Manly v Knights News reports

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Berkeley_Eagle

Current Status: 24/7 Manly Fan
Classy Lyon gives Newcastle the blues

Adrian Proszenko, Blue Tongue Stadium | June 29, 2008

Sea Eagles 28 Knights 12

If Jamie Lyon snubbed a Blues jersey to remain out of the spotlight, the plan backfired spectacularly.

All week, Lyon's motives have remained a mystery; they will remain so. The man who won the English Super League's Man of Steel award has been a man of silence.

Last night he finally made a statement, albeit on the football field. In what Knights coach Brian Smith described as his best game at five-eighth, the former Test centre produced a performance which NSW selectors would have preferred to see in Origin decider at ANZ Stadium rather than a "home" club game in Gosford.

Lyon scored a solo try and was a threat to an overmatched Knights defence, his passing, running and kicking game ensuring the Sea Eagles retained the competition lead.

The centre-cum-pivot again created more heartache for Knights coach Brian Smith, his mentor at Parramatta before he walked out on the club.

"I liked his no-look pass - he did about 10 of them," Smith said. "It was a very effective little play. He's a smart player."

The big beneficiaries of Lyon's Origin stance were Joel Monaghan and the Sea Eagles. They were stretched in the first half and even trailed by two points at the half-hour mark. But it all went pear-shaped for the Knights in the second half. When Lyon steamed onto a Matt Orford pass to score in the 57th minute the game was effectively over.

Prop Brent Kite caught Jarrod Mullen with what referee Shayne Hayne described as a "reflex" high shot in the 25th minute, but was placed on report nonetheless. Lock Luke Williamson will have scans on a suspected fractured cheekbone.

MANLY 28 (S Bell J Lyon S Matai A Watmough D Williams tries M Orford 4 goals) bt NEWCASTLE 12 (J McManus 2 C Vuna tries) at Bluetongue Stadium. Referee: S Hayne. Crowd: 13,798\



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Gallant Knights bitten by Lyon

By David Riccio | June 29, 2008
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/sport/nrl/story/0,26799,23939416-5006066,00.html

JAMIE Lyon last night didn't feel the need to explain his decision to knock back NSW Origin coach Craig Bellamy - instead he let his performance do the talking.

Beaten Newcastle coach Brian Smith said it was "the best I've seen him play at five-eighth'' after Lyon played a key role in the Manly victory.

The Sea Eagles were too powerful for a Newcastle side lacking the class of NSW Origin players Danny Buderus, Ben Cross and Kurt Gidley.

"He's a smart player, very talented,'' Smith said of Lyon.

"He's a bit different in regards to his take on the world, but there's no rule we have to be the same, is there?''

Lyon was at the centre of a storm last week after it was revealed he told Bellamy he wasn't interested in playing representative football.

Claiming his passion lay with Manly, Lyon put that commitment on show by setting up a try after four minutes before scoring his own - the 50th of his career.
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Lyon was kept from the media after the match, with Manly chief executive Grant Mayer claiming the week had no ill-effects on their star five-eighth.

"That was the best thing, he couldn't have cared less,'' Mayer said.

Lyon's passing and combination with Matt Orford allowed Manly's speed men to dominate the Newcastle defence, with first-half tries to David Williams and Steve Matai setting the platform for the victory.

"I think we got beaten by a team who play things simple, make things look easy and do it repeatedly over and over again. And they do it well,'' Smith said.

Manly coach Des Hasler revealed he was nervous ahead of the match.

"Without their three Origin players, I thought they were going to be a real nuisance value for the side,'' Hasler said.

"We probably just weren't disciplined enough with the ball. But we got the two points and it was critical we got the two points and we're slowly building.''

The only black mark for Manly was Brent Kite finishing on report in the 24th minute for a high tackle and Luke Williamson suffering a suspected fractured cheekbone. (OUT FOR 6 WEEKS)

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