Manly Daily today
Eagles in tears
Players reveal how pain will be motivation for rest of season
Jon Geddes
Devastated Sea Eagles star Dylan Walker at fulltime in Saturday’s loss to the Panthers. Picture: Brendon Thorne
SEA Eagles players will use the pain and tears after Saturday’s 28-24 loss to the Panthers as motivation for the rest of the season.
Rising forward Taniela Paseka revealed the raw emotion in the dressing room at fulltime after they conceded a 24-6 lead in front of their home crowd.
“It was heartbreaking, I can’t believe how it happened,” Paseka said. “All the boys were upset and some were in tears as well.
“I don’t think I have ever felt that way before. I didn’t really know how to respond to that.”
The 120kg prop said the reaction showed how much the players cared for their team.
“The boys love Manly and that game meant a lot to them,” he said.
“The effort was there and we trained really hard last week.”
Paseka said last Saturday had only made the team more determined to finish the season on a positive note.
“You don’t want to lose like that again and the boys will try and make sure that doesn’t happen,” he said.
“For sure, it gives us a bit more fire.”
And it starts with a big challenge against the Sharks away on Sunday.
Winger Brad Parker said he spent the rest of the weekend thinking about what went wrong.
“I am still a bit shocked. That’s probably the best word. And upset as well,” the Christian Brothers junior said.
“As a young player I don’t think I have experienced anything like that.
“When I was in the sheds I looked around at everyone, heads down and quiet, and I just said I never wanted to be in this position again.
“We have quite a young squad and Baz (coach Trent Barrett) said it was a lesson for us young lads to embrace this loss and to know what you are feeling now and move on.
“I know we can’t make the finals but there is still plenty left in us.
“We still want to win the next five games and put everything into it and train hard and stick to our game plan. We’re not throwing in the towel.”