BRIAN SMITH MEDIA CONFERENCE - ROUND 6
18/4/04
Q - BRIAN IT WAS A BIT ALL OVER THE PLACE TODAY?
A - Yes it sure was. This time last year we were all lamenting Steve Lyons after he awarded a penalty to Manly that won them the game in golden point - we got an apology from the NRL after that dud penalty, but not the points. This time a close call went our way. I don't know if it was right or wrong cause I haven't seen the replay.
Q - YOUR HEART MUST HAVE BEEN IN YOUR MOUTH THERE FOR A MINUTE?
A - No, my heart had jumped inot the grandstand a long time before that.
Q - IT WAS A BRAVE CALL FROMT HE TOUCH JUDGE IN FRONT OF THE HILL?
A - Well yes, but gone are the days of home town decisions. It used to be the case that you could look at the appointments and say "we'll be sweet" or we're in a bit of trouble" but that is not the case anymore. I have no tthoughts about that stuff anymore.
Q - DO YOU THINK IT WAS THE SORT OF GAME THAT YOU MAY NOT HAVE WON OVER THE PAST 2 YEARS?
A - Well the season is only young but it was an important win. It wasn't only 2 points but it was 2 points that the opposition don't which can become so important down the track, there is a certain amount of confidence that comes from a win.
Q - IT WAS AN ORDINARY START?
A - It was a shocking start. The first 15 minutes was terrible. If that had been a boxing match - they wouldn;t have needed the white towel as we would have been dragged away by the soles of our feet. They beat us to the punch on so many things..we did well sort of to scramble and not let them get too far away.
Q - FUI FUI CERTAINLY MADE AN IMPACT?
A - Quite simply he changed the game. The momentum of the game was changed after he came onto the field. He only played 9 or 10 minutes at that juncture but it was a cameo of some note. It will take some beating.
Q - ANYONE HURT?
A - Well that's the other thing about the game. Adam Peek nearly pulled the pin on us at warm up - he is a bad asthmatic and he had some really big trouble breathing - in the end we decided we should make it his decision and he said he would be OK. I thought he did a good job. Mick Vella did a cartlidge in his knee, and then Fui did his ribs but we had to put him back on which was a gamble - his English is better than my Tongan, and I don't really know whether he was saying that he was right or he was busted. We had to sub Chris Armit at half time as Chris Armit was getting checked out by the doctor as he had a bit of a kne eproblem. Poor old Craig Stapleton was the only fit prop out there. We didn't dominate, and were perhaps a bit lucky to win, but we did well to fight back given the injuries we had.
