https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/s...s/news-story/cfe25dbb5aa8b14bd246d251781d87f6
Sea Eagles face horror seven week stretch as they aim to avoid first wooden
IT will be seven weeks on the highway to hell.
And the road could lead to the unthinkable for Manly fans, their first wooden spoon in 71 years.
The Sea Eagles’ decision to take home games to Queensland and New Zealand may be financially attractive, but it has left the football team facing a horror draw.
After five straight losses, nomadic Manly will travel nearly 10,000 kilometres over the next seven weeks, searching for a much-needed win.
Here is the club’s frightening string of road trips:
Rd 10: v Broncos, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane.
Rd 11: v Storm, AAMI Park, Melbourne.
Rd 12: v Raiders, GIO Stadium, Canberra.
Rd 13: v North Queensland, Brookvale Oval, Sydney.
Rd 14: v Warriors, AMI, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Rd 15: v St George Illawarra, WIN Stadium, Wollongong.
Rd 16: v Penrith, Panthers
It actually started last week with a short, unsuccessful away visit to Allianz Stadium where they fell 22-20 to the Sydney Roosters.
Rather than view it as a negative, Manly assistant coach John Cartwright hopes the away journeys will bring his side closer together.
“In the past, when we have had some tough times, we have really appreciated the time away from Sydney and being on the road,” Cartwright said.
“There was a stage where our away form was better than our home form. That’s what we’re banking on heading into this tough time on the road.
“We think the time together, the time away from the Sydney spotlight, it can mould us as it has in previous years. We hope that will happen again.”
The Sea Eagles have just two wins this season and, unless there is a significant turnaround in form, are unlikely to start favourites in any of their upcoming matches.
That will severely test the Sea Eagles’ amazing ability to avoid the wooden spoon since they joined the competition in 1947.
The TAB have the Gold Coast as $3.75 wooden spoon favourites ahead of Canterbury at $4. Manly are third favourites in the most losses market at $4.25.
It seems amazing that a team who beat Parramatta 54-0 in round two could be in this predicament.
“Manly was rated $23 to win the premiership before a ball was kicked, but have blown out to $101 after losing five in a row,” TAB’s Matt Jenkins said.
“Sitting equal last on two wins with the Eels and Bulldogs, only the Titans are longer odds to win the competition.
“Many had them included to make the final eight but that looks highly unlikely and they have blown from $1.75 to $6 to be playing finals football. Their upcoming draw looks very tough and finishing last is starting to look a real chance.
“The only game in the next two months they might start favourite in is against a Dragons outfit depleted due to representative duties in round 15. The Sea Eagles have been $31 into $4.25 in the ‘most losses’ market.”
Manly coach Trent Barrett is desperately trying to keep his side’s season together.
Barrett is a good coach but has spent virtually the entire season dousing spot fires around his cub. Manly’s run over the next seven weeks with test the club’s spirit and resolve.
“We just need a win,” Barrett said.
Despite recording losses, the Sea Eagles have performed strongly in their past two games against Newcastle and the Roosters.
Sea Eagles face horror seven week stretch as they aim to avoid first wooden
IT will be seven weeks on the highway to hell.
And the road could lead to the unthinkable for Manly fans, their first wooden spoon in 71 years.
The Sea Eagles’ decision to take home games to Queensland and New Zealand may be financially attractive, but it has left the football team facing a horror draw.
After five straight losses, nomadic Manly will travel nearly 10,000 kilometres over the next seven weeks, searching for a much-needed win.
Here is the club’s frightening string of road trips:
Rd 10: v Broncos, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane.
Rd 11: v Storm, AAMI Park, Melbourne.
Rd 12: v Raiders, GIO Stadium, Canberra.
Rd 13: v North Queensland, Brookvale Oval, Sydney.
Rd 14: v Warriors, AMI, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Rd 15: v St George Illawarra, WIN Stadium, Wollongong.
Rd 16: v Penrith, Panthers
It actually started last week with a short, unsuccessful away visit to Allianz Stadium where they fell 22-20 to the Sydney Roosters.
Rather than view it as a negative, Manly assistant coach John Cartwright hopes the away journeys will bring his side closer together.
“In the past, when we have had some tough times, we have really appreciated the time away from Sydney and being on the road,” Cartwright said.
“There was a stage where our away form was better than our home form. That’s what we’re banking on heading into this tough time on the road.
“We think the time together, the time away from the Sydney spotlight, it can mould us as it has in previous years. We hope that will happen again.”
The Sea Eagles have just two wins this season and, unless there is a significant turnaround in form, are unlikely to start favourites in any of their upcoming matches.
That will severely test the Sea Eagles’ amazing ability to avoid the wooden spoon since they joined the competition in 1947.
The TAB have the Gold Coast as $3.75 wooden spoon favourites ahead of Canterbury at $4. Manly are third favourites in the most losses market at $4.25.
It seems amazing that a team who beat Parramatta 54-0 in round two could be in this predicament.
“Manly was rated $23 to win the premiership before a ball was kicked, but have blown out to $101 after losing five in a row,” TAB’s Matt Jenkins said.
“Sitting equal last on two wins with the Eels and Bulldogs, only the Titans are longer odds to win the competition.
“Many had them included to make the final eight but that looks highly unlikely and they have blown from $1.75 to $6 to be playing finals football. Their upcoming draw looks very tough and finishing last is starting to look a real chance.
“The only game in the next two months they might start favourite in is against a Dragons outfit depleted due to representative duties in round 15. The Sea Eagles have been $31 into $4.25 in the ‘most losses’ market.”
Manly coach Trent Barrett is desperately trying to keep his side’s season together.
Barrett is a good coach but has spent virtually the entire season dousing spot fires around his cub. Manly’s run over the next seven weeks with test the club’s spirit and resolve.
“We just need a win,” Barrett said.
Despite recording losses, the Sea Eagles have performed strongly in their past two games against Newcastle and the Roosters.
makes sense we now have to play top 8 teams from last year.
