ellakasmar
Reserve Grader
Wow, what a year. I know many others have already written posts like this, but I wanted to have my say too, especially a couple days after the game after it has all sunk in.
We started this year with countless tips for us to get the wooden spoon after a horrid 2018 season. We lost our first two games and I know many thought we were heading in the same direction as last year - oh how we were wrong. Every year we lose the first two games of the season, I always point out the fact how we also did in 2008. And funnily enough in 2008, we played the Warriors in round three and won, and played Souths in round four and beat them also, and we all know how that season ended up for us! Despite it not finishing as glorious as that year, without injuries to our key players and some terrible refereeing decisions (still salty), who knows what could’ve been.
Friday night still hurts. Seeing the boys put in so much effort and for it to end like it did just sucks so much. But now after the semi finals are officially over and the rest of the NRL look towards the preliminary finals, I’ve accepted the result. I thought we could’ve been a chance against Canberra, but coming up against a pretty much fully fit Storm/Roosters team in the grand final - well I don’t think it would’ve ended well. For my own sake, the heartbreak of being knocked out of week 2 of finals is a lost easier than a grand final or preliminary final loss.
Winning our first finals game since 2013, and making it to week two coming so close to progressing to week three will do wonders for our team. We had pretty much the equal youngest side with the Broncos (after round 13 our average age of players who had played in 2019 was 24.98 and theirs was 24.64 according to rugbyleagueproject.org ). After some less successful years than we have been use to, even some of our more senior players don’t have much finals experience. Des prepared those boys SO well, it must be so hard handling that pressure but they did incredible. If we had a full side, we would’ve smashed Souths even with some average refereeing decisions!
So now we look to 2020. I’m so excited. I can’t wait for the draw to come out later next month/early November so we can start planning the away trips. It’s such a nice feeling to be so pumped already, after finishing 2018 not wanting this year to start unaware of how much success we would have! With a healthy side who can play as well as Des has made them play this year, we are a shoe in for a top four finish. I just so hope the footy gods are on our side and can keep us on the field.
I urge you all, if you are not a member already, SIGN UP NOW! It is a bit embarrassing how low our member numbers are for a club with such a successful history. Even if you can’t make it to games, there’s a package for you. The boys need your support, the club needs your support, and just remember, Members get priority for finals and grand final tickets 😉
How good is the feeling around this club right now though. Last year I tried to only find the positives, but this year it’s been hard to find any negatives! Some of you may know I use to have a blog about the team, but stopped after starting Uni and trying to find a balance between that, work and everything else! Next year I’ll be heading into my third year of Uni so I’ve kind of figured that out a lot better now. SO, I was thinking of starting up the blog again OR making a podcast (because I love talking hahahaha). I don’t want to steal any thunder form The Screaming Eagles Podcast (check them out if you haven’t already - hilarious), but surely the more Manly, the better right? 😉 anyways that’s something I’ll think about in the off season!
I don’t think I’ve ever felt prouder to be a supporter of this club than I do now. Probably being older helps, but I’m still in awe of our young guns who stepped up and continued fighting all year. The boys seem to truly love one another, and the Manly culture is well and truly back.
Now we only have to hope for no off field dramas this off season, and I cannot wait for March to start again.
Go Manly!!!! Let’s go get premiership number 9!
We started this year with countless tips for us to get the wooden spoon after a horrid 2018 season. We lost our first two games and I know many thought we were heading in the same direction as last year - oh how we were wrong. Every year we lose the first two games of the season, I always point out the fact how we also did in 2008. And funnily enough in 2008, we played the Warriors in round three and won, and played Souths in round four and beat them also, and we all know how that season ended up for us! Despite it not finishing as glorious as that year, without injuries to our key players and some terrible refereeing decisions (still salty), who knows what could’ve been.
Friday night still hurts. Seeing the boys put in so much effort and for it to end like it did just sucks so much. But now after the semi finals are officially over and the rest of the NRL look towards the preliminary finals, I’ve accepted the result. I thought we could’ve been a chance against Canberra, but coming up against a pretty much fully fit Storm/Roosters team in the grand final - well I don’t think it would’ve ended well. For my own sake, the heartbreak of being knocked out of week 2 of finals is a lost easier than a grand final or preliminary final loss.
Winning our first finals game since 2013, and making it to week two coming so close to progressing to week three will do wonders for our team. We had pretty much the equal youngest side with the Broncos (after round 13 our average age of players who had played in 2019 was 24.98 and theirs was 24.64 according to rugbyleagueproject.org ). After some less successful years than we have been use to, even some of our more senior players don’t have much finals experience. Des prepared those boys SO well, it must be so hard handling that pressure but they did incredible. If we had a full side, we would’ve smashed Souths even with some average refereeing decisions!
So now we look to 2020. I’m so excited. I can’t wait for the draw to come out later next month/early November so we can start planning the away trips. It’s such a nice feeling to be so pumped already, after finishing 2018 not wanting this year to start unaware of how much success we would have! With a healthy side who can play as well as Des has made them play this year, we are a shoe in for a top four finish. I just so hope the footy gods are on our side and can keep us on the field.
I urge you all, if you are not a member already, SIGN UP NOW! It is a bit embarrassing how low our member numbers are for a club with such a successful history. Even if you can’t make it to games, there’s a package for you. The boys need your support, the club needs your support, and just remember, Members get priority for finals and grand final tickets 😉
How good is the feeling around this club right now though. Last year I tried to only find the positives, but this year it’s been hard to find any negatives! Some of you may know I use to have a blog about the team, but stopped after starting Uni and trying to find a balance between that, work and everything else! Next year I’ll be heading into my third year of Uni so I’ve kind of figured that out a lot better now. SO, I was thinking of starting up the blog again OR making a podcast (because I love talking hahahaha). I don’t want to steal any thunder form The Screaming Eagles Podcast (check them out if you haven’t already - hilarious), but surely the more Manly, the better right? 😉 anyways that’s something I’ll think about in the off season!
I don’t think I’ve ever felt prouder to be a supporter of this club than I do now. Probably being older helps, but I’m still in awe of our young guns who stepped up and continued fighting all year. The boys seem to truly love one another, and the Manly culture is well and truly back.
Now we only have to hope for no off field dramas this off season, and I cannot wait for March to start again.
Go Manly!!!! Let’s go get premiership number 9!
