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http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/news/watmough-yokes-ox/2007/08/05/1186252545745.html
Jamie Pandaram | August 6, 2007
NOT since he played for the Narrabeen Sharks in an under-17 grand final has Anthony Watmough scored a hat-trick of tries, which is odd considering how often he bobs up on the scorer's sheet.
But after struggling to build an effective combination with halfback Matt "Ox" Orford, the pair showed yesterday that their work on the training paddock over the last year is paying dividends.
"I think we were pretty disappointing at the start of the year, and even last year I didn't think we sort of clicked as well as we should," Watmough said. "Me and Ox have worked on a few things that has allowed me to make a few yards and score a few tries."
With a wonderful exhibition of gap-running, Watmough took advantage of clever play by Orford to cross three times. "It's pretty good, something I'll remember forever," Watmough said. "There's still a couple of things to work on in defence but if people are taking notice, that's good.
"I can just hang out wide and let Ox do all the work - he is the one under all the pressure."
With their first attacking raid in the opposing half, Manly scored when hooker Michael Monaghan slipped between two defenders and passed to a flying Jamie Lyon. The in-form playmaker turned the ball inside to Watmough, who outsprinted the cover defence to score under the posts.
Manly turned up the heat in the second half, making regular breaks through Brisbane's defence.
Orford created a breathtaking try in the 48th minute when he feigned a high kick on the last tackle, then ran and grubbered in between Corey Parker and David Taylor, regathered and then passed to Luke Williamson. The lock ran wide and turned the ball inside to a flying Watmough, who stepped around Justin Hodges to dive over.
Watmough's third came in the 67th minute, when he raced onto a cut-out pass from Orford and - after a brief juggle - strolled over.
The match was virtually over by then but Manly veteran Steve Menzies said the signs of victory were apparent in the first half hour, when Brisbane resorted to a penalty kick after repeated unsuccessful attempts at breaking the line.
"I thought it showed a bit of character and bit of spirit," Menzies said. "For the first 30 minutes we were under the pump. Nothing was going our way. It was good they only got a penalty goal.
"When a team's constantly attacking your line and they get a penalty and they decide to take the kick, it gives confidence to your team."
Broncos captain Petero Civoniceva admitted his team blew chances to lead. "We certainly had our opportunities early on," the front-rower said.
Menzies said Manly were building nicely towards a tilt at the premiership, and while he still considered Melbourne "the benchmark", he was confident of his side's ability. "Just the belief in each other has been building up over the season," he said. "We need to get on a good roll.
"In the finals, it doesn't matter where you finish or for-and-against, it's whoever wins on the day."
