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  1. #1
    Administrator DIEHARD's Avatar
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    Default Qualifying Final 2: Sea Eagles v Rabbitohs

    Manly Sea Eagles vs South Sydney Rabbitohs
    Fri 12 Sep 2014 7:55pm
    PUT EM TO THE SWORD! SHOW SOME STEEL!

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    TITANS, DIEHARDS, WARRINGTON WOLVES, MAROONS, KANGAROOS, HONG KONG THUNDER

  2. #2
    Administrator DIEHARD's Avatar
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    A Spit Bridge too far as Manly Sea Eagles moan over travelling to Allianz Stadium

    Not for the first time, the world, as seen through the eyes of those on the northern beaches, is against Manly. And not for the first time, the Spit Bridge may as well be the Himalayas.

    No team does siege mentality quite like the Sea Eagles. Heading into Friday night's qualifying final against South Sydney, last year's grand finalists are again drawing on that spirit.

    It was never going to sit well with Geoff Toovey's men that, having finished second on the NRL premiership ladder after 26 rounds, they must do more driving than their third-placed opponents before their finals showdown.

    Never mind that Allianz Stadium is only 20 kilometres from Brookvale Oval and can, unlike their suburban lair, house the sizeable attendance that such a big game deserves.

    For Manly, the fact they're playing the Rabbitohs on what is geographically South Sydney turf is a gross and unjust disadvantage.

    "It's unfair in my eyes," Manly's five-eighth and players' player of the season Kieran Foran said. "You work your **** off all year to finish first or second, yet we've got to go out and play at Allianz.

    "Don’t ever underestimate how important you are. You’re our 18th man": Michael Maguire to Souths fans.
    "Don’t ever underestimate how important you are. You’re our 18th man": Michael Maguire to Souths fans. Photo: Getty Images
    "It should be played at Brookie in my eyes. It just means our fans have got to travel further.

    "But there is nothing we can do about it. We've just got to get on with it and hope that our fans travel out there with us and give us the support that we need."

    The value of the raucous Brookvale home crowd was rammed home in Manly's stunning come-from-behind win over Penrith two starts ago, rising in volume and belief with each point shaved off the deficit.

    Notoriously poor travellers – a trip to the corner store is seemingly a mission up that way – the club is laying on a few dozen free buses from the leagues club, desperate not to have Jamie Lyon et al run out before a sea of red and green.

    That could well be the case. Souths, picking up on Manly's discontent, have seized the opportunity to make the most of the leg-up awarded them by the competition's stadiums-only finals policy.

    Michael Maguire, their coach, is normally about as colourful in his public commentary as an old photo of Clive Churchill, but even he on Wednesday broke from his tunnel-vision approach to Friday night to make a rare plea to Souths supporters.

    "I don't often show my passion towards the external," Maguire said in a video message for members posted on the club website. "Don't ever underestimate how important you are. You're our 18th man.

    "Please find a way to get to that game on Friday night. We want your noise, we want your passion. If you can find a way to get yourself out there, your team, the mighty South Sydney Rabbitohs, needs your support this Friday night. I'll see you at the game."

    Manly, as the higher-placed team, chose Allianz as the venue. It was the better of two evils, it could be said, with the other option for the match ANZ Stadium – Souths' home ground.

    Left grumbling about having to bypass Brookvale, it is just the latest issue Manly are dealing with.

    The destabilising Anthony Watmough saga continues to hum along behind the scenes, despite the appearance of it being all happy faces at their training base at North Narrabeen.

    Then there's the "ordinary footy" Foran admits they have been producing approaching the finals, the result predominantly of too much dropped ball.

    At least there is some good news on another front, with fullback Brett Stewart training strongly on Wednesday and almost certain to return from an ankle injury.

    Despite the malaise Souths, of course, should know better than to write this mob off.

    "We know what we're capable of ... we've been there and done it before," Foran said. "We'll back ourselves to be there in the big dance on Sunday."

    http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/s
    PUT EM TO THE SWORD! SHOW SOME STEEL!

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  3. #3
    Star Player Titan4Life's Avatar
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    Manly are all but done in this game. Looks like they will be playing Bulldogs/Storm next week. Any comment from teke or MT?

    HALF TIME: 22-0 Rabbits

  4. #4
    Star Player Titan4Life's Avatar
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    FULL TIME: 40-24 Rabbits

    Good fight back by Manly to add some respect to the score but Rabbits were too good and earned themselves a week off. Manly will play the winner of Bulldogs vs Storm. Unlucky teke and MT.

  5. #5
    Super Moderator TITAN PETE's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Titan4Life View Post
    FULL TIME: 40-24 Rabbits

    Good fight back by Manly to add some respect to the score but Rabbits were too good and earned themselves a week off. Manly will play the winner of Bulldogs vs Storm. Unlucky teke and MT.
    I think it was more like the Rabbits put the que in the rack, Eagles were always thinking about playing the Dogs or Storm next week.... Really shows how far apart the teams in the comp are at the moment Manly have no forwards & it showed tonight ... Good on Souths I really hope they can make the last game in September , Manly beat the Storm next week but probably fall the following week

    - - - Updated - - -
    #itaintweaktospeak

  6. #6

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    Quote Originally Posted by Titan4Life View Post
    FULL TIME: 40-24 Rabbits

    Good fight back by Manly to add some respect to the score but Rabbits were too good and earned themselves a week off. Manly will play the winner of Bulldogs vs Storm. Unlucky teke and MT.

    Thanks for your gentle reflection on the game T4L but the game went along the lines I expected. I don't think our forwards are as strong as last year depth wise and to lose Jamie B and Matty B two weeks ago was the final nail. Don't also forget Manly lost 3 of the last 4 coming in to the Finals so the cracks had started before the injuries really killed us off. Titan Pete has pretty well summarised it. We will have enough trouble winning next week but then it's a game against the Roosters!

  7. #7
    Star Player Titan4Life's Avatar
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    Manly's Jayden Hodges cleared of serious neck injury but no guarantee to play semi-final
    UPDATED ABOUT AN HOUR AGO

    Manly received some much-needed good news, with hooker Jayden Hodges cleared of a serious injury to his neck.

    Hodges was injured in Manly's 40-24 pummelling from South Sydney at the Sydney Football Stadium on Friday, adding to a forgettable night for the finals specialists.

    Coach Geoff Toovey still has a massive selection headache ahead of next weekend's semi-final, with Hodges not a certainty to take the field.

    "Jayden cleared of serious injury to neck and out of hospital, he's in good spirits but is still in discomfort and will be monitored throughout the next few days before we know if he's a chance," a text message from the club said.

    Filling in for Matt Ballin (leg), with stand-in rake Jamie Buhrer (knee) also sidelined, Hodges caught Greg Inglis' hip at the wrong angle as he was trying to tackle the giant full-back in the fifth minute.

    The 20-year-old was treated on the field with concern over his neck and he later had some issues with his leg and shoulder as he played out the first half, but he did not return after the break, having been sent to hospital for scans.

    The injury adds to a horror injury toll for the Sea Eagles, who also have Glenn Stewart (ankle) sidelined for the rest of the finals run.

    Toovey said Ballin was an unlikely starter for next week.

    "He is a hope but they are long odds because of his injury," Toovey said.

    When asked who could fill the dummy-half role if Hodges cannot play in the semi-final, Toovey answered: "Good question."

    Ballin declined to talk when approached by reporters.

    Wing/three-quarter Peta Hiku filled in during the second half at hooker against Souths and could be one candidate to wear the number nine next week when Manly hosts the winner of Sunday's elimination final between Melbourne and Canterbury.

    - - - Updated - - -

    Good to hear. Who will play hooker next week. Manly are running out of options. Maybe Hiku could fill in like the article says.


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