Berkeley_Eagle
Current Status: 24/7 Manly Fan
Loose lips won't sink Sea Eagles
By Tom Wald | July 15, 2008
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/sport/nrl/story/0,26799,24019740-5006066,00.html
IF you thought Manly's defence was watertight, it's nothing compared with their well-drilled approach to questions regarding their premiership credentials.
The Sea Eagles sit alone on top of the NRL table and boast both the competition's most potent attack and most miserly defence two months out from the finals.
And in league terms, they pulled third-placed Cronulla's pants down in Saturday night's 34-6 annihilation at Toyota Stadium. Surely these are heady times for the Sea Eagles.
But they would have you think otherwise as they try to fight the growing hype over their title prospects following last year's grand final loss to Melbourne.
Coach Des Hasler would have been proud of fullback Brett Stewart's effort in not saying anything of interest to reporters at the Eagles' training base yesterday.
His resolute performance even forced a TV journalist to drop his microphone in mock disgust after hearing Stewart trot out "one game at a time" for the umpteenth time.
"This is just outrageous," the journalist joked.
The response came after Stewart dodged questions more effectively than he splits defences on weekends. The fact is the Sea Eagles are flying and have firmed as second favourites for the title behind Melbourne.
Not that the Storm are an appropriate topic at Manly before Friday night's Brookvale Oval match against Parramatta.
"Stop asking me that, will you," Stewart said with a smile to a question regarding Melbourne's progress this season.
Manly are undoubtedly the NRL's in-form side, even if their standing has been aided by their minimal State of Origin commitments.
The Eagles' reluctance to talk themselves up must also come from being towelled up by the Storm in their past two meetings.
Stewart said the minor premiership wasn't a "goal" for the team, before conceding the side's inability to look beyond this weekend was part of the coach's grand plan.
"That is probably the main thing that Dessie gets on to us about, is to not get ahead of ourselves, and that is exactly what we are doing and that is why you blokes keep on asking different questions," he said.
Manly next meet the Storm on August 8 at Brookvale Oval.
By Tom Wald | July 15, 2008
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/sport/nrl/story/0,26799,24019740-5006066,00.html
IF you thought Manly's defence was watertight, it's nothing compared with their well-drilled approach to questions regarding their premiership credentials.
The Sea Eagles sit alone on top of the NRL table and boast both the competition's most potent attack and most miserly defence two months out from the finals.
And in league terms, they pulled third-placed Cronulla's pants down in Saturday night's 34-6 annihilation at Toyota Stadium. Surely these are heady times for the Sea Eagles.
But they would have you think otherwise as they try to fight the growing hype over their title prospects following last year's grand final loss to Melbourne.
Coach Des Hasler would have been proud of fullback Brett Stewart's effort in not saying anything of interest to reporters at the Eagles' training base yesterday.
His resolute performance even forced a TV journalist to drop his microphone in mock disgust after hearing Stewart trot out "one game at a time" for the umpteenth time.
"This is just outrageous," the journalist joked.
The response came after Stewart dodged questions more effectively than he splits defences on weekends. The fact is the Sea Eagles are flying and have firmed as second favourites for the title behind Melbourne.
Not that the Storm are an appropriate topic at Manly before Friday night's Brookvale Oval match against Parramatta.
"Stop asking me that, will you," Stewart said with a smile to a question regarding Melbourne's progress this season.
Manly are undoubtedly the NRL's in-form side, even if their standing has been aided by their minimal State of Origin commitments.
The Eagles' reluctance to talk themselves up must also come from being towelled up by the Storm in their past two meetings.
Stewart said the minor premiership wasn't a "goal" for the team, before conceding the side's inability to look beyond this weekend was part of the coach's grand plan.
"That is probably the main thing that Dessie gets on to us about, is to not get ahead of ourselves, and that is exactly what we are doing and that is why you blokes keep on asking different questions," he said.
Manly next meet the Storm on August 8 at Brookvale Oval.
