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The silent treatment: Manly put on notice
Glenn Jackson | August 21, 2008
http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/news/manly-put-on-notice/2008/08/20/1218911827321.html
AFTER giving his players the silent treatment following their shock loss to South Sydney on Sunday, Manly coach Des Hasler changed all that three days later. When he did get around to addressing the players following their third loss from four matches, he threatened them all with the axe.
"It won't happen again," halfback Matt Orford said of the 40-32 defeat to the Rabbitohs.
"It's not acceptable here. No one's irreplaceable here, and if it continues, Des made it clear that he won't hesitate to kick you up the butt and bring someone in who wants to do the job. This part of the year is too important to have lapses like that."
Even Orford, the Sea Eagles' skipper and chief playmaker, was put on notice by the coach as the players dissected the video of Sunday's encounter - a defeat that followed losses to Melbourne (16-10) and the Roosters (34-12) since round 20.
"I'm no exception," he said. "It didn't matter whether we were playing Melbourne or we were playing South Sydney, we all should have turned up with the right attitude and we didn't."
The defeat to the Rabbitohs, who were out of finals contention, all but ended the Sea Eagles' minor premiership aspirations, but, according to the players, it may still serve a useful purpose.
"It's not a bad time to get a kick in the bum," veteran Steve Menzies said.
"If it can get us going with three weeks to go and get a bit of momentum, we might look back and say it was good."
Orford added: "It was a huge reality check. There were a lot of things we thought we were doing well in. It takes something like that to give you a wake-up call. The video doesn't lie. There were a lot of things we didn't do right against Souths. It's not acceptable.
"We haven't been like that all year - that's why we've been so consistent. We didn't play like a top-two team. But we knew ourselves - everyone was filthy on our effort. We've got three games to turn that around."
It begins on Saturday night at ANZ Stadium with Wests Tigers, who have a better record over the past month but are still very unpredictable. The Sea Eagles realise the importance of the game has been magnified by their scratchy form of late.
"If we turn up like we did on Sunday, we'll get the same result," Orford said. "But you won't see that again from us."
Orford's own up-and-down form has led to renewed speculation about his future. Sacked Canberra halfback Todd Carney has been linked with a move to Brookvale in 2010, and Orford - who is off contract at the end of next season - somewhat curiously said the club would be "crazy not to look at him".
"The kid's a huge talent in the game," he said. "Obviously he's had some troubles in his time, but he's a class player and a rep player of the future.
"If he sorts out his off-field stuff, he could be anything in this game, and as soon as he realises that, you can't blame the club for looking at someone like that. [But] hopefully I can still play for a few years."
But where? "Who knows? I haven't really sat down with Des and the staff to see what's going on, but I'm still here for another year," Orford said. "If the body feels great, I'd love to continue that. It just depends. If they've got future plans, we'll talk about it when it comes. It's way too early."
¡ The Bulldogs have suffered another blow, with Brisbane centre Darius Boyd rejecting their interest to sign a three-year deal with St George Illawarra. Boyd is perhaps Wayne Bennett's most prized signing yet for his 2009 Dragons side, joining Canberra duo Neville Costigan and Michael Weyman, Melbourne's Jeremy Smith and Penrith's Luke Priddis at the club.
Glenn Jackson | August 21, 2008
http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/news/manly-put-on-notice/2008/08/20/1218911827321.html
AFTER giving his players the silent treatment following their shock loss to South Sydney on Sunday, Manly coach Des Hasler changed all that three days later. When he did get around to addressing the players following their third loss from four matches, he threatened them all with the axe.
"It won't happen again," halfback Matt Orford said of the 40-32 defeat to the Rabbitohs.
"It's not acceptable here. No one's irreplaceable here, and if it continues, Des made it clear that he won't hesitate to kick you up the butt and bring someone in who wants to do the job. This part of the year is too important to have lapses like that."
Even Orford, the Sea Eagles' skipper and chief playmaker, was put on notice by the coach as the players dissected the video of Sunday's encounter - a defeat that followed losses to Melbourne (16-10) and the Roosters (34-12) since round 20.
"I'm no exception," he said. "It didn't matter whether we were playing Melbourne or we were playing South Sydney, we all should have turned up with the right attitude and we didn't."
The defeat to the Rabbitohs, who were out of finals contention, all but ended the Sea Eagles' minor premiership aspirations, but, according to the players, it may still serve a useful purpose.
"It's not a bad time to get a kick in the bum," veteran Steve Menzies said.
"If it can get us going with three weeks to go and get a bit of momentum, we might look back and say it was good."
Orford added: "It was a huge reality check. There were a lot of things we thought we were doing well in. It takes something like that to give you a wake-up call. The video doesn't lie. There were a lot of things we didn't do right against Souths. It's not acceptable.
"We haven't been like that all year - that's why we've been so consistent. We didn't play like a top-two team. But we knew ourselves - everyone was filthy on our effort. We've got three games to turn that around."
It begins on Saturday night at ANZ Stadium with Wests Tigers, who have a better record over the past month but are still very unpredictable. The Sea Eagles realise the importance of the game has been magnified by their scratchy form of late.
"If we turn up like we did on Sunday, we'll get the same result," Orford said. "But you won't see that again from us."
Orford's own up-and-down form has led to renewed speculation about his future. Sacked Canberra halfback Todd Carney has been linked with a move to Brookvale in 2010, and Orford - who is off contract at the end of next season - somewhat curiously said the club would be "crazy not to look at him".
"The kid's a huge talent in the game," he said. "Obviously he's had some troubles in his time, but he's a class player and a rep player of the future.
"If he sorts out his off-field stuff, he could be anything in this game, and as soon as he realises that, you can't blame the club for looking at someone like that. [But] hopefully I can still play for a few years."
But where? "Who knows? I haven't really sat down with Des and the staff to see what's going on, but I'm still here for another year," Orford said. "If the body feels great, I'd love to continue that. It just depends. If they've got future plans, we'll talk about it when it comes. It's way too early."
¡ The Bulldogs have suffered another blow, with Brisbane centre Darius Boyd rejecting their interest to sign a three-year deal with St George Illawarra. Boyd is perhaps Wayne Bennett's most prized signing yet for his 2009 Dragons side, joining Canberra duo Neville Costigan and Michael Weyman, Melbourne's Jeremy Smith and Penrith's Luke Priddis at the club.
