Berkeley_Eagle
Current Status: 24/7 Manly Fan
Manly's muscle can be the edge
Greg Prichard | August 23, 2008
The big match
http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/news/manlys-muscle-can-be-the-edge/2008/08/22/1219262523896.html
Wests Tigers v Manly
Tonight, ANZ Stadium, 5.30pm
What the Tigers say
They know they let frustration get the better of them when things went wrong and they fell behind against Parramatta on Monday. That led to more mistakes and the digging of a deeper hole, from which they could not escape. They have vowed to stay calm no matter what happens in this match. "We need to be more composed and play smarter," captain Brett Hodgson said.
What the Sea Eagles say
Coach Des Hasler says the faults in his team's play that contributed to their shock loss to South Sydney last weekend can be quickly remedied. "We weren't disciplined, we pushed passes . .. we just weren't the proficient side we normally are," he said. "It was definitely something that can be fixed in one game, with the right attitude, and I'm expecting us to be much more like our true selves this weekend."
What Prichard says
There is no reason Manly can't quickly get their act together again, but they will need to because the Tigers will be treating this like a finals match. If the Tigers lose, they won't be mathematically out of the running for a place in the top eight, but they will be on the ropes. Seven of the last eight games between these two have gone to the home team. The only break in that trend was when the Sea Eagles won away last year. But all of those games were at either Brookvale or Leichhardt. This is a Tigers home game, but you've got to think playing at ANZ Stadium is no great advantage for them. The Tigers are potentially dangerous, but if Manly muscle up in the forwards and power through the middle in their normal fashion, they should win.
For the Tigers to win
They have got to try to get the defence on the back foot with some good runs out of dummy half, backed up by quick play-the-balls. That will give them the space in which to move the ball around quickly, in their best style. They would know they can't try to out-muscle Manly and win a dour game. The Sea Eagles will come up with tries. The Tigers must back themselves to match them.
For the Sea Eagles to win
That wasn't the real Manly against Souths. Not even close. Whether it was a hangover from losing the heavyweight clash of the season against Melbourne the previous week isn't clear, but the Sea Eagles have got to get tough on themselves again, so they can get tough on the opposition. They have got to go out and set a high standard early on and then stick to it for 80 minutes.
The X factor
For the Tigers to give themselves their best chance of making the finals, Benji Marshall is going to have to play out of his skin in this game - and in the last two rounds as well. Now, sure, sometimes playmakers don't get enough room in which to make something happen because their forwards may not be winning the battle up front. But when you weigh things up, Marshall hasn't been as influential as he should have been for the Tigers this season. They really need some magic from him now.
What the bookies say
The Sea Eagles are warm, rather than hot, favourites. Sportsbook.com.au has them at $1.46, with the Tigers at $2.75. The points start is 6.5 in handicap betting.
The late mail
Ben Te'o has been omitted from the five-man Tigers bench. Hasler still has to cut one from his bench.
Greg Prichard | August 23, 2008
The big match
http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/news/manlys-muscle-can-be-the-edge/2008/08/22/1219262523896.html
Wests Tigers v Manly
Tonight, ANZ Stadium, 5.30pm
What the Tigers say
They know they let frustration get the better of them when things went wrong and they fell behind against Parramatta on Monday. That led to more mistakes and the digging of a deeper hole, from which they could not escape. They have vowed to stay calm no matter what happens in this match. "We need to be more composed and play smarter," captain Brett Hodgson said.
What the Sea Eagles say
Coach Des Hasler says the faults in his team's play that contributed to their shock loss to South Sydney last weekend can be quickly remedied. "We weren't disciplined, we pushed passes . .. we just weren't the proficient side we normally are," he said. "It was definitely something that can be fixed in one game, with the right attitude, and I'm expecting us to be much more like our true selves this weekend."
What Prichard says
There is no reason Manly can't quickly get their act together again, but they will need to because the Tigers will be treating this like a finals match. If the Tigers lose, they won't be mathematically out of the running for a place in the top eight, but they will be on the ropes. Seven of the last eight games between these two have gone to the home team. The only break in that trend was when the Sea Eagles won away last year. But all of those games were at either Brookvale or Leichhardt. This is a Tigers home game, but you've got to think playing at ANZ Stadium is no great advantage for them. The Tigers are potentially dangerous, but if Manly muscle up in the forwards and power through the middle in their normal fashion, they should win.
For the Tigers to win
They have got to try to get the defence on the back foot with some good runs out of dummy half, backed up by quick play-the-balls. That will give them the space in which to move the ball around quickly, in their best style. They would know they can't try to out-muscle Manly and win a dour game. The Sea Eagles will come up with tries. The Tigers must back themselves to match them.
For the Sea Eagles to win
That wasn't the real Manly against Souths. Not even close. Whether it was a hangover from losing the heavyweight clash of the season against Melbourne the previous week isn't clear, but the Sea Eagles have got to get tough on themselves again, so they can get tough on the opposition. They have got to go out and set a high standard early on and then stick to it for 80 minutes.
The X factor
For the Tigers to give themselves their best chance of making the finals, Benji Marshall is going to have to play out of his skin in this game - and in the last two rounds as well. Now, sure, sometimes playmakers don't get enough room in which to make something happen because their forwards may not be winning the battle up front. But when you weigh things up, Marshall hasn't been as influential as he should have been for the Tigers this season. They really need some magic from him now.
What the bookies say
The Sea Eagles are warm, rather than hot, favourites. Sportsbook.com.au has them at $1.46, with the Tigers at $2.75. The points start is 6.5 in handicap betting.
The late mail
Ben Te'o has been omitted from the five-man Tigers bench. Hasler still has to cut one from his bench.
