maxta
First Grader
Though a mediocre opposition at best in Illawarra, there was a pleasing factor in both this game & the week before against Cows....
Illawarra made a break first set of 6, but were contained by enthusiastic cover & only recall them getting anywhere near Manly's line 1-2 times after that in the first half, as the Seaeagles dominated field position.
Then as usual when Manly got into the Illawarra red zone, struggled to score points & in recent times, have conceded soon after being frustrated & lost belief....attitude dips then defensively seem to fall apart....not this time, battered away until the door slammed open & put on an avalanche of first half points after being only 2-0 for over 20 minutes raced to a 20 plus point HT advantage.
Similar against the Cows, though different circumstances - the Cows raced out to a solid lead & had every reason to run away & win by 50 points, but Manly kept heads up - toughed out the game & were unlucky to lose in the end after actually capturing the lead.
These 2 games showed plenty of character building moments & the attitude is a massive shift to what we have seen in 2016.
The forwards are running with purpose - players pushing up in support - offloads & second phase play - defensively working for each other, not just individually - prepared to fight to earn some footy, even the ugly hit ups coming off the line with willing runners & a key thing in footy....the players are starting to understand their roles in the team & same time , playing to the strengths of their team mates as they are finally building combinations as a unit.
Not prepared to jump the gun as yet, but these past 2 games have left a far more positive feeling around the club, supporters & most importantly - the players....
Illawarra made a break first set of 6, but were contained by enthusiastic cover & only recall them getting anywhere near Manly's line 1-2 times after that in the first half, as the Seaeagles dominated field position.
Then as usual when Manly got into the Illawarra red zone, struggled to score points & in recent times, have conceded soon after being frustrated & lost belief....attitude dips then defensively seem to fall apart....not this time, battered away until the door slammed open & put on an avalanche of first half points after being only 2-0 for over 20 minutes raced to a 20 plus point HT advantage.
Similar against the Cows, though different circumstances - the Cows raced out to a solid lead & had every reason to run away & win by 50 points, but Manly kept heads up - toughed out the game & were unlucky to lose in the end after actually capturing the lead.
These 2 games showed plenty of character building moments & the attitude is a massive shift to what we have seen in 2016.
The forwards are running with purpose - players pushing up in support - offloads & second phase play - defensively working for each other, not just individually - prepared to fight to earn some footy, even the ugly hit ups coming off the line with willing runners & a key thing in footy....the players are starting to understand their roles in the team & same time , playing to the strengths of their team mates as they are finally building combinations as a unit.
Not prepared to jump the gun as yet, but these past 2 games have left a far more positive feeling around the club, supporters & most importantly - the players....
