I’m a one-eyed Manly fan. There, it’s out of the way. Now let me put something out there: last night’s loss wasn’t a fluke.
Occasionally you see a team lose badly in their first hit out, like the Broncos on Thursday night, and it gets chalked up to a bit of rust, an interrupted pre-season, or just a young side warming into the season.
None of those apply to Friday night’s version of the Manly Sea Eagles.
For the first time in a decade, the Sea Eagles looked old. And I’m not talking ‘experienced’ old, I’m talking decrepit old. I can’t think of a single player in maroon on Friday night that played any better than average.
Daly Cherry-Evans and Kieran Foran both had their moments, and Brett Stewart looked fairly dangerous with the ball in hand, but the rest of the team just seemed to be along for the ride. The forwards struggled to contain Parramatta’s pack, which left little to no time for the halves to operate. And even when the halves did get some time and space, the backs were off.
Cherry-Evans said in his post-game interview that he believes the team can bounce back from this, but I’m not so sure.
I’m not taking anything away from Parramatta’s performance. The game was close at half time, and then gone at the 50 minute mark. The Eels looked strong, fit, and fast – a combination they’ve lacked since 2009 – and they’ll give a lot of teams some very big headaches this year.
They’ll play finals in 2015. And, based on what we saw last night, Manly won’t.
I hope I’m wrong, but there’s a feeling about the Sea Eagles this year. Whether it’s the injuries, or the contract talks surrounding Cherry-Evans and Foran, something is off with the Sea Eagles. The culture isn’t right. The players don’t seem to be playing for each other anymore.
These are extremely hard words to write as a life-long Sea Eagles fan, but the run is over. They’ve given us eight brilliant years that saw four grand finals and two premierships, and I speak for every Manly fan when I say we enjoyed the ride. But the ride had to come to an end.
Just like your favourite roller-coaster, you eventually arrive back at the station and have to line up again. Manly is at the station, and we can only hope the line-up to get back on won’t be a long one.
Brendan
Guest
"I thought Stewart was very good and was impressed by Burgess". Feels odd seeing this and not knowing if your referring to Manly or the Bunnies these days :P
fazed
Guest
I think you will find that as many Manly fans have had as much negative comments as any others. Likewise there has been some positive ones too. Early on I said that all was not doom & gloom for Manly, & still believe so. Its the first game of the season & as I also said when the other first grade players get back they will be a different team.
Silvertail
Guest
Wouldn't expect The Roar to have anything positive to say about Manly
fazed
Guest
Totally agree. Sandow needed to get his gut off & a coach who showed confidence in him, he has got both of those areas fixed along with his other issues. Norman sort of came of age last night as far as I am concerned,. early days for the 2 of them but for me would rather see those two stay, & look to some of the juniors below as back ups. Foran may add more to the club in the short term but at what price?
Roycie
Guest
I reckon let DCE go now ,bye bye ,he's going to have a crap season ,too much disharmony now .
Chris Love
Guest
No doubting Foran is a better player than Normal the real question is, is he that much better to fork out the huge dollars he's commanding, when those dollars could be spent elsewhere and have a better all round team? They may not make the top 4 this year but they certainly have the potential to and next year I'd be surprised if they don't if they stick with the current halves and retain most other players. I honestly think Sandow and Norman together are good enough combination to win a premiership. Personally if I was at Parramatta I'd be using the dollars they are throwing at Foran to put towards a play at a star prop to replace Lussick. How intimidating was their defence and their pack overall last night? Imagine the same pack with an Aaron Woods or a George Burgess or a James Graham to bookend Nathan Peats with Tim Mannah? They'd have to be serious title contenders with this backline.
Avatar
Roar Guru
It might only be Round 1 but already I am fearing that the Sea Eagles' golden era of success is just about to come to an end. Enough said.
Kirk
Guest
There's gotta be a round 1 spooners and round 1 premiers. Last year Parra were round 1 premiers, they might go back to back round 1 premiers!
Andrew Kitchener
Roar Guru
Manly fan here, too. Hoping last night's game was merely an aberration, but it's likely not, given the issues in the sheds. It's hard enough to win a premiership with everyone on the same page. Clearly there's division on the field. Phil Gould noted that the players simply weren't talking to each other on the field, and that's a bad sign. Hoping, though, that DCE's contract issues out of the way means things will settle down. Losing DCE and Foran would not quite be a disaster, but it'd be pretty close.
Jason Hosken
Roar Guru
I missed the wash-up EJ. I was pre-occupied with removing jovial Parra fingers from my own eyes upon departure. Youre bl00dy right EJ - Great stuff indeed. I hate Manly losing as much as the next Maroon-White fan, but I also love my footy and seeing blokes have a good crack. So good Choc-Ballin can have a laugh about it - you can't just walk away from success. All those guys who have won comps together - they share a bond that will be re-lived at premiership re-unions for the rest of their lives. Shame how it has ended - Gifty contract the catalyst or was it Dessie's back ended deals...no matter, another generation to build and watching that amid the struggles is also an enjoyable part from the other side of the fence. Note: Tom Trbojevic slashed the Eels in the 20s - plenty to look forward to.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Did you see them both laughing about it after the game? Good mates being a bit dirty on the field. Great stuff.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Norman was excellent last night but Foran is still several steps ahead in class and ability. Eels were good last night but no way am I ready to sign off that they will 'probably' make the 4 this year. Plenty of errors in the first half. Manly had a legitimate try disallowed and could have had a couple of others.
wombat
Guest
Exactly!!
fazed
Guest
Not sure it was a direct put down of the ball, rather a reaction to the hammy going, as he was already going down in a tackle & relatively close to the ground. Most others who I have seen pull their hammy's are usually when on the run & ball tucked under the wing or against their chest. What I have seen in the past though is when the ball is dropped not dissimalar in a way to what went on with Foran, is that two other rules have been applied at different times. A knock on has been ruled & scrum formed, or the ref has allowed the attacking team to retain the ball, the later not often has been ruled though. When Parra saw the ball on the ground they were alerat enough to grab it for their advantage though. Question though has Foran had Hamstring troubles in the past or is this the first one? I look at the problems that Hayne has had over the years with his hamstring, wouldn't like to see another suffer the same, no matter what his future is.
Haz
Guest
I thought the right edge defence was woeful, given that that's an experienced pairing of Lyon and Hiku. Not taking anything away from Radradra who scored the tries or Norman who set them up, but they were very basic overlaps that should have been covered. They really seen to miss Glenn Stewart's defensive starch over there. The left edge is excusable, given Matai's absence and Gutherson's injury.
Joe
Roar Rookie
I thought a few of the Manly players looked a bit underdone. Playing at Parra though, first game of the season was always going to be tough. I'll reserve judgment until at least round 5 after other players are back and they've picked up match fitness. Parra's defence though was awesome to behold and they have some big boys who hit hard. I think they'll give more than a few teams some headaches this season.
Walter Penninger
Roar Guru
The Eels were not paying very well and it looked like Manly could have come back at half time. Manly just crumbled, and made the Eels look good, there seems to be a lack of commitment.
m hughes
Guest
I agree DCE has gone for the money good luck to him he'll need it on the gold coast manly will rebuild look at their record they are one tough footy team they will play more finals footy than the TITANS
m hughes
Guest
and they could go after sezer
Kingcowboy
Guest
I want to pose a question to Manly fans and ask their opinion about something last night. I noticed when Foran did his hamstring that he just put the ball on the ground which was picked up by the Eels players. I have seen nothing mentioned in articles about the match or any forum here so far. I was wondering if DCE, had done that, would there have been a call to drop him back to NSW cup? In no way am I having a go at Foran for this as it looked very painful but I am just wondering what the Sea Eagles fan think.