Nine Sports ....
They're the NRL figures that show just how much of a difference Des Hasler has made in less than six months at Manly.
The worst defensive team in the competition last season, the Sea Eagles have found a new steely resolve across the park and particularly close to the line in the opening month of 2019.
According to figures from Fox Sports Stats, Manly conceded 73 tries - more than three a game - from inside their own 20m zone in 2018. Those numbers were the worst in the NRL.
On average, it took opposition teams an average of just 10 play-the-balls to break through Manly's red-zone, where theoretically they should be the strongest in defence.
But that kind of surrender is seemingly no more, with the team's defensive red-zone ratio at now out to one try in every 16.3 play-the-balls - ranking them fifth in the NRL.
Hasler's pre-season was built around defence, and goal line work when tired.
Players were asked to repeat drills with their backs to the walls in an effort to fix their defensive issues.
There's also been a slight defensive restructure, with the veteran coach's teams known for being able to win games tough.
We were focused on a lot of D," prop Addin Fonua-Blake said.
"Obviously we let in a lot of tries last year, so we tried to correct that. Dessie had us out there on hot days, sometimes just doing it twice.
"Just hitting each other on the goal line ... He just really drills it into us about attitude."
Hasler's influence has also been felt across the park in defence before Saturday's trip to Newcastle.
The Sea Eagles are missing 19.5 tackles per game this year - the third least in the league - compared to 27.3 last year.
It should come as no surprise though, given Manly's NRL-worst 622 points conceded last season was more than 150 above the average Hasler's teams allowed across his 14-year coaching career.
"He put a lot of work around his defence and the way his defensive structures are," forward Jack Gosiewski said.
"He's very thorough with it. I think we're all working together more than we probably were last year I think."
They're the NRL figures that show just how much of a difference Des Hasler has made in less than six months at Manly.
The worst defensive team in the competition last season, the Sea Eagles have found a new steely resolve across the park and particularly close to the line in the opening month of 2019.
According to figures from Fox Sports Stats, Manly conceded 73 tries - more than three a game - from inside their own 20m zone in 2018. Those numbers were the worst in the NRL.
On average, it took opposition teams an average of just 10 play-the-balls to break through Manly's red-zone, where theoretically they should be the strongest in defence.
But that kind of surrender is seemingly no more, with the team's defensive red-zone ratio at now out to one try in every 16.3 play-the-balls - ranking them fifth in the NRL.
Hasler's pre-season was built around defence, and goal line work when tired.
Players were asked to repeat drills with their backs to the walls in an effort to fix their defensive issues.
There's also been a slight defensive restructure, with the veteran coach's teams known for being able to win games tough.
We were focused on a lot of D," prop Addin Fonua-Blake said.
"Obviously we let in a lot of tries last year, so we tried to correct that. Dessie had us out there on hot days, sometimes just doing it twice.
"Just hitting each other on the goal line ... He just really drills it into us about attitude."
Hasler's influence has also been felt across the park in defence before Saturday's trip to Newcastle.
The Sea Eagles are missing 19.5 tackles per game this year - the third least in the league - compared to 27.3 last year.
It should come as no surprise though, given Manly's NRL-worst 622 points conceded last season was more than 150 above the average Hasler's teams allowed across his 14-year coaching career.
"He put a lot of work around his defence and the way his defensive structures are," forward Jack Gosiewski said.
"He's very thorough with it. I think we're all working together more than we probably were last year I think."
