Berkeley_Eagle
Current Status: 24/7 Manly Fan
Freddie's forecast
Jason Avedissian
22 July 2008
http://manlydaily.com.au/article/2008/07/22/11197_sports.html
THE injury savaged Sea Eagles received the ultimate compliment last night with two-time premiership winner Brad Fittler declaring the NRL front-runners are: "the best team in the comp".
The mind games began early ahead of Sunday's clash between Manly and the Roosters at the Sydney Football Stadium with Fittler in a generous mood when asked about the Sea Eagles credentials.
Fittler, a grand final winner at Penrith and his current club, said the table-topping Sea Eagles deserve premiership favouritism.
"They're the best team in the comp at the moment," he said yesterday.
"It's a great test for us against the best side.
"They're just wearing sides down and they seem pretty hard to crack."
The compliments from Bondi will do little to alleviate the pain at Brookvale with prop Jason King (ankle) and five-eighth Jamie Lyon (knee) both battling to be fit before the finals.
King received good news yesterday when scans cleared him of a fractured ankle after coming off in the 20th minute during Friday night's epic 28-10 win over the Eels at Brookvale Oval. The Belrose junior faces an uphill battle to return from ankle ligament damage this year.
Lyon will also have some time on the sidelines, gone for up to six weeks with medial ligament damage to his knee.
Departing backrower Steve Menzies is expected to be thrown the No. 6 jumper after doing an admirable job in Lyon's absence on Friday night.
Prop Mark Bryant (leg) should return on the bench against the Roosters after missing the win over Parramatta, while half and captain Matt Orford (thigh/groin) will be monitored during the week.
Manly have amassed 98 points and not conceded a point in their previous two encounters against the Roosters.
Fittler said the latest 42-0 loss, suffered by the Roosters during the Origin period this year, has not been forgotten.
"They can make a team that's tried their best look pretty ordinary," he said.
A fact the Eels - who dished up very little on Friday night - know all about.
Manly's Toyota Cup team scored a healthy 26-8 win over the Eels on Friday afternoon.
Jason Avedissian
22 July 2008
http://manlydaily.com.au/article/2008/07/22/11197_sports.html
THE injury savaged Sea Eagles received the ultimate compliment last night with two-time premiership winner Brad Fittler declaring the NRL front-runners are: "the best team in the comp".
The mind games began early ahead of Sunday's clash between Manly and the Roosters at the Sydney Football Stadium with Fittler in a generous mood when asked about the Sea Eagles credentials.
Fittler, a grand final winner at Penrith and his current club, said the table-topping Sea Eagles deserve premiership favouritism.
"They're the best team in the comp at the moment," he said yesterday.
"It's a great test for us against the best side.
"They're just wearing sides down and they seem pretty hard to crack."
The compliments from Bondi will do little to alleviate the pain at Brookvale with prop Jason King (ankle) and five-eighth Jamie Lyon (knee) both battling to be fit before the finals.
King received good news yesterday when scans cleared him of a fractured ankle after coming off in the 20th minute during Friday night's epic 28-10 win over the Eels at Brookvale Oval. The Belrose junior faces an uphill battle to return from ankle ligament damage this year.
Lyon will also have some time on the sidelines, gone for up to six weeks with medial ligament damage to his knee.
Departing backrower Steve Menzies is expected to be thrown the No. 6 jumper after doing an admirable job in Lyon's absence on Friday night.
Prop Mark Bryant (leg) should return on the bench against the Roosters after missing the win over Parramatta, while half and captain Matt Orford (thigh/groin) will be monitored during the week.
Manly have amassed 98 points and not conceded a point in their previous two encounters against the Roosters.
Fittler said the latest 42-0 loss, suffered by the Roosters during the Origin period this year, has not been forgotten.
"They can make a team that's tried their best look pretty ordinary," he said.
A fact the Eels - who dished up very little on Friday night - know all about.
Manly's Toyota Cup team scored a healthy 26-8 win over the Eels on Friday afternoon.
