The Manly coach Des Hasler, the Manly players, the Manly Board and Manly fans are amongst the most arrogant and misguided bunch of battlers I have ever come across in my opinion.
They cry when anything happens and the fall-out from what is being termed ‘Black Friday’ simply strengthens the case against these pelicans.
Anyone else notice how the whole world is against Manly according to fans and anyone associated with the club?
I’m not going to get into the debate about who started the fight in the Manly Sea Eagles v Melbourne Storm match from last week except to say no one in rugby league would argue against the initial sin-binning of Glenn Stewart and Adam Blair for their involvement in the first punch up.
No one in rugby league would disagree with these clowns being sent-off for their second punch up on the way to the sin-bin. The referees got this one spot on.
What people do care about is that players from both sides came running from all directions to help. This was a bad look, not acceptable and the NRL rightly charged 10 players for their involvement in the fight.
What I’m blowing up about is the rhetoric from Manly officials following the fight that they were 50% responsible for. Some would even argue they are more than 50% responsible.
Manly lovers whinge that the NRL has a vendetta against them and the world isn’t fair.
My opinion is that it was your players who came charging in, some ran from more than 30 metres, and escalated what was simply a one on one fight.
If there was no involvement from Manly in that fight, then there would be no involvement from the NRL.
Manly need to get off their high-horse and for once take responsibility for their own actions.
Both Melbourne and Manly were fined $50,000. So what did Des “Has-Been” Hasler have to say about it all:
“The Manly club has decided to accept the $50,000 fine and move on, which is probably the smartest thing to do – to put the distraction well and truly behind us and not make it too protracted. We can move forward.”
What a self righteous thing to say. Hasler is saying that the fine is a distraction and for the good of the game they’ll cop it and not let this drag on any further. He is also saying they’ll accept the fine.
Well Des, if your blokes had not run 30m and attacked the head of an opposition player and not been responsible for escalating a one on one blue, then there would be no need for the fines.
Don’t now pretend that you’re helping the game out by copping the fine and not letting it drag on.
If you want to help the game, how about you apologise on behalf of the players for what was an ordinary act. Craig Bellamy from Melbourne should do the same!
Hasler has also carried on and suggested the NRL use the fine money to employ sideline officials to make sure players leave the field of play without any incidents. The NRL already employs sideline officials to manage the interchange but why should the NRL change the rules because of one act of stupidity by Manly and Melbourne players?
Most players have enough intelligence to walk off the field without incident. Again Manly should be looking closer to home as to why this all-in-brawl happened.
There is still a massive hang-over of ill feelings from Manly towards the NRL over the Brett Stewart drama from not yesterday, not last week, but from 2009. Get over it Manly.
When troublemaker and chief pelican Glenn Stewart was interviewed last week before the Black Friday match, he was told NRL boss David Gallop, who by the way has done an outstanding job through all of this, was going to be attending the biggest match of the year, according to the Daily Telegraph he acted like a mug.
“Is he definitely coming? Oh well – we’ll just wait and see what happens when he gets there.”
It had an air of menace about it. Gallop was surrounded by security guards when he was walking through the crowd at Brookvale so one-eyed Manly fans didn’t assault him.
How easy the Manly club forgets and points the fingers at everybody else.
Now before Manly supporters read this and blow up asking about my thoughts on the Melbourne Storm, I can tell you I also think their players acted in an ordinary manner.
However, we haven’t heard Craig Bellamy or the Melbourne Board members carrying on in the media and making smug remarks.
Please Manly, for once, actually take responsibility for your own actions and stop blaming everyone else in the world for your actions.
I have a feeling after tonight’s NRL judiciary we’ll be hearing more complaining from the Manly club as they blame the NRL and suggest there is a conspiracy against them when Manly players involved in the punch up are suspended.
Jonathan Healy
Roar Rookie
Yeah Dean. You're absolutely right. If the unsubstantiated rumour that you're citing turns out to be true then some points of the article are irrelevant. Unforunately (in the mother of all cases of irony) if the rumour isn't true then your comment is in fact the one that is null and void.
Dean -Surry Hills
Guest
The Mad Bratter - It's even easier to see who the Manly hater is. A rumour is aloft and it's directed squarely at a Rugby League Week journalist. The claim is that Lussick made no such comment that he "loved the brawl, and it was the best night of his life". According to witnesses Lussick said "That was the biggest game of my life". If his comments have been taken out of context ( nothing new there ) then the article that you've posted, and your back up comments are both looking more foolish than they already are.
Meesta Cool
Guest
This was probably the best summation on the 'happenings that I have seen on any forum.The fight happened , Justice has been served??. Roll on Finals. I think we are in for a few good games.
Renegade
Guest
There's nothing wrong with speaking your mind, I agree....and in this case, it's evident that Lussick is a grub.
Jimbo
Guest
They will need to be a lot of it to come anywhere close to matching oikee's efforts of the last couple of days....
Jimbo
Guest
People complain that sportspeople don't speak their minds; I would much rather hear that sort of thing than some nonsense scripted Michael Clarke style interview. Let's face it - neither Stewart or Blair are sorry they were involved in the incident; they are sorry they are getting suspended for it.
Mals
Guest
Oikee, don't worry we have our own northern beaches Hopoate footy production line, John has 5 sons! Crusher is one of the best in the business - he & Des idenitified the half back drought years ago & went out and found Hodkinson & Cherry-Evans. We also have our fair share of local juniors in 1st grade such as Watmough, King, Hoppa Jnr, Oldfield, Harrison, Mauro, Lussick.
oikee
Guest
Hey Mals, seen Crusher up here in queensland the other day, i said to me mate, what is he doing, he said looking for Manly juniors. :) What happened, Parra getting sick of sending them your way.
The Mad Chatter
Roar Rookie
@Andy - You'll see who has verbal diarrhoea when Glenn Stewart is rubbed out tonight for 4 weeks..... It won't be me - it will be every Manly clown out there whinging again at the conspiracy against them.
Mals
Guest
Look up the word elite in the dictionary Oikee you obviously do not know the meaning of the term. Oikee the cold hard truth is that the Brisbane Broncos have not beaten Manly at Suncorp since 2006. You should rename your team the Brisbane Miniature Ponies. Locky won't be getting a GF victory send off this year, start crying into your weetbix champ.
oikee
Guest
You a Manly fan Adrian, here, i have a special letter for you , L . :)
Tim Schuster
Roar Rookie
@ Madhatter: r.e. your comment: "no one in rugby league would argue against the initial sin-binning of Glenn Stewart and Adam Blair for their involvement in the first punch up" I disagree. Greg Pritchard disagrees: SMH (30/08/11) he writes "Glenn Stewart should never have been sin binned in the first place. He did not throw one punch. He ran over to restrain Blair who was unloading cheap shots on Lussick." The Match review committee disagrees too: "Stewart was not charged by the match review committee over that incident (Blair was)". Just wan't to air the facts.
Tim Schuster
Roar Rookie
and don't we love it.
James
Guest
"Anyone else notice how the whole world is against Manly according to fans and anyone associated with the club?" And then you go on to p--s all over them. I wonder why they have that view...
League_Coach101
Guest
As a Coach of Junior Teams (Under 13's, 14's and 15's) let me offer a little insight. FIRSTLY - if one of my players gets involved in a fight on a field the person they will be hearing from first will be ME and it won't be nice. SECONDLY - After the game I will apologise to the opposition coach and to the ref for the behaviour of my players. And I would expect the players to do the same. THIRDLY - i would make it very clear to my players that the kind of behaviour is unacceptable and won't be tolerated in the future. FOURTHLY - If one of my players is stupid enough to shoot off his mouth about the fight being one of the "best moments of his life." then he will be hearing from me too and it STILL won't be nice. It's really not that hard. Not sure why NRL coaches can't figure that out..
The Mad Chatter
Roar Rookie
It's clear to see who are the Manly fans on here. I know Des Hasler was a good player but he is on a one-man crusade against David Gallop and the NRL. He'll never win that battle and should stop trying. If it is indeed a coaching technique as suggested, then I'm sick of it and I'm sure sooner rather than later the Manly Board will be too.
Andy
Guest
"Manly need to get off their high-horse and for once take responsibility for their own actions. If you want to help the game, how about you apologise on behalf of the players for what was an ordinary act." Why should Des Hasler apologise for another individuals actions, last time i checked Des Hasler was not even on the footy field and he certainly did not rush onto the field and throw punches. Des hasler has done nothing wrong. You just have a bout of verbal diarrhea.
Adrian
Guest
Where is oikee? Is he so dismayed he's given up posting his diatribe on this site? -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
oikee
Guest
And what, the other teams are not going to lift now that Manly has taken the world on their shoulders, mate if my team did not give Manly a flogging, i would want to know why, Manly have built a glass fortress, and its all about to tumble around them, bigtime. They have fueled a fire they cant put out, and its burning out of control. This will be their last year in the spotlight. The Broncos are coming to get ya. Goodnite Irene.
oikee
Guest
I am all over it Mals, i posted above, please dont take it the wrong way. I am nearly over the Manly saga, its finals time, i am just looking forward to a great series. Cheers.