Former Sea Eagles hardman Owen Cunningham backs 2014 side
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OWEN Cunningham, one of the toughest players to pull on the Sea Eagles jumper, sees similarities between his 1996 premiership winning side and the current outfit.
He made the observation
ahead of the Sea Eagles’ big grand final rematch against the Sydney Roosters at Brookvale Oval.
“OJ” was lock in the champion Bob Fulton-coached side that beat St George 20-8 in the grand final 18 years ago.
That side which also included Geoff Toovey, Terry Hill, Matthew Ridge, Daniel Gartner, David Gillespie and Des Hasler, conceded only 34 tries in 24 matches on their way to claiming the title.
And Cunningham, who now runs a service station in Mackay, likes what he sees in the 2014 side.
“I think they are going enormous again and exceeded everyone’s expectations,” he said.
He said after losing some senior players critics wrote them off, but thee have a reputation of getting players to stand up who weren’t performing at other clubs.”
“On their day they look as good as anyone else in the comp,” Cunningham said.
Cunningham said like the 1996 premiers, the current side is well rounded.
“They are strong right across the field and they win without their major players — Glenn Stewart has been out for a while and then someone else steps up to the plate and plays well,” he said.
“They just play an uncompromising brand of footy and it is an exciting brand of footy, they throw the ball around and there is a bit of variation.”
They were also traits that Cunningham’s 1996 team.
“We did pride ourselves on our defence and that certainly won us a lot of games,” he said.
Cunningham said he is a fan of Jamie Buhrer, who has been starting in his old lock position with Stewart out.
“I think Jamie is very underrated and he seems to be back to his form this year,” Cunningham said.
Cunningham can see the influence of his old teammate Toovey in the tough way they play.
“That’s what he was all about and it is ingrained in them,” Cunningham said.
“I think they can win it definitely.”
Jon Geddes
Manly Daily
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/northern-beaches/former-sea-eagles-hardman-owen-cunningham-backs-2014-side/story-fngr8iii-1226963961519
He made the observation
“OJ” was lock in the champion Bob Fulton-coached side that beat St George 20-8 in the grand final 18 years ago.
That side which also included Geoff Toovey, Terry Hill, Matthew Ridge, Daniel Gartner, David Gillespie and Des Hasler, conceded only 34 tries in 24 matches on their way to claiming the title.
And Cunningham, who now runs a service station in Mackay, likes what he sees in the 2014 side.
“I think they are going enormous again and exceeded everyone’s expectations,” he said.
He said after losing some senior players critics wrote them off, but thee have a reputation of getting players to stand up who weren’t performing at other clubs.”
“On their day they look as good as anyone else in the comp,” Cunningham said.
Cunningham said like the 1996 premiers, the current side is well rounded.
“They are strong right across the field and they win without their major players — Glenn Stewart has been out for a while and then someone else steps up to the plate and plays well,” he said.
“They just play an uncompromising brand of footy and it is an exciting brand of footy, they throw the ball around and there is a bit of variation.”
They were also traits that Cunningham’s 1996 team.
“We did pride ourselves on our defence and that certainly won us a lot of games,” he said.
Cunningham said he is a fan of Jamie Buhrer, who has been starting in his old lock position with Stewart out.
“I think Jamie is very underrated and he seems to be back to his form this year,” Cunningham said.
Cunningham can see the influence of his old teammate Toovey in the tough way they play.
“That’s what he was all about and it is ingrained in them,” Cunningham said.
“I think they can win it definitely.”
Jon Geddes
Manly Daily
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/northern-beaches/former-sea-eagles-hardman-owen-cunningham-backs-2014-side/story-fngr8iii-1226963961519
HappilyManly
Journey Man
I loved OJ - Matty is in the same unheralded mould. 
May the 2014 side live up to his expectation
May the 2014 side live up to his expectation
sweetest g
Member
Jamie buhrer is the modern day OJ
it was a shame that he never got to play origin (that coming from a nsw supporter). his best season with manly was when he had agreed to go to super league & it cost him his chance.
A good sign when ex-premiership winning Sea Eagles start talking like this, a quiet confidence must be growing in our camp. OJ was a club stalwart, and I hope Buhrer earns that same accolade one day.
RiverEagle
Bencher
Yeah I loved OJ's work a lot too.
He was whole-hearted and pivotal to our pack in his time.
I had a feeling @castle eagle I'd seen OJ in a QLD jumper... So I checked.
He played a solitary Origin game in '96.
Deserved to play a lot more.
He was whole-hearted and pivotal to our pack in his time.
I had a feeling @castle eagle I'd seen OJ in a QLD jumper... So I checked.
He played a solitary Origin game in '96.
Deserved to play a lot more.
double hoops
First Grader
Such a great side in the early 90's. What ever happened to the mule?
ManlyBacker
Winging it
OJ was the starch that held the pack together and let the others shine. Every genuine Premiership contender must have an OJ. There are three from today that spring to my mind with different roles but they do such a huge amount of unheralded work. I'm going for 1. Ballin, 2. Choc, 3. Gift.
Masked Eagle
Bencher
I think he won something like 4 most under rated player in the game in RLW in a row. Says just as much as it did for OJ as it did for the players who voted for him!
Choc would be the starch, Ballin the glue, and Gift provides the spice. A recipe for success.ManlyBacker said:
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| Team | P | W | L | PD | Pts |
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6 | 5 | 1 | 59 | 12 |
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6 | 5 | 1 | 20 | 12 |
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6 | 4 | 2 | 53 | 10 |
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6 | 4 | 2 | 30 | 10 |
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7 | 4 | 2 | 25 | 9 |
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7 | 4 | 3 | 40 | 8 |
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7 | 4 | 3 | 24 | 8 |
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7 | 4 | 3 | -8 | 8 |
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7 | 4 | 3 | -18 | 8 |
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7 | 3 | 3 | 20 | 7 |
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7 | 3 | 4 | 31 | 6 |
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7 | 3 | 4 | 17 | 6 |
|
6 | 2 | 4 | -31 | 6 |
|
7 | 3 | 4 | -41 | 6 |
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7 | 2 | 5 | -29 | 4 |
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6 | 1 | 5 | -102 | 4 |
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6 | 0 | 6 | -90 | 2 |
