On Friday, Manly may have turned up wearing camouflage fatigues but their back to back premiership credentials were there for everyone to see.
The half-back went missing. They didn’t have their star five-eighth, or the bloke called T-Rex, and they weren’t brilliant but they did enough to see off the impressive Bulldogs.
They came into the match having lost four of their last five including losses to the lowly Eels and Titans. There were many “ha ha’s” and “lol’s” in the online comment sections from opposition fans who have been praying for Manly’s reign to finally end.
The trip to England for the World Cup Challenge, an abundance of away games, player contract renewals, a new coach, the departure of a favourite coach, injuries, suspension, and a world-weariness caused by winning last year’s title have all been given as reasons for their indifferent start to the year.
Manly players always seem to be injured early in the year. It could be a product of their brutal style of play but it seems to have the effect of instilling false confidence in the other teams.
When they do finally get together, this all-representative outfit is almost unbeatable.
The re signing of Daly Cherry-Evans and the imminent retention of Kieran Foran have no doubt cheered them up, as has the return from injury of the Stewart brothers, Brett and Glenn.
As they did against Melbourne the previous round, the Bulldogs opened aggressively with their assortment of powerful forwards gaining impressive territory by running and passing up the middle.
They scored two tries, one at the beginning of the game and the other right at the end, but neither resulted from the work of those forwards.
Despite an early 0-5 penalty count Manly defended their line. That is their strength. Last year, teams would dominate for lengthy periods but simply couldn’t get over the try line.
It’s only a matter of time before one of Manly’s big forwards – usually Jason King, Glenn Stewart, or George Rose – smashes a ball carrier and causes a turnover. Then their star halves distribute the ball to their skillful yet powerful outside backs for a try. Those backs ie Matai and Tony Williams (when he plays centre) are also brutal defenders.
A team that has a non-starting prop who can do the work of a half is a team to be feared. In the 76th minute, with the game yet to be won, a slightly out of sorts Cherry-Evans hesitantly plopped the ball into George Rose’s hands.
The prop then proceeded to bypass Blues hooker Michael Ennis with a right foot step and, with Tolman around his shoulders and Stagg hanging onto his ankles, offloaded neatly to Matai who scored the sealer.
The reason some sportsmen develop a cult following is because they don’t look like sportsmen. Geoff Toovey called Rose an elite athlete during the post match conference. After that effort I have to agree but he still looks like an enormous marshmallow.
This match had added significance because Des Hasler was coaching against his former club for the first time. If he lost to the formidable team he created, he could also claim to be a winner which he sort of did when he referred to them as the premiers and the benchmark.
Asked about the significance of the Stewart brothers he replied: “One’s an Australian backrower, one’s an Australian fullback, one’s the most prolific try scorer in the game, and one’s a great ball player”. He could have provided similar tributes to the entire run-on side.
Serious questions are now being asked about how such a team can remain under the salary cap.
Until they’re forced to offload some of that serious talent, however, they are a team to be very scared of.
jamesb
Guest
I think what has helped Manly under the cap is players like Foran and DCE are not on big contracts ATM. DCE is on $85,000 a year.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Just to get back on subject again briefly I would be very happy with where my team was placed if I was a Manly fan. There are plenty of reasons as Andrew mentioned in his article why the Sea Eagles should be struggling. Given the change of coaches, injuries, first five games away and re-signing of players they are looking much better than they have any right to. They've got great spirit in their team and they're tough as teak. Their defensive effort in the first half was incredible. Now that they've started to get a few back from injury and re-sign a few of the others they'll go on a big jag of form. Don't let them fly under the radar...
Renegade
Guest
I found the Broncos crowd dissapointing as well. Had the local derby been a sell out, we may have pushed through the 200k mark for this rounds total attendance figure.
Sea Eagle of Brisbane
Guest
Ian, you are absolutely right. In a City of 2 mills, 3 teams would feel comfortable with each other. The next should be in the Western corridor (Ipswich), 3 Councils, Logan, Ipswich and Toowoomba with a total population over 1 mill is without a team. The 3rd ideally shall be located around Redcliffe, but not much push coming from there so perhaps the Bombers, playing out of Suncorp shall be more feasible. One day the Sunshine Coast will need one too, at this stage it is too early. Apparently by August this year, after the TV rights sorted out, ARLC will nominate the teams.
ManInBlack
Guest
they really are shocking strips - - as an AFL fan who flicked over during an ad break I was astounded at what I saw. what's the story behind the Manly strip??
NF
Guest
Ian out of curiosity where would the 2 extra teams be representing in Brisbane. I assume Ipswich/South Brisbane.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Having one rugby league team in Brisbane is leaving a lot of money on the table. Brisbane *should* have crowds of 30 000 watching League each week in footy season. Personally, I think Brisbane could support three NRL teams at a canter, if the new sides were allowed to be competitive early.
Queensland's Game is Rugby League
Guest
They should be drawing 50,000 to each game. The cost of admission probably puts a lot of people off. It doesn't help that rugby league is more of a television sport. But what people need to realise is the atmosphere of being at the game cannot be replicated on TV.
Queensland's Game is Rugby League
Guest
I'd love to see a second team or third team in Brisbane. It would shake things up for the Broncos.
Carlos
Guest
Well said cutback Broncos like the storm have been over the cap for years problem is they are a protected and favoured species... how this just not completely obvious to the NRL is...well... a 'mystery'
Cutback
Roar Rookie
Jeez oikee you must have really cried hard when Manly spanked you in the major semi win last year, on their way to another gf win. Jealousy does weird things to people. Manly killed the bears did they? Yes Oikee you are king of the facts. It was obviously Manly who ran North Sydney into the ground, made their crowds disappear & made them never win a comp. Hell, maybe they made balmain & wests merge too. And the bulldogs rort the cap. Here's one fact for you - the broncos were at the heart of super league, which almost killed the entire sport. Easily the worst thing in rugby leagues 100 year plus history. The broncos players & officials, not to mention the likes of mal meninga, showed their true colours, their disloyalty & deviousness. Lest we forget.
Meesta Cool
Guest
apaway.. no one really knows what is going on in the background of all sports these days. The cap is not water tight and will be abused.. it's human nature to get away with a bit of dodgy practice. In answer to your comment about the NRL not disclosing things theory, I doubt that they really want to find another Melbourne situation, are they really dilligent in looking, we will never know. If money or the amount of money that players are paid really makes a team, why are so many high priced prima Donnas not performing miracles. Money cannot buy teamwork and the best gifted players cannot win games on their own.. Manly have put together a good side and got the attitude right!... unless they suffer further injuries they will be right there in the finals yet again. Oikee just likes to Troll for Manly supporters, maybe you are right that he sees them as a threat to his mighty Broncs, who knows.. but his colourful posts are most entertaining to us non Manly supporters....
apaway
Roar Guru
The mistake you are making Oikee is mixing it with hallucinogenic drugs. It seems you have taken the heading of the article to heart and really do fear Manly again but instead of realising they are a good team you go on these Oliver Stone-like conspiracy theories. Could you please tell me why, if Manly are so blatantly cheating the cap, that the NRL is hiding the fact from everyone?
eagleJack
Guest
You sure Oikee? A little Port for brekky has never hurt anyone. Can be our little secret.
eagleJack
Guest
Oik you have misunderstood me. I'm not saying the Broncos are over the cap illegally. They are well within the cap but are able to pay their players in excess of the cap through 3rd party agreements. This you cannot deny. Most clubs do it. It is perfectly legal. But has allowed the Broncos to field basically a full rep team since their inception due to the ease in which they can garner these agreements. Being a one town team has it's many advantages and this is one of them.
Meesta Cool
Guest
Oikee, was it not Brisbane that recently enticed Falou away from Storm and folowed up by trying the same with Inglis? , when Storm had to unload 1/2 their team, They even went to the trouble of finding Inglis' partner a job at well above the award rate... bit smelly mate! .. you guys are not squeaky clean either !. On the better side, you can be applauded for the players that you have brought through the system and lost over the years..
Sea Eagle of Brisbane
Guest
Oikee, bronco baby, please settle down. Of course we are the PAST silvertails, just like the Chooks in the early 20th Century, Bunnies between the Wars, the Dragons in the 50’s and 60’s. After Manly in the 70’s (4 Grand Final victories) and 80’s, finally the your team the Bronx under Bennett who had the full Queensland State of Origin side in his disposal to win 5 Grand Finals and 1 Super League final as well. Soooooooo, we are with the Salary Cap now and under this system Manly won 2 Grand Finals (without Arko’s money). I do not think, hatred is a good way to live. I enjoy EVERY team and every game no matter who wins. Suppose I am lucky, the future of Rugby League is on my mind all the time. I still remember my first game in QLD, ANZ Stadium ay Mt Gravatt in 96/97 when I came up from the Harbour City, the Bronx belted us and Hopoate and Toovey were sent off. Pity time flies fast.
oikee
Guest
Eaglejack, it is Tawny Port, no did not touch a drop this weekend. I just like to keep manly fans on their toes, keep them nervous, they know the end is nigh.
oikee
Guest
Same as Manly rorting the cap, it is not going to go away, the only people who believe you are Manly fans. Yes the Broncos have massive advantages, supporters and juniors. And you swapped Bell for Lyon, gee can we swap Lockyer to retirement, for Benji. Come-on, this fairyland you guys are living in, is it real. Plus we had no chance to keep Falou, and we had Hodges on the sidelines for 2 years. Matai would have more game time than Half a game Hodges. We had to use a bricklayer in Jack Reed and pluck a guy from the island comp to fill the gaps. Gillett. Manly dont lose any senior players unless they reitre or have a international replacement. Plus we lost Ennis and had to use a kid outta school to replace him. Macullock. You can say what you like but facts are facts, i am supplying them, as ussual, Manly fans refuse to admit simple facts. Beale, Hoffman, Copley, Yeayow, Norman, all kids we brought through because we lost all our senior players. Nobody can accuse the Broncos , they would be muppets to even try, and you all know it is true.
NF
Guest
Oikee last I check the Broncos were and still are a origin side from the momemt they arrived, the majority of the team is full of rep players compared to the other teams in QLD in particular. In particular the Broncos of the 90's you think they had to be over the cap oikee you think you be a blind broncos support which you are I wonder how they keep all those players it's a bit suss hey oikee. Plus oikee can you explain why there was only 30k for a derby vs Gold coast which is totally unacceptable should of been 40k minimum the Broncos are under-performing attendance wise year in and year out despite all there achievements since day one they should be drawing 40k minimum every week. Do you agree oikee?