By Alan Nicolea -
October 6th 2008 @ 12:40pm
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Sea Eagles too manly as Melbourne are cast in void
Manly coach Des Hasler has been building the necessary foundations for this moment in history to arrive. The suffering has finally ceased and the celebrations across the peninsula are about to begin.
At last the transformation is complete. The Manly Sea Eagles have gone from a bankrupt rabble to arguably the most powerful side in the NRL, judging by their record breaking 40 to nil victory over the Melbourne Storm in the 2008 Grand Final.
Five or so years ago, Manly were nothing, easily losing all credibility both on and off the field. Other teams, particularly out west, loved watching them suffer.
Those dark days are now gone.
At present, here lies a side that boasts the most devastating fullback in the competition in Brett Stewart, the best defensive centre in Steve Matai and the finest player this season in Matt Orford.
And in a grand final that many expected to be one of the closest decider’s on record, the Sea Eagles were clinical.
Whether it was the return to an afternoon grand final or the cold stench of revenge still on their backs following last years loss to the Storm, Manly played a game of football that few teams could have rivaled, let alone Melbourne.
Overall, it was perhaps the Sea Eagles finest performance in their 61 year history.
From the very first set of the match, Manly had a look of belief about them. They were desperate to reverse their disastrous effort against the Storm in last years decider.
Not only did they reverse it, the Sea Eagles erased it from their memories, instead dishing out a history defining performance in a history defining season.
The Sea Eagles romped to an eight tries to nil thrashing against a Storm side that has held a mortgage on both the Minor Premiership and Grand Final appearances the past few years.
Despite the loss of Cameron Smith and Ryan Hoffman, Melbourne still had twelve players that have either played Test or Origin football.
Not that it did anything to mend the humiliation that would fall on Craig Bellamy’s men at fulltime.
The flair of Billy Slater was non existent. The brilliance of Greg Inglis went cold and the skill of Israel Folau could do little in stopping the capitulation of a team that has longed looked from the top down.
But after the Sea Eagles efforts in the defining game of the season, it is they who are in prime position to take over Melbourne’s mantle as the premier club in this competition.
Manly farewell League Legend Steve Menzies in style, while winger Michael Robertson also bids farewell on the back of a hat-trick on grand final day.
While those players will be hard to replace, Manly are in a terrific position to consolidate their formidable roster and talent.
Their is no denying the fact however the Storm will now struggle, mentally more than anything, to keep alive whatever dominant aura they have left.
Melbourne will have to make do without the services of departing players Jeremy Smith, Michael Crocker, Israel Folau, Matt Geyer and Antonio Kaufusi for next season and beyond.
Like AFL club Port Adelaide before them, the Storm will be hard pressed to garner confidence for 2009 after such a demoralising loss.
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(6)
Skull said | October 6th 2008 @ 2:26pm | Report comment
Alan, don’t know that Robbo is going anywhere, Beaver, Bryant and Bell are moving on. Good article though but I still think the 78 teams performance was the best after taking into account playing 6 games in 21 days (or whatever it was), but as a single performance, this had it all and was done in a very old fashioned simple and efficient manner with hard straight running, finesse in the backs and brutal defence.
Alan Nicolea said | October 6th 2008 @ 3:05pm | Report comment
Skull
Michael Robertson is gone mate. He is going to the English Super League next season. I was not around in 78 but i would be hard pressed to find a more complete performance in Grand Final history. Everything Manly touched turned to gold. The passes were crisp and the instinct displayed by the likes of Stewart, Lyon and Robertson was brilliant. They only had like seven rep players prior to their grand final victory. Expect the Australian squad to feature alot of men from the Peninsula.
Skull said | October 6th 2008 @ 3:10pm | Report comment
How come nobody has said anything about him leaving is this a secret? (not having a shot at you). The only blokes leaving are the aforementioned trio. The performasnce in 78 was almost as complete, but if you though Melbourne went through some tough games in the lead up, Manly’s lead up to 78 triumph was twice as hard
Alan Nicolea said | October 6th 2008 @ 3:18pm | Report comment
Skull
Apologies mate. Robertson is staying in 2009. I though he was going to the Super League for sure. I got confused bigtime.
Even more reason for the Sea Eagles to feel confident come 2009.
Sorry mate.
The Link said | October 6th 2008 @ 9:55pm | Report comment
Geez hasn’t Bellamy’s bubble burst. Loosing the State of Origin series and now the GF. May bring him down a notch or two.
Yep Robbo will still be there. Manly have great depth out wide, with Michael Bani returning and Chris Bailey slotting in as a utility / five-eigth. Wolfman’s a bolter for the Aussie WC squad.
alan nicolea said | October 7th 2008 @ 5:45am | Report comment
The Link
Next year will be Bellamy’s toughest year in charge of the Storm and NSW. He has a long term contract at Melbourne but the pinch of the salary cap and the Grand Final loss will see him struggle abit.
The Sea Eagles roster looks very strong for 2009. They now have what it takes to rule over the competition. But will they be able to garner more premierships?
The Storm have ruled for three seasons through the regular rounds, but have only one grand final win to show for it, just like the Sydney Roosters did when they were hot in 2002,03 and 04.