The Cronulla Sharks have beaten the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles by 28-22 in the NRL trial at Southern Cross Group Stadium.
In a match marred by some awful weather in the first half, as squalling winds and rain swept across the ground, the Sharks looked the better team for the final 60 minutes of the contest.
Early on, it appeared to be a night for the eagle rock as the visitors took an early lead, yet the Sharks used a little luck and some good management to claw their way back into the game.
Des Hasler has returned to the Eagles with a reputation for negative and grinding play that became the Bulldog’s trademark.
Their appeared little sign of that in the Eagles’ performance tonight, as the attacking potency of the men from the northern beaches was clear for all to see in the first half.
Later in the match, when Hasler had benched his stars, the Sharks looked far more comfortable and capitalised accordingly, yet one couldn’t help but feel that when the game was up for grabs, the Eagles had the ascendancy.
Martin Taupau was the standout for the Eagles tonight with a dominant display in the middle third of the field. Curtis Sironen and Dylan Walker also had good moments in the first half yet when the troops left the field in the second, Kane Elgey was left to command a ship that appeared to have no rudder and the Sharks took control.
The Sharks fans and coaching staff will be getting excited about the form of Bronson Xerri after a wonderful solo try and Kyle Flanagan tried hard in attack.
There were some excellent second half performances from members of the Sharks bench and Isaac Lumelume and Daniel Vasquez made a late impact on the match.
It was a real shame that Manly didn’t share their squad numbers with the media earlier in the week so callers could prepare for the action more diligently. Combined with the very poor quality of the NRL stream, it made for a tough night at the office if one was calling the game.
Hopefully things are far better prepared for the second week of trials. Both teams will walk away from this game knowing they did a lot right and aware of the handling and positional errors they made in defence.
Both Hasler and John Morris will be excited by what they saw.
Cronulla Sharks 28
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 22
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
Memo Hatzidimitropoulos: "What for you speak to "Skippy the bush kangaroo", mike? He no understands philosophies. He is big STUPID! Me make him a special fis and sips you see. Not vinegar mike, 100% Greek oúro!" Bahahahahahaha, Touché AE47.
AE47
Roar Rookie
My cousin Jim will come in his Munaro and rip up your driveway, then you’ll have to call my cousin Spiro to pour you a new driveway but he will say NOH ,,,
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
And the end result is Greece today... an economic basket case needing a financial bail out from the apes that were swinging in the trees while your forefathers were discussing philosophy. It's quite ironic when you think about it. LOL
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
@Brad Arthur "I am sure you know what they say about having to explain a joke; Explaining a joke is like dissecting a frog. You understand it better but the frog dies in the process." Everyone else got it but you had to be that frog Brad that needed to dissect my punchline.
AE47
Roar Rookie
Aristotle, that’s a compliment we Greeks sure have contributed to society haven’t we , arts, science, governance even mathematics just ask any German ! BA it’s cool you take it seriously I’ll sit back and laugh even at myself
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
“Angry Sea Eagle (Angry Haliaeetusis)?” Hey AE47, I think Brad is implying you have bad breath (halitosis). I didn’t know the two of you were THAT close! Bahahahahahaha Btw Brad, Aristotle was crap at English! LOL
AE47
Roar Rookie
BA and BS same same
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
How about I call myself “tetanu$ shot”? Because I’m a pain in the a$$. LOL And no, not a typo or misspelling of the above. Just avoiding the ROAR filter.
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
He thinks BA stands for Bachelor of Science. LOL
BA Sports
Roar Guru
Is that Angry Eagle (Angry Aquila) or Angry Sea Eagle (Angry Haliaeetusis)? Congrats on the high school accolades in Biology and English. A biologist with wit; you are a regular modern day Aristotle. Perhaps that should be your next forum name? As an English scholar as well, I am sure you know what they say about having to explain a joke; Explaining a joke is like dissecting a frog. You understand it better but the frog dies in the process. :) :)
AE47
Roar Rookie
So biologically a parramatta eel is actually a spoon ! Brad I didn’t expect you to be shientiphic
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
Oh Brad Arthur, Brad Arthur… I was the Dux at my High School in Biology as well as English. Sorry to disappoint you Brad, but yes, I do understand the difference between “Genus” and “Genius” but I have no pretensions to the latter. There is always one in every forum isn’t there? Why did you have to take my joke litetally and draw a “literal line” through my punchline? It was a play on words mate that played on the assumption that my mate “the Angry Eagle” would be incapable of knowing the difference between “Genus” and “Genius”, which of course he does. Think of it as the comedic equivalent of poetic license. Most people got it but you had to do a Brick Tamland “Loud noises!”. Well done Brad. Another wooden spoon for you. Bahahahahahaha
BA Sports
Roar Guru
oh Papi, Papi…. I have two definitions for you; 1. a category of biological classification ranking between the family and the species, comprising structurally or phylogenetically related species or an isolated species exhibiting unusual differentiation, and being designated by a Latin or latinized capitalized singular noun 2. exceptional intellectual or creative power or other natural ability. One is for the word "genius", the other for "genus". Do you know which is which? :)
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
It's always fun at the end of a close game when you get a lecture about a forward pass having no effect on the result. Turning points are just a myth it seems.
AE47
Roar Rookie
Not how I visualise it ! I was thinking kick n the nutz followed by Pavarotti
AE47
Roar Rookie
I love Jorge but not like that
WarHorse
Roar Rookie
I think you'll find Brendan Elliott as our back up fullback. Can you imagine Des giving that gig to Jorge Taufua. Hahaha
WarHorse
Roar Rookie
Maybe that's because he was calling it from the moon. Hard to see those jersey numbers from up there.
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
Losing Turbo is a tough blow though. Fingers crossed it isn't too serious. He is one of the game's gun players when he is on.
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
Opera… when someone gets stabbed and instead of bleeding they sing. Bahahahahahaha Oh, the irony, hey “Angry Eagle”? And that gag was a requote btw.