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History and numerous pundits suggest premiers Manly have little chance of winning the NRL title in 2012 but new coach Geoff Toovey prefers to point to the club’s history of rising to challenges.
No team has won back-to-back premierships in a united competition since Wayne Bennett’s Brisbane triumphed in 1993 and certainly few premiership-winning teams have endured an off-season laden with as many potholes as the Sea Eagles have.
Having seen two-time premiership winning coach Des Hasler walk away from the club to join Canterbury less than a week after their grand final victory over the Warriors, as well as losing wingers Michael Robertson and Will Hopoate and second-rower Shane Rodney, longtime coaching assistant Toovey has his work cut out.
But Toovey argues the club he won two competitions with as a player, and the current playing group in particular, have always managed to come through hard times and will relish the challenge posed by the doubters.
“Great things come out of adversity,” Toovey told AAP.
“This team has had several challenges put before them in the past and they’ve risen above and conquered those challenges.
“I think it’s fair to say here at the Manly club, we do rise to those challenges and we don’t let those minor obstacles get in our way.
“We use them to our advantage. I think we’ve done that in the past and we’ve got that very tough culture here at Manly.”
Without Hasler’s respected and proven leadership, Toovey has had to rely even more on the club’s senior playing group to ensure there is no premiership hangover.
And he says the work done by the team’s experienced campaigners, in particular co-captains Jason King and Jamie Lyon, has left him with no doubt that this season will be a success despite an inauspicious pre-season which yielded losses to the Sharks and also to Leeds in the World Club Challenge.
“Their mental toughness that they pass on to those other surrounding players and less experienced players is very valuable for the coaching staff,” Toovey said.
“It’s given those two (King and Lyon) even more responsibility in that area because of the changes that have gone on.
“They’ve taken that on board, that extra responsibility on their own free will and they’ve run with it, and they’ve done a great job.
“The important thing I think here is that the senior player group, and the premiership winning team, is intact.”
Toovey believes Manly are well placed to cover the loss of Robertson and Hopoate, with former Australian representative David Williams returning to full fitness after breaking his neck last season and young gun Michael Oldfield ready to make his mark on first grade.
“(Oldfield) is still learning the trade but he has a lot of potential,” Toovey said.
“It’s just a matter of us and him making sure he can fulfil that potential that he’s got.”
Manly Sea Eagles
Premierships: 8 – 1972-73, 1976, 1978, 1987, 1996, 2008, 2011
Finishes over the past three seasons: 2011 – premiers, 2010 – qualifying finalists, 2009 – qualifying finalists
Coach: Geoff Toovey
Captain: Jason King, Jamie Lyon
Gains: Ben Farrar (Les Catalans)
Losses: Will Hopoate (Mormon mission), Shane Rodney, Michael Robertson (both London Broncos)
Player they really needed: Sam Burgess. As a team that prides itself on dominating packs, Manly’s front row stocks would get a massive boost from a physical, young star like Burgess.
Headline fans dread to read: “Sea Eagles struggles point to 2009 repeat”
Headline fans would love to read: “Manly defeat Bulldogs to win back-to-back premierships”
Money Man: Glenn Stewart. The Clive Churchill medal winner is arguably Manly’s most valuable player. Works hard on both sides of the ball, is physical in defence and creative in attack. He’s a winner.
One to watch: Jamie Buhrer made a big impact in his first full NRL season, playing a variety of roles off the bench. Look for big improvements in his game, especially if he locks down a starting spot in the second-row.
Best team: Brett Stewart, David Williams, Jamie Lyon (capt), Steve Matai, Michael Oldfield, Kieran Foran, Daly Cherry-Evans, Glenn Stewart, Anthony Watmough, Tony Williams, Brent Kite, Matt Ballin, Jason King (capt). Interchange: George Rose, Jamie Buhrer, Darcy Lussick, Joe Galuvao.
Predicted finish: 3rd
© AAP 2012Recommend this story.
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The Crowd Says (2) | Page 1 of Comments
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February 22nd 2012 @ 11:57am
apaway said | February 22nd 2012 @ 11:57am | Report comment
Nice wrap, Joe. However, I think there’ll be a lot of residual affection for Des Hasler and what he did for the club during his time as coach. So that “headline fans would love to read” would probably more likely be “Manly defeat Storm to win back-to-back premierships.”
February 24th 2012 @ 9:28am
Nate Hornblower said | February 24th 2012 @ 9:28am | Report comment
As I Manly fan, I can confirm that Joe had it right the first time, there would be nothing more satisfying for us than to beat the Bulldogs in the GF.
I’m glad to read this pre-season review that seems to have a good dose of common sense. So many pundits aren’t even picking Manly to make the top 8 and that is beyond a joke. Then again, most of them didn’t pick them to make the top 8 last season either so what do they know, even a year of hindsight hasn’t helped them.