Hard-fought not bought: Manly win premiership
By Todd Balym, 6 Oct 2008 Todd Balym is a Roar Pro
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Manly coach Des Hasler looked straight into the camera and without blinking an eyelid uttered his famous words: “We are still flying under the radar.” And for the first time this year Hasler was right. Nobody saw this coming.
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The NRL grand final most had predicted all season ended in a score line nobody could have anticipated.
Manly’s 40-0 flogging of Melbourne was the greatest grand final win in the 100-year history of the game as the Sea Eagles claimed sweet retribution for last year’s disappointing loss to the Storm.
Veteran Steve Menzies capped his marvellous 349 game career with his 180th try and his second premiership ring, 12 years after his first.
Winger Michael Robertson scored a hat-trick, the first since Steve Renouf in the 1997 Super League grand final, as the Sea Eagles ran out eight tries to nil victors.
It is the first time since Manly’s 16-0 triumph over Cronulla in the 1978 replay that a side has been held scoreless in a decider.
The club which was accused of buying premierships in the past tonight claimed their greatest win in Manly’s history was the result of nothing but hard work.
Club co-owner Max Delmege, who saved Manly from extinction six years ago, declared his $10 million investment into the Sea Eagles was worth every cent.
“There is no regrets whatsoever. If somebody was to write a cheque and give it back to me it would probably make my life easier but I would rip it up,” said Delmege.
“This has been a wonderful ride, an amazing experience and I have been repaid 20 times tonight.
“It was something I dreamt of but I didn’t know it was going to come this early.
“We haven’t really bought anybody as such … at the end of the day Des can make ordinary players into extraordinary players.”
Hasler couldn’t praise his team enough for their months of hard work to get to this stage, his side’s superior speed and fitness the key difference between the grand finalists.
“I’m just so pleased for them and proud they are able to experience a grand final win,” said Hasler.
“We really wanted to work Melbourne over because they have had a pretty tough month.
“We wanted to make the game as up-tempo as we could.”
The Sea Eagles dominated the speed of the game and after bashing the Storm with their early defence they just blew them away with a rampant finish.
Robertson scored his three tries in 17 minutes to put himself into league folklore for the right reasons.
His biggest claim to fame until now was his infamous ‘wang’ dance after the 2007 grand final defeat, when television cameras captured him jumping around naked in the changerooms.
“This feeling is so surreal at the moment,” said Robertson.
“It is unbelievable.
“We are all saying how it just feels like a dream.”
Manly rammed home their dominance with three tries in the final 13 minutes, including the 72nd effort to Menzies which brought the crowd of 80,388 to their feet.
Five-eighth Jamie Lyon had played in last year’s loss and the 2001 premiership defeat with Parramatta and was happy to get his title monkey off his back.
“I thought I was a bit of a jinx,” he said.
“When we get in that mood we have players that score freakish tries.”
Skipper Matt Orford, who overcame ankle injuries to play in the decider, couldn’t believe how his side systematically dismantled the dominant side of the past three years.
“I feel about 60 at the moment,” the halfback joked.
“I am in shock.
“It probably has not sunk in yet and that’s probably because of the score line.”
© AAP 2012What they said about the NRL grand final:
“I didn’t see that coming.” – Melbourne coach CRAIG BELLAMY.“I thought Robbo was going to be a bit greedy and get four tries but he was nice enough to give me one.” – Manly legend STEVE MENZIES.
“The whole week was about us. Last year I think we were a little bit guilty of focusing on them too much.” – Manly coach DES HASLER.
“That is the best feeling in the world, I can’t describe it. That’s made my year … now we’ve got memories for the rest of our lives.” – Manly captain MATT ORFORD.
“I just have to give a huge wrap to my guys. I accept this on your behalf, I love yas all.” – Manly’s Clive Churchill medallist BRENT KITE.
“It was terrible last year. It took me months to get over. I’m just glad we got a bit of a consolation today.” – Manly five-eighth JAMIE LYON.
“It was almost the perfect performance, scoring 40 points.” Manly hat-trick hero MICHAEL ROBERTSON.
“The first half set it up. We had to come out and play exactly like we did in the first half and we were lucky enough to score a few points in the end.” – Manly fullback BRETT STEWART.
“It was closer than that … I don’t know how (the score) got that high.” – MENZIES again.
“I think one bloke in the team’s not going to make too much difference.” – Suspended Melbourne skipper CAMERON SMITH.
“The only thing I can think of is that we spent ourselves emotionally.” – Retiring Storm veteran MATT GEYER.
“I guess we saved our worst performance for last.” – Storm phenomenon ISRAEL FOLAU.
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Norman Campbell said | October 6th 2008 @ 9:23am | Report comment
Congratulations to Manly on the win. Congratulations to Des Hassler for preparing his team, they were absolutely ready for anything. 40-0 scoreline just shows how they systematically controlled every aspect of the game. Congratulations to Steve Menzies on a brilliant career and of course that brilliant try yesterday. Congratulations to Michael Robertson, firstly for scoring three tries and secondly for not blowing up when Billy Slater came in with his boots right into his arm. (But no congratulations to the referee or other officials who didn’t spot that blatant foul play). Even after the slowmo. Was I the only one who noticed this reckless tackle attempt or would a report on this incident leave the “Australian fullback” ineligible for the world cup.
sheek said | October 6th 2008 @ 10:20am | Report comment
My post match observations. Admittedly, I turned the TV off at the 60 minute mark, with the Manly Sea Eagles leading 24-0. I like to see a contest, not a mis-match.
1. Justice was served #1. Des Hasler & Steve Menzies are both icons of rugby league, whoever you support. They deserved their success.
2. Justice was served #2, sort of. Melbourne’s tackling style has brought them great criticism this season. Many people will be glad they got their “just desserts”.
3. The Storm can regroup. Will Craig Bellamy learn the lessons of this defeat? Come back in 2009 with a cleaner tackling style, without losing the hard edge of the forwards, or the brilliance of the backs.
4. Perhaps the NRL scored an ‘own goal’ by suspending Cameron Smith. His presence wouldn’t have altered the final result, but he would have almost certainly ensured a closer scoreline.
5. Smith’s suspension was never about its legitimacy. At the root of the anger directed towards the NRL was their lack of consistency in addressing transgressions throughout the season. In the end, the NRL probably deserved to be presented with a ‘dud’ grand final.
Dud in the sense it was a no-contest. No-one could fault the brilliance of the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles. We reap what we sow – good & bad.
El Capitan said | October 6th 2008 @ 10:57am | Report comment
Got to agree with you Sheek.
Smith would not have made a huge difference and yes he was guilty, but the consistantly was not there for suppending players for grapple tackles during the year.
I too turned off the TV and changed stations after the 60th minute mark. I wanted to see a contest not a one sided event. Manly deserve the win, but I’d like to know how many left the TV’s when the score was racking up?
Also I did notice that at the end of the game, the crowd started to leave before the presentions. The previous week the crowd at the MCG for the AFL stayed until the players were presented their medals. Difference in cultures?
ray clarke said | October 6th 2008 @ 11:09am | Report comment
The Leugue Grand Final was of the very highest quality and an excellent advertisement for the code. Who would entertain Super 14 after that exhibition yesterday in Sydney? There was not one penalty shot at goal or a dropped goal in the fourty points scored. Rugby Union cannot compete with that as far too much of thier points come from the boot. The Manly Team gave an excellent exhibition of top quality intelligent Rugby Leaugue. Long live the NRL!
oikee said | October 6th 2008 @ 11:55am | Report comment
Well said ray, but i wont make any judgement about Union because at the top level it can be quite entertaining. As for turning off your tele at the 60 minute mark then you missed out on 2 players scoring brilliant tries in their last games for manly. The beaver got his and rocked the crowd then Steve Bell scored the last which i quite enjoyed giving the service he has made to his club. To me it would be like turning off tiger woods when he was 10 shots ahead final hole and could make birdie to break course record, if you do follow the game then you would not turn it off with 20 to go, just goes to show how fickle you are, please dont barrack for the kangaroos, if they get beat you will be the 1st to critacise. I had backed Melbourne and was hoping for a consilation try, never happened. Cheers.
The Link said | October 6th 2008 @ 12:32pm | Report comment
“Des can make ordinary players into extraordinary players”
Max, you’ve said it all.
Haslers ability to get the best out of young juniors and journeyman has been the key.
A spinkling of top players purchased (Lyon, Orford, Kite) were more at the crossroads rather than the eschelon of the game
The blueprint for rebuilding a team, a culture and a club is laid bare for all.
However one thing you cannot replicate the steel and determination of D Hasler.
Well done Manly.
Premierships in the 70′s, 80′s, 90′s and 00′s.
Millster said | October 6th 2008 @ 12:39pm | Report comment
I’m Oikee and Ray, though not a fan of making code-to-code comparisons, and it was a joy to see Manly play intelligent attacking League that was totally focussed on scoring tries. Though the scoreline was uneven, the attitude in which the game was played as well as some of Manly’s excellent whole-team passing and tries made the GF a joy to watch.
sheek said | October 6th 2008 @ 12:51pm | Report comment
Ray Clarke/Oikee,
Cheap shots from you both!
I watched the final minutes of the earlier final between Canberra & Brisbane, which went into extra time. There must have been half a dozen or more shots at field goal in those final 10 minutes, as both sides strived to break the deadlock.
My heart was in my mouth, so to speak, & I had no interest in who won. The point is, field goals are exciting at the appropriate time, & do have their place. Stop comparing the games (RL & RU) – they may appear similar, but are very different games, with different characteristics.
We Australians are very lucky to have 4 different top quality football codes. No other country can boast this? I have come to appreciate rugby union, rugby league, soccer & Australian football in the same way I can appreciate a straw blond, a honey blond, a brunette, an auburn, a raven or a redhead.
Vive la difference!
Redb said | October 6th 2008 @ 12:52pm | Report comment
Millster,
That goes against what you were saying about one sided games last week.
So a complete thrashing can be exciting?
Redb
Millster said | October 6th 2008 @ 1:00pm | Report comment
RedB – I didnt say anything about exciting in my post – or even use the word – if you re-read. I just said that Manly’s play was awesome at times. I also agreed with the somewhat-sledge at the Union tactic of smothering play and scoring too much off the boot at the expense of any ambition to score tries, and said I was glad to see Manly aiming for the try-line right to the final hooter. But no, I agree, ‘exciting’ it was not in terms of any suspense about the result.
Sheek – but would the football codes or the women win out?