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The Manly Sea Eagles will take on the Canterbury Bulldogs at Brookvale Oval tonight, with ex-coach Des Hasler returning to Brookvale for the first time since leading Manly to the 2011 title before leaving acrimoniously for the Dogs. Join us for live scores and commentary from 7:30pm AEST.
The Eagles fans will be looking to give it to Des on his return to the Fortress.
Manly players and fans were angry at how he left the club after he took key staff with him and will relish the opportunity to let him know it.
Verbal insults (and perhaps more) are likely to rain down from the fans while the Eagles’ players are sure to crank it up on the field to remind Hasler of what he walked away from.
The hype leading into this match has been unparalleled. Geoff Toovey, Hasler’s offsider at Manly before replacing him, is shrewd enough to instruct his team to keep a lid on their emotions.
He will know that the crowd will do its bit but he will surely stress upon his chargers to be professional and focus on making the right decisions and executing the necessary plays.
Hasler too will prepare his troops to be ready for a hostile reception. The Dogs will look to withstand the anticipated early onslaught form the home team fuelled by the rabid home fans.
If Canterbury can then go on to post early points, the crowd will be neutralised and half the battle will be won.
Manly come into the game with patchy form, winning only three out of their last six. Their 32-6 capitulation to the Knights last week was one of the shocks of the season.
At Brookvale, where the Eagles went undefeated last season under Hasler, Manly have lost two from seven in 2012. A few guards dosing off at the fortress perhaps.
In contrast, the Dogs are shooting for eight straight wins. That would be the Belmore side’s best streak since 2004, the year of their last premiership.
No doubt the streak has been aided by Canterbury losing just the one player (Josh Morris) to Origin. Manly, in comparison, had five players involved in that brutal series.
For all that, Manly are still only four points away from the Dogs, joint competition leaders with the faltering Storm outfit. With seven games left of the regular season, things could still look very different come September and two points tonight could prove critical.
In team news, the home side will again be without Brett Stewart who is still recovering from a twanged hamstring.
Combative centre Steve Matai and Glenn Stewart have been named in Manly’s starting side, with Jamie Buhrer and Daniel Harrison returning to a five-man bench. Glenn Stewart has been restricted in his training this week and remains in doubt.
For the Dogs, Dene Halatau is out with a damaged knee and the reliable David Stagg comes off the bench to replace him. Sam Kasiano will take his place in the starting lineup after his careless high tackle charge on Parramatta’s Fuifui Moimoi last week was thrown out. Hasler has also named a five-man bench, with one of Josh Jackson or Martin Taupau likely to miss out.
There are mouthwatering clashes all over the park, with the battle between the former Origin centre Jamie Lyon and the incumbent Origin centre Josh Morris likely to be a beauty. The power running of the fearsome edge players like Frank Prichard for the Dogs and Manly’s Tony Williams will also have the crowd on their feet.
Both teams are adept at using second-man backline plays when the opposition is retreating. With Brett Stewart missing for Manly though, the Dogs will have a distinct advantage as Ben Barba buzzes around the ruck looking to sniff out a gap. Add to that Kasiano’s delicate ball-playing one or two wide of the ruck and Daly Cherry-Evans’ attacking kicking game for Manly, and we could be in for an all time classic.
Any team coached by Hasler should not be underestimated, let alone one that is leading the competition and boasting the league’s best defensive record. That said, Manly’s hold on a top eight position is more tenuous which should make them hungrier for success. In front of what is expected to be a heaving home crowd, the Sea Eagles should get across the line.
Will the hostile Brookie crowd taunt their former premiership player and coach and drive the Eagles to a win that will entrench them in the top eight or will Barba pull more rabbits out of the hat and inspire the Dogs to their eighth consecutive win?
Find out from 7:30pm AEST as we cover the action with live scores and commentary. If you’re watching or following along, feel free to leave a comment in the space below.
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