Lyon primed to return against Sharks
- MANLY DAILY
- JULY 01, 2015 11:09PM
- Geoff Toovey
Jamie Lyon. Sea Eagles golf day at Long Reef on Monday.
THE playing group have had a spring in their step this week after seeing Jamie Lyon back on the training paddock.
“Killer” has missed a fair chunk of footy this year due to niggling injuries and is a frustrated spectator.
He has been dying to return but we have to manage him sensibly.
On his day I still believe he is the best centre in the competition so we were never going to rush him back.
If he passes all the necessary medical tests over the next few days, expect to see him goalkicking and on the team sheet next to Steve Matai.
Beware of Sharks
I WAS very impressed with what the Sharks dished up last Saturday night in Townsville. Not many gave them a chance of beating the Cowboys, even minus their playmaker Johnathan Thurston.
When they went behind 18-0 it looked all over, but then they got a roll on and couldn’t be stopped.
Pivot Jack Bird is a terrific player and a real star of the future.
Like fellow youngster Valentine Holmes, he was given a chance by coach Shane Flanagan and has taken it with both hands.
This Sunday afternoon at Brookvale Oval we will need to contain those two blokes and Ben Barba when he comes off the bench.
Confidence game
EVEN though we lost to the Rabbitohs last Friday night at ANZ Stadium there was plenty to take out of the performance.
The game had a real semi-final feel to it, and in previous years we would have skipped ahead and gone on with it.
Unfortunately, our collective confidence is down at the moment – we allowed Souths to seize the big moments and in the end they kicked away from us.
DCE will bounce back
I AM tipping Daly Cherry-Evans to have a monster game against Cronulla.
Obviously he was disappointed to miss selection for the Maroons in game three next Wednesday night at Suncorp Stadium.
Great players respond to setbacks in their next game and I think he will fire big time in front of our fans.
