Until Friday night I wouldn’t have thought Souths were true title contenders. But the way they ambushed the competition leaders, maybe we won’t be labelling them as chokers once again come finals time.
To Manly’s credit, they hung in there, but you just never got the sense they were going to walk away with a win.
Souths’ line speed was intense and they maintained that intensity throughout the whole game.
I kept waiting for Souths to take their foot off the pedal but it never happened.
Manly really struggled to make big metres. Anthony Watmough was the only Manly player who was able to break 100 running metres.
In attack Souths ran right through the middle of Manly. The Sea Eagles struggled to be dominant in defence due to quick play the balls. Issac Luke also had a field day at hooker, catching out lazy markers numerous times.
The Rabbitohs suffocated Manly with their defence and didn’t allow them to get in to the game.
It will be hard for Souths to keep up the intensity week-in, week-out during the finals but if they do they will be true premiership contenders. Without it, they’ll be the chokers we have seen in the last few seasons.
Alex deLarge
Guest
Yes, but it was a weeknight and Manly fans work.
Tex Rabbitt
Guest
Cows won't have it. They put 20 points on Souths in the opening 20 minutes with all the run of play and while they won, just at 20-18, failed to take it further. Roosters aren't there this year, but Storm are the real danger for mine, the big three have at least one more tilt at the title, prediction for GFQ - Bunnies v Roosters and Manly v Storm..see what happens.
Tex Rabbitt
Guest
Spot on. My concern is when Stewart comes back, they are a different team when he's around. He turned GFQ game around for Manly last year and I fear he can do it again.
Tex Rabbitt
Guest
I think you are referring to Club Grub Moanly! They have wrap sheet that speaks volumes.
Tex Rabbitt
Guest
If he wants to deflect his team's performance or loss, he needs to go to the Wayne Bennett school of distraction. He is simply displaying bad sportsmanship and is a poor example to the fans on how to conduct one self professionally and take loss in their stride. He's not a little rodent, but simply just a little sook; up their with Ricky Stuart!
Tex Rabbitt
Guest
To acknowledge their huge supporter base of 27000 that were there. Manly would do the same but they have no crowds to acknowledge unless Souths or the Dogs turn up to play.
Alex deLarge
Guest
Souths win round 1 every year. But it's only the last game of every year that counts. And Souths haven't won one of those since 1971.
johnno
Guest
Ha ha ha ha!priceless!
johnno
Guest
Ha ha ha ha!priceless!
seajay23
Guest
Congrats to Souths, very impressive. Jim, why refer to Geoff Toovey as a 'little rodent'? A truly great and tough player, excellent and passionate coach and has been an ornament to the game. Sure, he plays the post-match press conference game, as do many others, but it is his job to defend his team. He does not deserve gratuitious abuse from some no-name. So Jim, why don't you man up and call him a little rodent to his face, that i would love to see.
Alex deLarge
Guest
Yes, Johnno, but we should show Souths fans some sympathy. They've had a bad year with all the talk about work for the dole and welfare cuts.
Alex deLarge
Guest
Manly lost Matai in the 7th minute last Friday night, so by your criteria they have a rolled gold excuse for losing. Fact is, this time last year at Gosford Souths flogged Manly and Rabbit fans began celebrating what they boasted was a certain premiership. And then Manly flogged Souths when it really mattered: in the final. Same old with Souths again this year. August premiers. Desperate fans.
Alex deLarge
Guest
No, like squirrel grips, death rolls, and chicken wings.
Alex deLarge
Guest
I've never witnessed Manly boasting about a victory in August. Manly waits until the first week in October before celebrating a win and that's why they have so many recent premiership trophies. Meanwhile the Rabbits, ridiculously, did a lap of honour last Friday night, as they usually do around this time of year. Remind me again: how many premierships have Souths won in the last 43 years?
Wascally Wabbit
Guest
Dirty ? You mean like eye gouging ? Crusher tackles ? Spear tackles ? Elbows to the jaw ? Head high tackles ?
Mitchoh
Guest
Worked pretty good in rd1 when souths flogged the roosters. And that was without Keary.
Muzz
Guest
It will be interesting come finals time,Hayley.IMO the pressure and expectations are even greater this year as they have come close when ripe in the past 2 seasons.Souths also have a number of young guns in Turner, Keary, Auva's and Johnston who will find that finals footy is a lot tougher than rounds 1 to 26.Then there are those players that didn't perform when the pressure was applied in last years prelim final and round 26 v the Roosters. Personally,i think the Roosters and Manly will have too much strike power, class, experience and footy IQ for the Bunnies brawn.I wouldn't right off the Cows either.Not too worried about the Storm. Side note - I think Manly are a better footy team when G Stewart plays.
Benny
Guest
What a cracker of a game. To those who are saying that Manly were off their game, or the refs decided the match; give some credit where credit is due. Manly started the match very strongly but just couldn't keep up. They threatened a number of times but South's defence (and scramble in particular) was unreal. The venom in some of those tackles was just insane- and it just kept coming right throughout the match. Te'o and Surgess in particular were leaving nothing in the tank and by the 60th minute Manly just looked like they'd had enough. I still believe Manly will be there come GF day; they are just such a strong team in every sense; but I think a lot of coaches will be looking at how Souths shut down their playmaking trio (Foran, Lyon, DCE) with great interest. Hope Matai is back soon, he's been great for Manly this year.
Chris morrison
Guest
That's why Sutton must play second row partnering teo and Sam burgess will be lock
The Barry
Guest
Souths played very well. Their intensity was fantastic while manly seemed a bit off the pace. Suttons return could end up as a curse for souths. It didn't work well when he played lock earlier in the season. Souths play their 13 like a third prop, rather than a traditional lock. That suits their high intensity style like they played on Friday. Sutton at 13 doesn't suit that style. Reynolds has hit a rich vein of form since partnering keary in the halves.