By Alan Nicolea
September 28th 2008 @ 8:02am
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Sea Eagles set to finally land on top
The New Zealand Warriors have been the Cinderella story of season 2008. But when reality took it’s course last night, the Manly Sea Eagles were always going to meet the Melbourne Storm in next week’s NRL Grand Final.
Fairytales do not last forever and it came to an abrupt halt for a Warriors side who have made history in League’s centenary year.
Stopping the Kiwi juggernaut in their tracks though was a Manly side, who have been building for next week’s decider since that loss to the Storm almost one year ago.
The Sea Eagles are now back for another tilt at a title they never really had a shot at winning last season against a Melbourne team who were just merciless.
Twelves months on and the same two foes will have the distinction of playing in the Premiership decider in Rugby League’s 100th anniversary in Australia.
Although its the same two sides contesting the Grand Final, the tables have turned somewhat.
The Sea Eagles now have what it takes to dethrone the Storm off their premiership perch.
Despite Melbourne, Manly and Cronulla finishing the season all level on 36 competition points, both the Storm and the Sea Eagles were miles ahead of their opposition this year.
Indeed Melbourne displayed it against the Sharks, without the services of their captain Cameron Smith and internationals Ryan Hoffman and Jeremy Smith.
And the Sea Eagles yesterday evening showed the gulf in class they have over opposition rivals with a trouncing of the Warriors.
Even though New Zealand bombed a try in the fifth minute of the game, there was very little form after to suggest they would be upsetting a Manly side who are filled with class, buoyed with a tenacity to get the job done.
Manly forwards Mark Bryant and Glenn Hall were simply superb in carving the ball forward for the Sea Eagles. They never let the Warriors defence settle, and it allowed the likes of Glenn Stewart and Anthony Watmough to wreck havoc on the fridge of the ruck.
Indeed if the Sea Eagles front six dominate, Manly halves Matt Orford and Jamie Lyon take the game by the scruff of the neck.
And they did so against the Warriors.
Lyon’s kicking game in particular was flawless against the New Zealanders, often putting grubber kicks in behind the Warriors defence to gain repeat sets.
All the kicking Lyon was doing relieved a substantial amount of pressure off Orford’s shoulders, allowing the Dally M player of the year to weave the passing game that has seen Manly’s backline flourish points all season.
When talking about Manly’s backline, no doubt Stewart is the prince at fullback.
He once again played the game of his life against the Warriors, scoring a double and having a freakish hand in Steve Matai’s try late in the first half.
Indeed Stewart is a match winner of the highest order for Manly and he will be keen to perform in next week’s decider after being cast into nothingness in last year’s Grand final by Michael Crocker.
But one feels both Stewart and Manly now have the necessary experience to cheer the loudest at the end of the NRL’s centenary celebrations.
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sheek said | September 28th 2008 @ 9:06pm | Report comment
I’ve been wondering about this. Ironically, I reckon if Cameron Smith was still playing, the Eagles would be a shoo-in.
But Smith’s suspension, & the controversy surrounding his suspension, has changed the whole ‘karma’ of the grand final. The Storm are furious, & rightly so, with the NRL, & have adopted a siege mentality. They will take their fury out on Manly.
They have an almighty axe to grind, & come this weekend the Storm are going to throw at the Eagles, the kitchen sink, the whole kitchen, the whole house & garage, the whole street, everything that isn’t bolted down, & then some. The Storm will be playing on a couple of drugs called rage & injustice.
Under the above scenario, Manly will do well to hold out Melbourne!
Alan Nicolea said | September 29th 2008 @ 9:17am | Report comment
Sheek
Melbourne have every right to feel the way that you proclaim above. I know for a fact that the Storm will play well on Grand Final day. Here’s the key though.
If Manly play at THEIR best, they win the Grand final. Regardless of kitchen sinks and siege mentality. if the Sea Eagles fail to win the Premiership, it will be a big F+ next to their season report card. There should be no excuses now.
The Link said | September 29th 2008 @ 2:22pm | Report comment
Alan, hard to see how a team making the GF gets a F+ but I understand your sentiment, particularly if Manly play like the 2007 GF.
Sheek, seems like both teams have ample motivation. There really hasn’t been a great NRL grand final since 2004, this could be the year.
Alan Nicolea said | September 29th 2008 @ 5:05pm | Report comment
The Link
I know making a Grand final is a tremendous achievement first time round but if you lose two in a row like the Roosters did earlier, it hurts big time. It seems that everything done before was cast into nothingness just because a team could not put it together for the 80 minutes that count.
Manly are in this position now. If they lose two in a row, it will be a failed campaign bigtime.