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http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/geoff-toovey-raises-concerns-with-south-sydney-wrestling-tactics-as-manly-sea-eagles-blown-away/story-fni3gnk1-1227018634324
Geoff Toovey raises concerns with South Sydney wrestling tactics as Manly Sea Eagles blown away
JOSH MASSOUD THE DAILY TELEGRAPH AUGUST 09, 2014
SEA Eagles coach Geoff Toovey on Friday night accused South Sydney of wrestling their way to victory, a tactic that also appears to have claimed centre Steve Matai.
The tough Kiwi was forced-off with a shoulder injury in just the sixth minute after he succumbed under the weight of tackle from Rabbitohs forwards George Burgess and Issac Luke.
Replays suggested Burgess might have been guilty of a chicken wing manouvre that left Matai struggling to flex his right shoulder as he left the field.
While that tackle was not put on report, Manly prop Josh Starling could face punishment after he was reported for a crusher tackle on Rabbitohs livewire Luke Keary in the second half.
Toovey was tight-lipped about the Matai incident afterwards, but said enough to let suspicions linger.
When asked whether Matai felt he was the victim of foul play, Toovey said: “I believe so, yes”.
Of the ruck generally, he felt Souths were able to get away with slowing down his pacey pack, which rely on high leg speed from smaller forwards like Anthony Watmough and Jamie Buhrer.
“I thought they just wrestled the crap out of us in the first half and slowed the game right down,” he said.
“Losing Steve Matai early didn’t help us either. They are a big side and I’m just concerned about the way they slowed us down.”
Under such relentless pressure, Manly fell into uncharacteristic error as Daly Cherry-Evans fired a pass into the head of Justin Horo, while Brett Stewart frittered away two promising raids with poor passes in the first half.
