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[Jethro]

Refer:

http://sportal.com.au/League-news-display/sea-eagles-destroy-sharks-52283

Sea Eagles destroy Sharks
12/07/2008 9:29:59 PM
Steve Orme
Sportal

The Sea Eagles remain in top spot on the NRL ladder after a 34-6 demolition of the Sharks at Toyota Stadium on Saturday night.

Manly's sixth-straight win was without doubt their finest of the season against a Sharks side that entered the top-of-the-table clash in red-hot form.

A four-try blitz in the opening 22 minutes of play set up the victory and when Glenn Stewart crossed for his second four-pointer of the night midway through the second half, all hope of a dramatic comeback was erased.

The Sharks simply never recovered from Manly's near perfect opening half and although they kept coming were well below their best throughout, particularly in attack.

The onslaught began in just the fourth minute when Matt Ballin sped out of dummy half and through some lack-lustre defence to cross adjacent to the posts.

Orford added the extras to silence the home crowd and grab an early 6-0 advantage.

Manly's next try came from a Sharks howler as youngster Misi Taulapapa tried to force the action deep in his own half only to gift Steve Matai who found a charging Josh Perry.

Perry burst through four defenders for the converted try to double the Sea Eagles lead in the 12th minute.

A beautifully worked set-play led to the Eagles' third try.

It all started with an old-fashioned-run-around play before Jamie Lyon found a straight running Steve Bell who drew the defence before feeding Brett Stewart to cross untouched in the corner.

Not to be outdone by his little brother, Glenn Stewart was the next to score for the rampant visitors.

Orford's conversion put Manly 22-0 ahead with 14 minutes still to play in the opening stanza.

The Sea Eagles were equally impressive at the defensive end, repeatedly denying the desperate hosts before Paul Gallen finally crossed in the final minute of the half to give the Sharks' faithful a glimmer of hope.

Luke Covell's sideline conversion cut the deficit to 22-6 at the break.

The Sharks enjoyed the bulk of possession after the re-start but a string of basic errors did little to help their cause.

And when Matai delivered a deft kick for Michael Robertson to score the Eagles' first try of the half in the 54th minute, the visitors were all but assured the two-competition points.

Glenn Stewart's second four-pointer erased any doubt and when Jamie Lyon converted from out wide the lead was 34-6 with a quarter of the match remaining.

Manly 34:
Tries: G. Stewart 2, Ballin, Perry, B.Stewart, Robertson,
Goals: Orford 3, Lyon 2

Sharks 6:
Tries: Gallen
Goals: Covell

Sportal Player of the Year:
3 - Glenn Stewart (Sea Eagles)
2 - Josh Perry (Sea Eagles)
1 - Jamie Lyon (Sea Eagles)

 

[Jethro]

Here's some more. Refer:

http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/lhqmatchreport/sea-eagles-send-warning-to-rivals/2008/07/12/1215658204478.html

Sea Eagles send warning to rivals

July 13, 2008

Manly moved into the outright competition lead and sent an ominous warning to their NRL rivals with a 34-6 thrashing of Cronulla in their top-of-the table clash at Toyota Stadium tonight.

A game expected to be a tight, low-scoring affair was anything but as the Sea Eagles made their co-competition leaders look more like wooden spoon contenders for most of the match.

Manly ran in six tries to one in front of more than 18,000 fans to move two points clear of the Sharks and Sydney Roosters after the Roosters' shock loss to Gold Coast last night.

Backrower Glenn Stewart scored a double while Matt Ballin, Josh Perry, Brett Stewart and Michael Robertson also scored tries.

The result extended Des Hasler's side's winning streak to six matches and ended Cronulla's five-game winning run.

A perfect first-half for Manly, in which they did not make a single error, saw them race to a 22-0 lead, with a try to Sharks captain Paul Gallen just before the break making it 22-6 at halftime and giving his side some hope.

But the home side was unable to get into the game and Manly scored two more tries in the second half to complete the rout and reaffirm their status as one of the teams to beat in 2008.

Ballin and Perry had crashed over from close range for four-pointers in the first half while Brett Stewart finished a fine backline move to score his 11th try of the season.

Manly drew further ahead in the 53rd minute when Robertson pounced on a Steve Matai grubber and Jamie Lyon converted from the sideline.

Glenn Stewart showed great strength to seal the first double of his career in the 60th minute and while the Sharks at least enjoyed better field position late in the match, they were never able to turn it into more points.

The Sea Eagles came out defending ferociously, with Matai, Orford and Glenn Stewart all pulling off huge hits on Sharks fullback Brett Seymour in the first half.

Matai was impressive, just a week after he was hospitalised with a bruised lung suffered against the Titans, while halves Orford and Lyon were instrumental.

MANLY 34 (G Stewart 2 M Ballin J Perry B Stewart M Robertson tries M Orford 3 J Lyon 2 goals) bt CRONULLA 6 (P Gallen try L Covell goal) at Toyota Stadium. Referee: J Robinson. Crowd: 18,217.
Source: The Sun-Herald

A good photo of Brett diving over the line for his try:

http://www.leaguehq.com.au/ffximage/2008/07/12/sea_eagles3_wideweb__470x301,0.jpg

 

[Jethro]

And some more. Refer:

http://www.setantasports.com/en/Sport/News/Other-sports/2008/07/12/NRL-Sharks-v-Sea-Eagles/?facets/sport-space/great-britain-locale/Misc-Sports/

Sea Eagles top ladder after easy win
by Alan Waldron
12 July 2008

The Manly Sea Eagles have gone two points clear at the top of the NRL ladder following their comfortable 34-6 win against the Cronulla Sharks at the Toyota Stadium on Saturday.

Positioned in first and third before proceedings, both sides had an added incentive to win following the Roosters’ surprise loss to the Gold Coast Titans earlier in the day.

With both clubs buoyed by impressive winning streaks ahead of this top of the table clash, the game disappointed as a contest as Manly dominated from start to finish.

It was sweet revenge for the Sea Eagles too, following their 16-10 loss to Cronulla at Brookvale in their opening game of the season.

The Sea Eagles raced into a 22-0 lead after 24 minutes following tries from hooker Matt Ballin, Josh Perry, the Stewart brothers, Brett and Glenn.

The opening half of football was a remarkable contrast between the sides, particularly with regards their respective use of the football.

While the Sea Eagles were aggressive in defence and composed in attack, Cronulla continued to struggle to complete their sets as they seemed stunned by the Sydney side’s blistering start.

Cronulla had to wait for 39 minutes before finally breaching the dogged Manly defence after a determined Paul Gallen drove over from close range.

Luke Covell added the extras from out wide to leave the scoring at 22-6 at the interval.

While the Sharks seemed to improve in the second period, they still seemed to lack penetration despite Brett Kimmorley finally getting his hands on the football.

In the end, the difference was Manly’s ability to take their chances as demonstrated by Michael Robertson’s 53rd minute try following a deft kick from the inspiring Steve Matai, who showed no effects of his lung bruising.

Following their more positive start to the second period, the Sharks seemed to lose faith following Robertson’s score as they returned to their clumsy first-half form.

Sea Eagles lock Glenn Stewart then bagged his second try of the evening as he powered through three Shark tacklers to touch down with 20 minutes remaining.

Jamie Lyon kicked his second successful conversion of the evening to put Manly 28 points in front and effectively ended the game as a contest as the Sea Eagles secured top spot in the league with eight rounds still to play.

 

[Berkeley_Eagle]

Sharks the only casualties but don't mention the war

Will Swanton | July 13, 2008
http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/lhqmatchre...5658204478.html

DES HASLER stayed quiet, but Paul Gallen squealed.

"They were awesome - they're the best team I've played this year," the Sharks captain said.

The message was clear. The Sea Eagles are the new benchmark. They blew the Sharks away with an opening 40 minutes in which they did not make one error.

Pounding Cronulla in the top-of-the-table clash proved beyond any reasonable doubt they are motoring towards premiership redemption.

"Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, this is a war," screamed the ground announcer before kick-off. The kiddies were confused. If this was a war, why was there a big toy shark called MC Hammerhead running around? Wars have mascots and cheer girls?

A frenzied crowd of 18,217 piled in after a week of hate-inspired build-up, and when Sea Eagles' second-rower Anthony Watmough's first tackle knocked the living stuffing out of Kade Snowden, it was on.

If only more wars ended so soon. The Sea Eagles led 6-0 after five minutes; 12-0 after 13 minutes when Josh Perry - taking on Sharks prop Ben Ross for the first time since their early round collision sent Ross's teeth to the moon - powered over; and 22-0 after 23 minutes.

This was no war. It wasn't even a street fight. It was a tip-toe through the tulips in what was supposed to be the match of the week.

"It's a daunting place to come," Hasler said.

"Our opening 40 minutes, I think we completed 20 out of 20 sets. It was very disciplined, very sharp and very clinical. We've got Parramatta at Brookvale Oval next week and we would like to see all our fans turn out and really get behind this team.

"We want the doors closed and the joint full."

The Sharks were supposed to prove last night they are grand final contenders and not pretenders. Maybe their hopes are make-believe. Gallen had an enormous game but he was something of a one-man band. It was 22-6 at the break.

"Tense stuff, folks," said the ground announcer. Yes, mate. Tense stuff. Sharks halfback Brett Kimmorley had some unhappy moments. It was not particularly tense stuff, folks.

"They stung us early and we couldn't recover," Sharks coach Ricky Stuart said.

Asked directly if Manly were the NRL benchmark, Hasler said: "Oh, no. No, no, no."

Rodney Rude gets less laughs.

"I think we're a better team overall than last year," Sea Eagles captain Matt Orford said.

Glenn Stewart ended up with a double. Orford ended up with a hobble. He limped off with 15 minutes left but later claimed to be OK.

Hasler spent the game in a glass box next to the journalists. There were occasions when watching Hasler was more entertaining than the war that never was.

The man rides every minute. He cares a great deal. Brilliant. Manly wake this morning on top of the ladder, if not the world.

 

[Berkeley_Eagle]

Sharks the only casualties but don't mention the war

Will Swanton | July 13, 2008
http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/lhqmatchre...5658204478.html

DES HASLER stayed quiet, but Paul Gallen squealed.

 

[Matabele]

[quote author=Berkeley_Eagle link=topic=177853.msg189736#msg189736 date=1215899079]
Sharks the only casualties but don't mention the war

Will Swanton | July 13, 2008
http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/lhqmatchre...5658204478.html

DES HASLER stayed quiet, but Paul Gallen squealed.

[/quote]

Bird must have grabbed his wheels again.

 

[Berkeley_Eagle]

Sea Eagles feast on Shark fin soup

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,...14,00.htmlJuly 12, 2008
MANLY moved into the outright competition lead and sent an ominous warning to their NRL rivals with a 34-6 thrashing of Cronulla in their top-of-the table clash at Toyota Stadium.
A game expected to be a tight, low-scoring affair was anything but as the Sea Eagles made their co-competition leaders look more like wooden spoon contenders for most of the match.

Manly ran in six tries to one in front of more than 18,000 fans to move two points clear of the Sharks and Sydney Roosters after the Roosters' shock loss to Gold Coast on Friday night.

Backrower Glenn Stewart scored a double while Matt Ballin, Josh Perry, Brett Stewart and Michael Robertson also scored tries.

The result extended Des Hasler's side's winning streak to six matches and ended Cronulla's five-game winning run.

A perfect first-half for Manly, in which they did not make a single error, saw them race to a 22-0 lead, with a try to Sharks captain Paul Gallen just before the break making it 22-6 at halftime and giving his side some hope.

But the home side was unable to get into the game and Manly scored two more tries in the second half to complete the rout and reaffirm their status as one of the teams to beat in 2008.

Ballin and Perry had crashed over from close range for four-pointers in the first half while Brett Stewart finished a fine backline move to score his 11th try of the season.

Manly drew further ahead in the 53rd minute when Robertson pounced on a Steve Matai grubber and Jamie Lyon converted from the sideline.

Glenn Stewart showed great strength to seal the first double of his career in the 60th minute and while the Sharks at least enjoyed better field position late in the match, they were never able to turn it into more points.

The Sea Eagles came out defending ferociously, with Matai, Orford and Glenn Stewart all pulling off huge hits on Sharks full-back Brett Seymour in the first half.

Matai was impressive, just a week after he was hospitalised with a bruised lung suffered against the Titans, while halves Orford and Lyon were instrumental.
Hasler was thrilled with his side's performance, particularly in the first half.

"I've got to give our boys a huge rap," Hasler said.

"It's a daunting place to come to... and I just thought our opening 40 minutes, - we completed 20 from 20 (sets) - it was very disciplined, very sharp and we stuck to the match plan and were very clinical.

"It really set it up for us."

But Hasler wouldn't buy into the suggestion his side was the benchmark of the competition.

"Oh no, there's a few sides out there...we've got a tough month ahead ... ask me in a month," Hasler said, adding he wanted a huge crowd at next week's home clash with Parramatta.

Orford, who came off late in the match with a corked leg, said he believed the Sea Eagles were a stronger side than they were last year, when they lost to Melbourne in the grand final.

"I think we are a better team overall," Orford said.

"I think we're more experienced for what we achieved last year.

"There's still areas of our game we can work on and get better but I think as a complete unit we're just really enjoying our football... and everybody's playing their part.

Sharks skipper Paul Gallen described Manly as the best side he had played this year while coach Ricky Stuart labelled his side's performance uncharacteristic.

"We're a better footy team than that," Stuart said.

"We're not where we are by any fluke so we'll jump back on the horse and start again on Monday."


AAP

 

[Jethro]

at your emoticon BE. I haven't seen it before & I like it.