Josh Perry climbs into engine room Zorba http://manlydaily.com.au/article/2008/02/23/8891_sports.html 23 February 2008 A SHOWCASE 30 minutes from Josh Perry confirmed to coach Des Hasler that the Sea Eagles will have a juggernaut engine room for the 2008 premiership campaign, which starts in earnest in three weeks. Perry ripped into the Melbourne Storm defence like a runaway train last week, in his cameo trial at Gosford's Bluetongue Stadium. The half-hour stint featured several strong bursts where Perry proved a real handful for the defence. In one bull-like charge he raced 30 metres before perfecting an under and around pass to centre David Vaealiki in support. With Perry on the field in the 30 minute period where both Manly and Melbourne fielded something like their strongest available teams, it was a two-tries-each session. That was enough for Hasler, who used the trial to look at young hopefuls more than anything else. Perry's debut night was over after a third of the trial and many of the team's top guns joined him on the bench as spectators. The arrival of Perry at Brookvale with a very strong recommendation to Hasler from former skipper Ben Kennedy gives the Sea Eagles very strong top 10 props. There is a good mixture of experience and youth with some real go-forward. Test prop Brent Kite was given only a short time against the Storm and will again head up the front rowers club with Jason King and Perry, with excellent back up from Mark Bryant, Adam Cuthbertson and Glenn Hall. George Rose is back in training after his horrific compound fracture of the leg last season. Throw in ex-Souths prop Tom Browne, durable Phil Morwood and up and coming Chris Trembath and Manly have an impressive front rower's union. ONLY internationals Brett Stewart and Steve Matai will miss next Friday's final trial against the New Zealand Warriors in Caloundra. Stewart resumed speed work recently after his off-season knee operation but is hopeful of being fit for the premiership opener against Cronulla at Brookvale Oval on March 15. Matai is next to no hope after an off-season operation following shoulder and neck problems last year. However, the Kiwi centre is keen to return by the third week of the premiership against the Warriors at Brookvale Oval. Jamie Lyon, Jason King and Glenn Stewart will play in next week's trial after missing the Storm trial.
This sounds promising and we can only hope that the bookends really, really dominate this year. I would love to see that!
