NYEagle
Bencher
I'd like to propose that we avoid falling into the trap of taking any notice of the last 20 minutes of Fridays game.
Based on the evidence of what I saw and heard, I think a major emotional shift occurred the moment Matais try was denied.
Consider this:
*Manly looked in full control over the first 60 minutes of the game and we all felt comfortable that a win was inevitable. I was already counting for and against numbers and was very happy with their play.
At the moment Matais try was denied, that control fell apart.
Just before the decision:
* Manly were frustrated with penalties giving Souths field position (even Gould commented that Souths made more ground out of penalties than actual run metres)
* Manly had been been frustrated to that point at not putting in the killer blow and then exhaled when that killer blow looked to be delivered. A major emotional shift, and they felt they had won the game. (and while I'm not a Gould fan, I'll quote him again where he often says that it almost impossible to win a game twice - see later).
Then the moment of the decision of "no try"
Matai and others looked genuinely distressed and shocked even. I sure noticed it. Another major emotional shift, and a very negative one.
Just minutes later.....
*Manly are distracted and let a drop goal reach the touch line
*They let in a try and have to start all over again. They are gone. Try backing up on five days rest after such a massive letdown. Impossible. They let two more tries in.
Then in the dressing room after the game:
*Looks like a war zone
*Manly vent their frustration with the way the game turned out. Toovey then takes that frustration to the press conference.
I guarantee, had the Matai try been given, Manly would not have let another point in. It would have ended 16-6 or 22-6 to Manly.
What do we take out of this?
* we don't get 50-50 calls but we did send a message to the NRL that we got screwed this time.
* this game can be a turning point in a positive direction. I expect Manly to be fired up next week fresh and full strength against Canberra after a good rest.
* games like Friday night rarely happen, and at the end of the game, even though I was disappointed we lost, the loss as it happened (with the dew, the no-try, and the penalties) are not a norm and I didn't feel like we were beaten by Souths, or anything to do with their players. It's just a bad luck loss. Overall, I felt good that we demonstrated some solid control over a top 4 team, and I hope we play these rats in round 1 of the finals.
NYEagle
Based on the evidence of what I saw and heard, I think a major emotional shift occurred the moment Matais try was denied.
Consider this:
*Manly looked in full control over the first 60 minutes of the game and we all felt comfortable that a win was inevitable. I was already counting for and against numbers and was very happy with their play.
At the moment Matais try was denied, that control fell apart.
Just before the decision:
* Manly were frustrated with penalties giving Souths field position (even Gould commented that Souths made more ground out of penalties than actual run metres)
* Manly had been been frustrated to that point at not putting in the killer blow and then exhaled when that killer blow looked to be delivered. A major emotional shift, and they felt they had won the game. (and while I'm not a Gould fan, I'll quote him again where he often says that it almost impossible to win a game twice - see later).
Then the moment of the decision of "no try"
Matai and others looked genuinely distressed and shocked even. I sure noticed it. Another major emotional shift, and a very negative one.
Just minutes later.....
*Manly are distracted and let a drop goal reach the touch line
*They let in a try and have to start all over again. They are gone. Try backing up on five days rest after such a massive letdown. Impossible. They let two more tries in.
Then in the dressing room after the game:
*Looks like a war zone
*Manly vent their frustration with the way the game turned out. Toovey then takes that frustration to the press conference.
I guarantee, had the Matai try been given, Manly would not have let another point in. It would have ended 16-6 or 22-6 to Manly.
What do we take out of this?
* we don't get 50-50 calls but we did send a message to the NRL that we got screwed this time.
* this game can be a turning point in a positive direction. I expect Manly to be fired up next week fresh and full strength against Canberra after a good rest.
* games like Friday night rarely happen, and at the end of the game, even though I was disappointed we lost, the loss as it happened (with the dew, the no-try, and the penalties) are not a norm and I didn't feel like we were beaten by Souths, or anything to do with their players. It's just a bad luck loss. Overall, I felt good that we demonstrated some solid control over a top 4 team, and I hope we play these rats in round 1 of the finals.
NYEagle
