First Grader
Manly coach Des Hasler's mood was dark, as he mulled over yet another game in which his team had contributed significantly to their own demise through lapses in concentration.
"It was very disappointing," Hasler said. "The lapse just before half-time and another one just after half-time cost us. They were defensive lapses and the opposition capitalised on them. So we have to get our act together, because I can guarantee our next few games won't be easy ones either."
Sea Eagles captain Ben Kennedy was similarly downcast as he struggled to explain the concentration lapses.
"I really don't know [why it happens]," Kennedy said. "At certain times of games we just switch off. We defend well for four tackles and then make a mistake and the other team goes 100 metres. It just continues to happen."
It wasn't as if Manly weren't acutely aware of the problem. They have been trying to find a solution for a while. On the eve of the match, hooker Michael Monaghan talked about how it was time to start playing for 80 minutes on a regular basis if the Sea Eagles were going to build the sort of form needed to create an impact in the finals.
"It was very disappointing," Hasler said. "The lapse just before half-time and another one just after half-time cost us. They were defensive lapses and the opposition capitalised on them. So we have to get our act together, because I can guarantee our next few games won't be easy ones either."
Sea Eagles captain Ben Kennedy was similarly downcast as he struggled to explain the concentration lapses.
"I really don't know [why it happens]," Kennedy said. "At certain times of games we just switch off. We defend well for four tackles and then make a mistake and the other team goes 100 metres. It just continues to happen."
It wasn't as if Manly weren't acutely aware of the problem. They have been trying to find a solution for a while. On the eve of the match, hooker Michael Monaghan talked about how it was time to start playing for 80 minutes on a regular basis if the Sea Eagles were going to build the sort of form needed to create an impact in the finals.
