25.
Monaghan is part of an unchanged starting line-up that defeated the Warriors in golden-point extra time last weekend.
Despite sitting seventh on the ladder with 10 wins, the Raiders are not yet guaranteed a finals birth. Monaghan said the Sea Eagles would not be easybeats this weekend.
"[Manly's] position on the ladder [14th] shows they're struggling, but they're only just losing games and not playing too bad so it'll be tough this weekend," he said.
"I think we can almost cement a spot in the eight if we win this week, so it's pretty important for us to get the points."
Lock Terry Martin has been ruled out for another week with a rib cartilage injury, similar to the one Luke Davico suffered prior to the City v Country representative match earlier in the year.
Teenager Michael Weyman has again been named on the bench, as has Tyran Smith, Michael Hodgson and Troy Thompson.
Coach Matt Elliott is satisfied he has the firepower to continue the Raiders' successful period, which has seen them win four of their past five matches.
"Terry [Martin] was touch-and-go so we decided it best not to name him. Everybody else fully deserves to remain in the top squad," he said.
"While last week wasn't our most impressive display of the year, I'm happy with the squad we have at the moment and don't want to make too many changes as we attempt to cement a spot in the finals."
Captain Simon Woolford is confident he has recovered from a shoulder injury suffered during the loss to the Panthers 11 days ago.
A loss on Sunday could see the Raiders slide from the top eight. With matches to come against the Newcastle Knights, Melbourne Storm and Sydney Roosters to follow, it would leave the Raiders in a vulnerable spot.
"We need to consolidate on the weekend, no doubt," Woolford said. "Even though that performance last week wasn't great, we need to improve again on that and consolidate by getting the points."
