Let's warp back in time. It's 2019.
Round 11 and Manly have exceeded expectations in Hasler's 1st year back, with the same team left in a shambles by Trent, that almost fetched us our first spoon in 2018. Thankfully the Eels know how to **** the bed better than us.
We just beat the highly fancied Sharks - at their home ground - after they were 1 game short of the GF the previous year. Definitely not an expected victory - but one that produces expectations (like us beating the Storm...)
The Titans had just come off an abysmal loss against the Dogs. At home. And are now tied for last place. I'm not a bettting man, but i'm sure Sportsbet would have looked rosey for a home-team drubbing.
Sunny day at Fortress Brookvale which had fielded nought but wins - aside from that early-season Roosters 1st-half carve-up, where a 0-22 Half-time deficit became a courageous 18-26 defeat, the catalyst for some better results in the following weeks, no doubt - a moral victory despite the outcome.
Back to Rnd 11 vs Titans - 12-0 after 20-mins... whats that multiplied by 4? 48-0...yeah that'll do. We all expected it to be a cricket score. Then....Titans strike back twice in the last 5mins of the half. 12-10 half time. What...?
Then the Titans go to town. 5 tries in the 2nd half, we peg a couple back - but 18-36 full time. WTF just happened.
I like to reminisce of what complacency gets you in this game. It's closer than ever this year and the Titans put 26-pts on the Dolphins in the 1st half before they could blink. Panthers did that to us and we couldn't respond. Dolphins could - scared of Wayne's disapproving glare post-game? Who knows...some character for a 1st-year club.
Titans could do the same to us. Do we have the tenacity to strike back if they do? The Tigers game should have instilled some humility in the boys - and if not, then we'll be casualties in the games we are 'expected' to win, and even if we scrape into the 8 it will be a short-lived finals cameo.
Win and we are 2nd, taking on the team running 1st - who can't be overtaken this week regardless the results. 1vs2 magic round in Brisbane - Penn will get his blood-money. Lose to the Titans however. and we could drop out of the 8, and be the team Brisbane knows it should beat - with the home-town benefits.
It's a tight year, take nothing for granted. I hope the team doesn't squander their new-found home-ground form differential against a team like the Titans (like they did in 2019) - that would pretty much spell out the season for me as an also-ran pretender if they do.