Raiders `don't scare us' PDF Print E-mail
Written by Daniel   
Sunday, 09 January 2005 10:00
ADAM LUCIUS
02sep05 .


[b]MANLY captain Michael Monaghan believes the Sea Eagles will not only reach the finals but can make rugby league history by becoming the first team to win a play-off game from eighth spot. [/b]

The peninsula side will limp into eighth position with victory over Canberra at Canberra Stadium tomorrow night.

That would then set up a meeting with the minor premiers - either Parramatta, Brisbane or St George Illawarra - in the first week of the finals.


The eighth-placed team has yet to knock over the top-ranked side since the McIntyre finals system was introduced in 1999.

But Monaghan insists the feat is not beyond the Sea Eagles should they get that far.

"I think we can do something special if we make it to the finals," he said yesterday before the team left for Canberra.

"We're not scared about that (playing the minor premiers). We've probably performed better against the top-class teams and struggled against teams out of the eight, so coming up against the number one ranked isn't something we're worried about.

"But we've got to get through this game against Canberra first - if we do that we'll start to look forward." Manly left for Canberra yesterday afternoon and will go into a two-day camp ahead of their most vital match of the season.

Monaghan described the atmosphere at Brookvale as a mixture of excitement and tension as the club moves in on its first finals appearance since 1998.

"We probably let go a strong position we had midway through the year but at the end of the day we win this game and we're in," he said. "While it's disappointing we've got to wait until the last round to make it, a Manly side hasn't played in the finals for seven years and it will be a big moment for the club if we do get there. But Canberra are a dangerous team and one that's been hard to put away all year and we're going to have to play our best football to come up with a win."