Manly vow to bring the tough stuff

[BOZO]

Manly front-rower Josh Starling has vowed that the toughness Sea Eagles teams have become renowned for over the past decade will be back on show against the Bulldogs on Friday night after a disappointing loss to the Broncos last Sunday.
The 26-point defeat was the side's biggest since they were trounced 40-12 by Melbourne in the 2012 Preliminary Final in a game where everything that could go wrong, did go wrong
The surrender to the Broncos last week was more reminiscent of the 16-point defeat suffered at the hands of the Wests Tigers in Round 5 and Starling conceded that it was a worrying sign nearing the halfway point of the season.
The Sea Eagles were without Daly Cherry-Evans, Anthony Watmough and Glenn Stewart for the game against Brisbane but even with their stars missing Starling said it was an uncharacteristic Manly performance and one they are eager to rectify.
"We don't want that to happen ever again. There's a good reputation here and being a new guy as well you have to try and keep that going," Starling told NRL.com.
"It's more a standard of being tough. They've got a good reputation around the comp of being a tough forward pack and we do get reminded of it. We shouldn't have to be told but sometimes they have to kick us up the arse and remind us that this is a tough team and you've got to pull your weight otherwise you're not going to be playing.
"It was just one of those days. We had one of those against the Tigers but we've got to start cutting that stuff out because if you do it at the wrong end of the year it's going to cost you."
The Broncos made almost 400 more metres than the Sea Eagles on Sunday and a menacing Bulldogs forward pack chomping at the bit after a week off presents arguably the sternest forward test in the competition in 2014.
In terms of total metres from hit-ups thus far this season the Bulldogs are ranked No.1 in the competition with a total of 9007 metres while the Sea Eagles – who sit just two points behind Canterbury on the competition table – are last with a total of 5420 hit-up metres
Bulldogs props Aiden Tolman (1549m) and James Graham (1447m) rank first and third respectively in the NRL for total hit-up metres through 12 rounds and Starling knows that with or without Watmough, the Sea Eagles big men have to make a stand.
"They've made a big statement this year saying that last year they were a bit down but this year they're back again and they're going to be a lot tougher this week so we've got to step it up again," said the 24-year-old of this week's opposition.
"They're making a lot of metres and bruising a lot of teams and just grinding teams into the ground with a lot of one-point wins and that comes a lot from their forward pack. Guys like James Graham and Aiden Tolman who just keep going forward and going forward and we have to find a way to stop that, especially with their big edges and the halves they have
"We're pretty comfortable with our [defensive] spaces but we've just got to toughen up. We've just got to put our body on the line and get in front of those blokes and try and slow that ruck down a little bit so they can't get that roll."
Since making the move across to the northern beaches from South Sydney during the off-season Starling has appeared in all 11 games for the Sea Eagles in 2014 and is embracing the unofficial club motto of, 'Nobody likes us and we don't care.'
Starling's late grandfather Ron and father Kevin were both mad Rabbitohs fans so while his mother has quickly become a convert, winning over the old man is proving a more difficult task.
"Mum always follows wherever I go so she's a Manly fan," Starling said. "She doesn't have too much loyalty, only to me. Dad's getting there. He wants a [Manly] jersey now; I haven't seen him in a Souths hat for a while so he's getting there.
"My dad and my grandfather were Souths fans and they gave it to me when I was younger so I was happy to play for Souths but it's my job now so I can't really have a loyalty only for one club.
"[My grandfather] passed away just before I debuted so unfortunately he didn't get to see me play but he's always watching me I think.
"To stick by us there's plenty of suffering the fans have got to cop from people week in and week out at work. We love our fans and there at 'Brookie' we've got a group of fans who travel to every game as well.
"We didn't do them a big favour putting in this performance [against Brisbane] but we're definitely going to back it up at Brookie where we are trying to make it a fortress again."

 

[Ryan]

It's nice to read an article that discusses actual football, and not who is going to desert us one way or another for a change.

Starling is right though, there's needs to be a marked improvement. not just on The Tigers and Bronco's thrashing's we copped, but on the whole season, where we are dead last in metres gained in the forwards.

I don't care who's injured to be honest, mainly because I think our depth is amazing despite what some people here say. I think it comes down to two things:-

1. Attitude
2. Game plan

It looks like at times we are devoid of both these elements. Even against The Knights at Brookvale. The better team lost that night.

Here's the thing, Taufua is the perfect example. When he 1st made the grade, he played head up, showed emotion, and played with passion, including the play the ball. Now, it appears he is playing with his head down, slow play the balls, passionless and slow (and we all know the class is in there).

A lot of the polynesian's get into this routine. I remember how frustrating it was when Tony Williams played like that.

Across the board at the playing group level, there needs to be a complete shift in attitude (as Starling alluded to above - him included). No more bull**** in the media from players. No more bull**** in the media from player managers. The players aren't entitled, they need to work for it like Starling hinted at, and as he said, if not, go find a job doing something else.

And that's not just to the new recruits either. I'm completely unhappy with the attitudes of Watmough, Matai, Foran, G Stewart and others who have publicly soiled on the club that made them the players they are today.

I'm also pissed off at the club for various reasons, but the main reason is allowing these wounds to fester, and do nothing about it. Who is our present media manager? Do we have one? They are shocking ! The players need to be hauled into an office, and a straight question about their direction in career needs to be asked. Has Toovey lost the playing group?

I say the above, because despite the players we have injured, we are still full of class and skill.

 

[susan]

I have no doubt the attitude will be a lot better.5 day turnaround against the best pack in the comp coming fresh off the bye is a huge issue but may be offset a lot by our better all round backline. 50 50 bet this one(assuming Choc and DCE play)

 

[RiverEagle]

And for the last time @Ryan

Show us, or at least me, exactly where Choc, Matai, Gift and especially Foz an have publicly '' soiled'' the club?

I mean factual, actual quotes or interviews, the same as the one above from Starling.

Not paper-talk or radio talk-back based on rumour and innuendo mate...anonymous sources and so on.

I must be watching a different competition to you as well.
We can't be anywhere near as bad as you claim to be sitting 3rd, having beaten the Routers and South's, and almost beating the Scum twice too.
That fact alone shows you that the pure ''metres gained stat'' is not that crucial or defining for success.

I feel for you, to be this upset (one wonders why you bother to follow any team as bad as you see them) but I really don't see it all in the same light as you.

I'd hate to be you mate if we do lose a few or even miss the 8 from here.....but that won't happen. And we are better off than 13 other sides, since you put so much faith in stats mate, look at the competition table...that's the stat that matters most!

Good interview with Josh...Hope he does fire up on Friday and prove you ''experts'' wrong.

 

[RiverEagle]

And for the last time @Ryan

Show us, or at least me, exactly where Choc, Matai, Gift and especially Foz have publicly '' soiled'' the club?

Please!

I mean factual, actual quotes or interviews, the same as the one above from Starling.

Not paper-talk or radio talk-back based on rumour and innuendo mate...anonymous sources and so on.

I must be watching a different competition to you as well.
We can't be anywhere near as bad as you claim to be sitting 3rd, having beaten the Rorters and Souths, and almost beating the Scum twice too.
That fact alone shows you that the pure ''metres gained stat'' is not that crucial or defining for success.

I feel for you, to be this upset (one wonders why you bother to follow any team as bad as you see them) but I really don't see it all in the same light as you.

I'd hate to be you mate if we do lose a few or even miss the 8 from here.....but that won't happen. And we are better off than 13 other sides, since you put so much faith in stats mate, look at the competition table...that's the stat that matters most!

Good interview with Josh...Hope he does fire up on Friday and prove you ''experts'' wrong.

 

[mickqld]

That is an alarming stat that we are last in hit up meters. It tells the story of a forward pack not putting in the hard yards first before we try to play wide. This has got to change, starting with Fri. BJ,Starling,Lui,King have got to get us a min. 10 meters each hit up. 10 hit ups each 100 m each with lightning fast play the balls. If they don't do that then we have no platform to play wide. Draw in and tire the dogs pack so Foz,DCE,Snake,Lyon can find the gaps.

 

[lsz]

In defense of Ryan (and contradicting myself from earlier in the week) I will say that it is not like the club has come out and said that the players do not want to leave (rather they have said they will not be allowed to leave)

 

[mozgrame]

I'm sure we will improve 10 fold from last week. I'm tipping Matai to have a blinder! Early prediction, Matai to run a total of 200m, 4 line breaks, 1 try assist and 2 tries for himself. Plenty of huge LEGAL hits too!!

 

[tookey]

Most important game for us this year.

 

[RiverEagle]

I'm sure we will improve 10 fold from last week. I'm tipping Matai to have a blinder! Early prediction, Matai to run a total of 200m, 4 line breaks, 1 try assist and 2 tries for himself. Plenty of huge LEGAL hits too!!

That's a bit better mate!

I feel like we're locked in the House of the Damned here this week.

FMD.

 

[mozgrame]

I'm sure we will improve 10 fold from last week. I'm tipping Matai to have a blinder! Early prediction, Matai to run a total of 200m, 4 line breaks, 1 try assist and 2 tries for himself. Plenty of huge LEGAL hits too!!

That's a bit better mate!

I feel like we're locked in the House of the Damned here this week.

FMD.

I'll add to it too. I think kingy would have felt the burn of that loss and will be out to destroy on Friday night. Come on KINGDOG!! Show the young blokes how to intimidate and impose your will on a game. As Captain and elder Statesman of the forward pack, grab this game by the throat and throttle it!!!

 

[Fluffy]

if the forwards do not get to touch the ball how do they hit it up?

My point is that Ballin/DCE/Foz choose the plays not the forwards. They have chosen the plays for a reason.

Our number of hit ups is also right at the bottom, our metres per hit up is mid table.

 

[globaleagle]

Anyone know why kingy isn't starting yet? Still a bit injured?

 

[Killer03]

if the forwards do not get to touch the ball how do they hit it up?

My point is that Ballin/DCE/Foz choose the plays not the forwards. They have chosen the plays for a reason.

Our number of hit ups is also right at the bottom, our metres per hit up is mid table.

I think that's a good point Fluffy. And I do think (especially against the lower teams) we are tending to go wide too early. Whereas when we play the tougher teams (like the Dogs will be), we tend to roll the sleeves up and keep it simple.

 

[Shoe1]

if the forwards do not get to touch the ball how do they hit it up?

My point is that Ballin/DCE/Foz choose the plays not the forwards. They have chosen the plays for a reason.

Our number of hit ups is also right at the bottom, our metres per hit up is mid table.

I think that's a good point Fluffy. And I do think (especially against the lower teams) we are tending to go wide too early. Whereas when we play the tougher teams (like the Dogs will be), we tend to roll the sleeves up and keep it simple.

Yes, this has been really noticeable in recent rounds - going wide in poor field position on early tackles. We would have slaughtered the Knights if we had kept it rolling through the middle for a concerted period of time, THEN go wide.

Last week Jamie kept getting the ball before the forwards had done the hard yards.

 

[StuBoot]

That is an alarming stat that we are last in hit up meters. It tells the story of a forward pack not putting in the hard yards first before we try to play wide. This has got to change, starting with Fri. BJ,Starling,Lui,King have got to get us a min. 10 meters each hit up. 10 hit ups each 100 m each with lightning fast play the balls. If they don't do that then we have no platform to play wide. Draw in and tire the dogs pack so Foz,DCE,Snake,Lyon can find the gaps.

Stats, stats, stats..
Last in hit-up metres and the dogs first. That's their game plan and they don't hide that fact, same as Souths - that's their strengths.

What are our stats v theirs in running metres by the backs?

We go to our strength which is two of the best centres in the game with some pretty handy wingers not to mention a fullback with one of the best strike rates in history. Our 6 & 7 are reasonable too.
We quite often go wide on tackle 3 or 4 so that hit-up stat is softened somewhat.

We've effectively had two weeks off and the Dogs are coming off a smash up too v the Chooks without their strike centre and starting backrowers plus Maloney & Pearce didn't set the world on fire.

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

Stats pffffttt!!

The only stat I know is we are running ( in essence) equal 2nd, really only 3rd on F & A .

That my friends is a very nice stat!!

Thank Christ I'm largely away from the Internet at present , can't imagine what it must have been like on here on Sunday night and Monday.

Keep smiling guys, the sky has NOT fallen in.

 

[EagleFromMay1967]

Think we should keep it in the forwards for the first 15-20 this time. Play it hard, tight, then a quick bench rotation of two. But during all this tough stuff WE MUST hold the ball, complete sets and not give away ANY penalties.Controlled aggression. No one getting too excited. This has been a problem for us in some of these big games in recent years.

Wild Friday night's Donnybrookvale style is all very well only if you come out on top in the football department.

The backs can have the ball after the forwards have set the foundation. I don't wanna see Snake or JT being passed the ball until Ferris has already scored one !

 

[mozgrame]

I'm sure we will improve 10 fold from last week. I'm tipping Matai to have a blinder! Early prediction, Matai to run a total of 200m, 4 line breaks, 1 try assist and 2 tries for himself. Plenty of huge LEGAL hits too!!

 

[wombatgc]

After Sunday, and with an origin spot up for grabs... Jorge Taufua can go root a tree if he thinks that (non) performance was anywhere close to acceptable. Pull your finger out!!!