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Opinion by Ray Chesterton
July 12, 2004
THE Sea Eagles, foot soldiers themselves in a rugby league premiership dominated by more technologically advanced clubs, still managed to run in five tries against the Tigers yesterday.
And that is what irked Tigers coach Tim Sheens the most.
Not necessarily the loss, although it was disappointing to lose a fourth in a row.
It was more that his Tigers were crushed pretty comprehensively by another average team.
It is one thing losing to the ruling powers such as the Dragons 50-nil and the Roosters 56-nil but Manly?
They are engaged in a life-and-death battle for the wooden spoon.
Rugby league lore has it that each loss just moves you a step closer to a win.
Trouble is that the next win for the Tigers shows no sign of emerging from the debris in the immediate future.
"We were beaten in an average game of football. That is not good news for us," Sheens said.
"Four weeks ago the wheels fell off and we have not been able to put them back on."
The Tigers players behaved like the folklore about areas in outback Australia that were dry for so long frogs were terrified by the sight of rain when it finally came.
Yesterday the Tigers, after a sterling opening 25 minutes of resolute defence and a 6-nil lead, reacted to the overcast conditions and greasy ball like those outback frogs.
They dropped the ball, they fumbled the ball, they spilled it, they knocked it on and they were embarrassing.
Adding to the burden the Tigers were also down 6-1 in the penalties at one stage from referee Steve Clark, who hopefully will get to share the reasoning behind at least three of his decisions in front of a wider audience today.
Yet for much of the first half the Tigers were steadfast in defence, repelling raid after raid from a Manly side that dominated possession while trailing 6-nil.
The Tigers dreadful handling all over the field was negated by resolution on their goal line that Manly could not penetrate.
But the loss of Tigers try-scorer Brett Hodgson to the sin bin let Manly in for two tries against 12 men and a 10-6 half-time lead.
Manly's half and new captain Michael Monaghan was his team's dynamic core yesterday, scoring one try and getting involved in the other four.
A season that started so promisingly for the Tigers is now finished, with Sheens saying while the emphasis will still be on winning matches this year, there will also be considerable thought given to planning for 2005.
Manly's future looks brighter because of a massive spending spree to lure established players to the club.
Not before time.
Manly coach Des Hasler, while grateful for the two competition points which move his team away from last place on percentages, was not fooled.
Even he described yesterday's win as ugly.
July 12, 2004
THE Sea Eagles, foot soldiers themselves in a rugby league premiership dominated by more technologically advanced clubs, still managed to run in five tries against the Tigers yesterday.
And that is what irked Tigers coach Tim Sheens the most.
Not necessarily the loss, although it was disappointing to lose a fourth in a row.
It was more that his Tigers were crushed pretty comprehensively by another average team.
It is one thing losing to the ruling powers such as the Dragons 50-nil and the Roosters 56-nil but Manly?
They are engaged in a life-and-death battle for the wooden spoon.
Rugby league lore has it that each loss just moves you a step closer to a win.
Trouble is that the next win for the Tigers shows no sign of emerging from the debris in the immediate future.
"We were beaten in an average game of football. That is not good news for us," Sheens said.
"Four weeks ago the wheels fell off and we have not been able to put them back on."
The Tigers players behaved like the folklore about areas in outback Australia that were dry for so long frogs were terrified by the sight of rain when it finally came.
Yesterday the Tigers, after a sterling opening 25 minutes of resolute defence and a 6-nil lead, reacted to the overcast conditions and greasy ball like those outback frogs.
They dropped the ball, they fumbled the ball, they spilled it, they knocked it on and they were embarrassing.
Adding to the burden the Tigers were also down 6-1 in the penalties at one stage from referee Steve Clark, who hopefully will get to share the reasoning behind at least three of his decisions in front of a wider audience today.
Yet for much of the first half the Tigers were steadfast in defence, repelling raid after raid from a Manly side that dominated possession while trailing 6-nil.
The Tigers dreadful handling all over the field was negated by resolution on their goal line that Manly could not penetrate.
But the loss of Tigers try-scorer Brett Hodgson to the sin bin let Manly in for two tries against 12 men and a 10-6 half-time lead.
Manly's half and new captain Michael Monaghan was his team's dynamic core yesterday, scoring one try and getting involved in the other four.
A season that started so promisingly for the Tigers is now finished, with Sheens saying while the emphasis will still be on winning matches this year, there will also be considerable thought given to planning for 2005.
Manly's future looks brighter because of a massive spending spree to lure established players to the club.
Not before time.
Manly coach Des Hasler, while grateful for the two competition points which move his team away from last place on percentages, was not fooled.
Even he described yesterday's win as ugly.
