by: Christian Nicolussi
From: The Daily Telegraph
July 28, 2012
WHEN it comes to the NRL's biggest under-achievers this season, look no further than the Sea Eagles.
According to Fox Sports Stats, Manly have had the easiest schedule in the first 20 rounds.
The premiers are the only club to have played the bottom four-placed clubs not once, but twice. They were Parramatta, Penrith, the Roosters and Dragons before this weekend kicked off.
And the Sea Eagles have played the top four clubs the least. In fact, they haven't faced third-placed South Sydney or fourth-placed North Queensland.
Yet Manly sit in just seventh place and will travel a staggering 12,000km over the next fortnight.
First up are the Warriors in Perth tonight, followed by the Cowboys in Townsville and the Bunnies in Gosford.
Coach Geoff Toovey said his side had let a few close games slip and, like most coaches in the NRL, would have expected to be sitting further up the ladder.
"There's no doubt there are some games that we have let slip," Toovey said.
"I think Parramatta the first time we played them (round five) wasn't a great exhibition, and the loss to Penrith (in round 12) was also a disappointing game for us.
"But the next six weeks will test our team. It will be a test for most of the teams in the top eight and there will be a lot of jostling for positions.
"It will be about application and putting experience and knowledge into practice."
The Sea Eagles have no shortage of big-game experience, having featured in three of the past five grand finals for two wins (2008 and 2011).
To be fair, they have had a shocking run with injuries. They include a hamstring strain to Brett Stewart, who flew to Perth with the team for the Warriors clash.
But Toovey said his fullback remained "highly unlikely" and would be saved for next weekend.
"He has flown over here and we were going to give him every opportunity, but it's not looking good," Toovey said.
"He will do some running, but he's highly unlikely. All the travelling is not ideal, but the players are used to it and you have to deal with it."
While Manly have played six games against teams in the top eight, Canberra and the Eels have done it the toughest - playing the teams in the top eight 11 times.
The Sea Eagles have won eight of their past nine games against the Warriors, and the Kiwis have lost both their matches in Perth.
Teams who finish in the top four this season are guaranteed not to drop out of the finals race if they lose in week one.
Toovey said the aim was to finish in the top half of the finals, but it was also "not the be all and end all".
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/the-manly-sea-eagles-have-failed-to-capitalise-on-their-easy-draw/story-e6frexnr-1226437082984
From: The Daily Telegraph
July 28, 2012
WHEN it comes to the NRL's biggest under-achievers this season, look no further than the Sea Eagles.
According to Fox Sports Stats, Manly have had the easiest schedule in the first 20 rounds.
The premiers are the only club to have played the bottom four-placed clubs not once, but twice. They were Parramatta, Penrith, the Roosters and Dragons before this weekend kicked off.
And the Sea Eagles have played the top four clubs the least. In fact, they haven't faced third-placed South Sydney or fourth-placed North Queensland.
Yet Manly sit in just seventh place and will travel a staggering 12,000km over the next fortnight.
First up are the Warriors in Perth tonight, followed by the Cowboys in Townsville and the Bunnies in Gosford.
Coach Geoff Toovey said his side had let a few close games slip and, like most coaches in the NRL, would have expected to be sitting further up the ladder.
"There's no doubt there are some games that we have let slip," Toovey said.
"I think Parramatta the first time we played them (round five) wasn't a great exhibition, and the loss to Penrith (in round 12) was also a disappointing game for us.
"But the next six weeks will test our team. It will be a test for most of the teams in the top eight and there will be a lot of jostling for positions.
"It will be about application and putting experience and knowledge into practice."
The Sea Eagles have no shortage of big-game experience, having featured in three of the past five grand finals for two wins (2008 and 2011).
To be fair, they have had a shocking run with injuries. They include a hamstring strain to Brett Stewart, who flew to Perth with the team for the Warriors clash.
But Toovey said his fullback remained "highly unlikely" and would be saved for next weekend.
"He has flown over here and we were going to give him every opportunity, but it's not looking good," Toovey said.
"He will do some running, but he's highly unlikely. All the travelling is not ideal, but the players are used to it and you have to deal with it."
While Manly have played six games against teams in the top eight, Canberra and the Eels have done it the toughest - playing the teams in the top eight 11 times.
The Sea Eagles have won eight of their past nine games against the Warriors, and the Kiwis have lost both their matches in Perth.
Teams who finish in the top four this season are guaranteed not to drop out of the finals race if they lose in week one.
Toovey said the aim was to finish in the top half of the finals, but it was also "not the be all and end all".
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/the-manly-sea-eagles-have-failed-to-capitalise-on-their-easy-draw/story-e6frexnr-1226437082984
