Man of Steel warns tough game ahead

Berkeley_Eagle

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Man of Steel warns tough game ahead

    * sport
          o Rugby League

13 Feb 09 @ 03:00pm by PETER PETERS
http://manly-daily.whereilive.com.au/sport/story/man-of-steel-warns-tough-game-ahead/

ENGLISH fans can’t wait to see Manly’s brilliant young champion team against Leeds in the World Club Challenge but revolutionary coach Des Hasler is attracting as much interest as his players.

Hasler will conduct a coaching seminar in Leeds and coaches of all ages are coming from all parts of Yorkshire, Lancashire and Cumbria to soak up his thoughts.

Seminar organiser David Howes says there is a touch of mystique about Hasler.

“Keen students here remember him as a wholehearted player but they marvel at the job he has done in rebuilding the Sea Eagles back to a major force in the game,” Howes said.

“There is a lot of interest in his methods and we are getting lots of calls for the seminar.”

The Sea Eagles leave for the United Kingdom on Sunday evening and Hasler has the team’s first training and media session set down for Tuesday morning in London.

Of the touring party only Jamie Lyon has had the experience of playing in England.

Lyon, a former winner of the Man of Steel prize as the best player in the English Super League, is in great demand to attend functions back in his former English home town of St Helens.

Lyon has warned his teammates to expect an enormous battle in the Carnegie World Club Challenge clash with Leeds next Monday morning.

“They are a very talented and tough side who will relish playing us in front of a parochial home crowd,” he said.

“We have to be patient and not fall into playing them at their own game.

“If we do that, we will struggle.

“The two weeks preparation in English conditions will be vital to us and if we work hard - as I know we will in that period - then we can give this game a real shake.

“They have a big pack and some smart backs. Leeds are consistently one of the gun teams in England and their fans are loud in their support of the side at Elland Road.

“Our young blokes will know they are in a game of football of real intensity.”

Manly have taken a totally professional approach to the challenge.

The team will make the long haul in business class and coach Hasler has tried to match the training as close as possible to what he would do on a weekly basis at the Sydney Academy of Sport headquarters for the team.

But he has directed his training since last November not just for the English challenge but also for the start of the Telstra Cup defence, starting on March 14 against the new look Bulldogs at Telstra Stadium.

SICK of summer and cricket and missing your league? Then get down to Brookvale Oval this afternoon for the start of the time honoured Harold Matthews and SG Ball Cup competitions.

The young Sea Eagles play Western Sydney Academy of Sport in Harold Matthews (4pm) and SG Ball (5.30pm) in round one competition matches while the Sea Eagles’ under-20s will have a trial against the Bulldogs at 7pm.

The three games of football featuring the stars of the future will set you back just $3.

FOR years now the Sea Eagles have been shunned in the season preview highlights to promote the upcoming competition.

There have been times when you had to watch the advertisement a few times to even catch a glimpse of maroon and white.

Not so any more with the 2009 television advertisement to be launched in a few weeks starring none other than Brett and Glenn Stewart.

The brothers represent the right image for the game and have featured heavily in the soon to be screened ad to kick off the new season.

And the brothers will step off the plane from England in a few weeks time and be whisked off to the season launch of the NRL at the Domain in yet another salute for themselves and the Sea Eagles, its sponsors and supporters.

New Manly major sponsor Quantum Eco Hot Water are delighted at the exposure the club receives and were involved in a refreshingly open media conference yesterday to name the touring team.
 

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