Manly's WCC news

[Berkeley_Eagle]

Lyon's heart misses a beat on UK arrival
Valkerie Mangnall
February 17, 2009 - 8:24AM
http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-sport/lyons-heart-misses-a-beat-on-uk-arrival-20090217-89ip.html

Jamie Lyon's heart skipped a beat when an old run-in with British immigration officials threatened to rear its head again when Manly flew into London for rugby league's World Club Challenge (WCC).
A problem with his visa paperwork when Lyon arrived to join Super League club St Helens in 2005 led to a lengthy hold-up at the airport that time.
And, despite the five-eighth having travelled to and from the UK subsequently, the incident apparently set off alarm bells as he attempted to enter the country on Monday.
A club spokesman said after a few tense moments the issue was resolved however, and Lyons was allowed through passport control.
"That was sorted out fairly quickly, for a while Jamie thought, `Oh no,'" he said.
The 23-man Sea Eagles squad flew business class and landed feeling fresh and alert for their warm-up match against London club Harlequins on Sunday ahead of their WCC clash with Leeds Rhinos at Elland Road on March 1.
"We're great ... the players went for a walk this afternoon to get their legs and they're looking forward to training tomorrow," the spokesman said.
Australian teams have struggled in the annual fixture, having won just two of the nine games since it became an annual event held in the UK in 2000. The Sydney Roosters were the last NRL team to win it, six years ago.
The cold, wet English winter conditions have often been blamed, and the Sea Eagles are determined to adapt quickly, hitting the training track on Tuesday morning (Tuesday night AEDT).
The match against Harlequins kicks off at 3pm Sunday (0200 Monday AEDT) at Twickenham Stoop in west London.
Test prop Brent Kite, on compassionate leave, is Manly's highest profile absentee from the tour, and star Parramatta signing Tony Williams is out injured.
New recruits Chris Bailey and Shane Rodney are in the squad, while backs Steve Matai and Brett Stewart are expected to play in the WCC clash after recovering from off-season surgery.
George Rose returns from his horrific broken leg suffered in 2007.

 

[Berkeley_Eagle]

Manly must ’win ugly’ to end Aussie WCC drought 
Sapa-AFP
http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/sports.aspx?ID=BD4A940385
SYDNEY - Manly back Jamie Lyon said the Sea Eagles must be prepared to "win ugly" if they are to break a six-year Australian drought in rugby league’s World Club Challenge.
Since the WCC became an annual event in England from 2000, Australian teams have won only two of the nine games with NRL champions Manly facing Super League title-holders Leeds Rhinos at Elland Road on March 1.
Lyon, who played two English seasons with St Helens in 2006 and 2007, believes the Sea Eagles’ approach has to be dictated by the wintry conditions with Manly coming from an Australian summer. "Australian teams have struggled over there, and the conditions come into it a lot," he told Monday’s Sydney Morning Herald before leaving with the team.
"We’ve been trying to adapt to the conditions, and we’ll train a lot in the conditions over there. "Playing a warm-up game against another Super League team (Harlequins) will be a big help. It will provide a taste of the conditions for the guys who are wondering what it’s like to play over there.
"We have to be prepared to get into an arm-wrestle, shorten our passes up and limit our mistakes. "You can’t go out and try to throw long balls all day and play an expansive game. It’ll probably be zero degrees and water everywhere, and you’ve got to adapt to that." Lyon said Manly’s defence has to be at its best to withstand constant pressure from the Rhinos before their home fans.
"We have to be prepared to win ugly. If it has to be about nitty-gritty, and not being pretty, then that’s how we’ll be." The Sydney Roosters were the last Australian winners beating St Helens in Bolton in 2003, while Leeds downed Melbourne 11-4 in last year’s match at Elland Road.

 

[Berkeley_Eagle]

http://www.manlyseaeagles.com.au/message-board-detail.asp?mbid=119031&s=0#


BBC London will be carrying full commentary of the Harlequins RL v Manly Sea Eagles game (2:00am Sunday Sydney Time)

It'll be available on their website. There will be a direct link coming in the next couple of days but the generic link for their website is: www.bbc.co.uk/london





From our guys in the UK

Here's the link for the "listen live" stream from BBC London 94.9
http://www.bbc.co.uk/england/realmedia/live/localradio/london.ram

The two programs your fans may be interested in is our Wednesday night preview programme: 9-10pm GMT (about 6am your time) but you can listen again to it on this link:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0022sx8

And on Sunday 22nd February, we're presenting our entire sports show from the Twickenham Stoop. It airs from 2pm to 6pm and will carry commentary of the game.

If any fans want to email before the Wednesday program, we'll read those out [email protected] in our preview.
And they can use the same address to get in touch with the program on match day.

 

[Berkeley_Eagle]

Harlequins RL are honing their preparations to face the Manly Sea Eagles in the forthcoming London Rugby League Challenge (Sun 22nd Feb) and say they can't wait to pit their wits against the Australian NRL champions.
The Quins play the Sea Eagles on Sunday week in an attractive looking fixture at the Twickenham Stoop that whets the appetite perfectly for the Carnegie World Club Challenge a week later.
It’s a match that offers the engage Super League team a great opportunity to show to the Rugby League world that they are a top quality outfit.
And the exciting nature of that opportunity is not lost on Head Coach Brian McDermott who is relishing the clash.
You rarely get the chance to pit yourself against the best and whilst we hope that Leeds can do the job and come out as World Club Champions the week after, this is a chance for us to have a crack at the Aussies first and maybe soften them up a bit for the Leeds boys”, he said.
“If we do a good job against Manly, then you could read many things into it. People will say that there’s a team that didn’t finish in the [Super League] play-offs last year and they’ve beaten or performed really well against the NRL champions! We are getting the chance to have a crack at the best and whatever the sport and whatever walk of life you are in, that’s something you want to do”.
And McDermott has also revealed that his squad have been focussing on their own play rather than using Quins’ former Manly player Luke Williamson to analyse their Aussie opponents.
“Rugby League games are not won by one player and I think his tip is for us to score more tries than them!!”, joked McDermott.
“Luke himself is really looking forward to this fixture though. He’s in Harlequins Rugby League colours now and he‘s pretty full on about the game. He certainly wants us to do as well as he can”.
Meanwhile, Quins’ England forward Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook has revealed he is also straining at the leash to face the Aussie team and prove his worth against antipodean opponents.
“I really can’t wait to play against Manly Sea Eagles”, he enthused. “It’s something new for me. I’ve played against Australian teams on an amateur tour but this is certainly something to look forward to. Hopefully we’ll give them and great game”.
Tickets for the Carnegie World Club Challenge between Leeds Rhinos and Manly Sea Eagles are also selling fast but are still available.
The match takes place at Elland Road Stadium, Leeds on Sunday March 1st (ko 6pm)
Prices start at just £20 (with £10 for concessions).
They can be purchased from the RFL Ticket Office on 0871 226 13 13 or click

from Leeds Rhinos website\
http://www.therhinos.co.uk/home.php

 

[Berkeley_Eagle]

Sea Eagles prop George Rose misses training due to illness

  February 18, 2009
ILLNESS has forced Manly prop George Rose out of the Sea Eagles' first UK training session ahead of Sunday's World Club Challenge (WCC) warm-up match against Harlequins.Coach Des Hasler said Rose was expected to recover in time for the match against the London-based side ahead of the WCC clash with Super League champions Leeds Rhinos on March 1.

“He's just got a little bit of a virus so he'll be OK Sunday,” Hasler told AAP.

Rose is continuing his comeback to the top flight after breaking his leg in a sickening injury suffered in a tackle during round 11 of the 2007 NRL season against Melbourne.

Hasler presided over a lively training session in west London just over 24 hours after the NRL premiers arrived in the UK.

“It's just a chance to loosen up and get their limbs moving,” he said.

Hasler will use the match against `Quins to trial two sides from his 23-man squad, one in each half, before they travel north to Leeds to face the defending WCC champions at Elland Road.

AAP

 

[Matabele]

Apparently the 7 Board members are all UK-bound for the WCC games.  Let's trust they're able to resolve any issues they have on the trip and come back to provide a genuine united front. 

 

[Berkeley_Eagle]

Manly ready to buck the trend
http://rugbyleaguelive.com/Articles/4015/2009/02/18/Manly_ready_to_buck_the_trend.aspx




Jamie Lyon believes many Manly players are in the shape of their lives as they prepare to take on Leeds Rhinos in the World Club Challenge (WCC).

Excuses were in short supply and motivation abounded on Tuesday as the Sea Eagles embarked on the crucial phase of their lead-up to the clash between the NRL premiers and the Super League champions at Elland Road on March 1.

"We've had a good off-season and a lot of the boys are in the best condition that they've ever been," said Lyon, who spent two seasons with Super League club St Helens in 2005-06.

"Things are shaping up pretty well."

Just a day after arriving in London, the Sea Eagles had a lively hit-out in positively balmy conditions compared to the freezing temperatures that led to heavy snowfalls in the capital earlier this month.

So the bitter weather conditions often blamed for Australian sides managing to win the WCC just twice since 2000 could turn out not to be a factor.

A strong pre-season and two weeks' preparation in the UK, including a trial against London Super League club Harleqins on Sunday, should stand the Sea Eagles in good stead against defending WCC champions Leeds.

And the chance to become the first NRL team to win the trophy since the Sydney Roosters six years ago is enticing to coach Des Hasler.

"We're taking it very seriously," Hasler said.

 

[Berkeley_Eagle]

Sea Eagles prop George Rose misses training due to illness

February 18, 2009http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,25071851-23214,00.html

ILLNESS has forced Manly prop George Rose out of the Sea Eagles' first UK training session ahead of Sunday's World Club Challenge (WCC) warm-up match against Harlequins.
Coach Des Hasler said Rose was expected to recover in time for the match against the London-based side ahead of the WCC clash with Super League champions Leeds Rhinos on March 1.

“He's just got a little bit of a virus so he'll be OK Sunday,” Hasler told AAP.

Rose is continuing his comeback to the top flight after breaking his leg in a sickening injury suffered in a tackle during round 11 of the 2007 NRL season against Melbourne.

Hasler presided over a lively training session in west London just over 24 hours after the NRL premiers arrived in the UK.

“It's just a chance to loosen up and get their limbs moving,” he said.

Hasler will use the match against `Quins to trial two sides from his 23-man squad, one in each half, before they travel north to Leeds to face the defending WCC champions at Elland Road.

AAP
___

 

[Berkeley_Eagle]

Mayer questions Super League standard
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5gAbU7qAF_zU6MYadhzMOMwkzI-Ag
11 hours ago

Super League came under fire on two fronts on Wednesday in the build-up to the Carnegie World Club Challenge between Leeds Rhinos and Australian champions Manly Sea Eagles.

Manly chief executive Grant Mayer, the man who spearheaded Catalans Dragons' entry into Super League in 2006, labelled the English competition "second tier", a view echoed by one of Australia's leading coaches.

Mayer, who flew into England with the Sea Eagles squad on Tuesday, told the Australian Rugby League Week magazine: "Super League, to me, is still very much a second-tier competition which is for NRL players coming to the end of their careers."

The Sea Eagles take on a Leeds side at Elland Road on March 1 without star forward Gareth Ellis, who has joined West Tigers but was on Wednesday warned he could struggle to adjust to the National Rugby League.

Tigers coach Tim Sheen took a swipe at playing standards in Super League by claiming Ellis needs re-educating in some of the game's basics.

While he believes Ellis will eventually emerge as a top-class NRL second rower, Sheens is content to bring the Englishman on slowly.

"You can see why England is behind us," he said. "The decision-making in defence isn't always the best thing.

"There are things Gareth is learning that I don't think he has ever learnt. There has been a lot of back to basics."

 

[Kiwi Eagle]

FFS, Why the hell did Mayer need to make that comment ? I would expect it from Zorba though

 

[DSM5]

In my humble opinion ESL is a different game to that played in the NRL.  Tackling and the speed of the game are vastly different.  Why not just comment on that rather than slag of ESL?  Maybe Saint Mayer has a problem with this side of his personality.  Maybe that says something re our management issues.

 

[ManlyBacker]

I agree - nothing like giving the Rhinos a motivational newspaper headline to stick up in the dressing room. Sheeesh.

 

[Berkeley_Eagle]

Rookie ready to earn spurs

19 Feb 09 @ 05:09pm by JASON AVEDISSIAN
http://manly-daily.whereilive.com.au/sport/story/rookie-ready-to-earn-spurs/

A KID once considered the future of Australian rugby will be let loose in London this weekend with nothing but impressing Manly coach Des Hasler on his agenda.

Rookie Sea Eagles forward Jared Waerea-Hargreaves will make his senior debut for Manly in this weekend’s trial match with the Harlequins in London.

Hasler will use all 23 members of his touring party as he searches for his top 17 ahead of next week’s World Club Challenge with Leeds.

Waerea-Hargreaves, who joined Manly last year from the Waratahs, is among the youngsters desperate to show Hasler he has what it takes to play in this year’s premiership defence.

“Hopefully I can prove to Des that I can stick it to them,” the 112kg youngster told The Manly Daily on the eve of the Sea Eagles’ season opener.

“I have been training hard and it’s paid off with a spot on this tour.

“I definitely want to fulfil the expectations on me and hopefully I can show I can play and cement my spot.

“Last year I developed as a player (in the Toyota Cup), now I hope I can play NRL.”

And one of the most important figures within the NRL champions is backing the former Australian rugby under-19s representative to pull through for Manly in 2009.

“He’s definitely going to push for a bench spot this year,” Sea Eagles half and captain Matt Orford said.

“He’s got the size, he’s so fit and he’s still so young. He’s got great ball skills, a good athlete and has that quick off-loading ability.

“The club always finds the guys that have got character and compete for everything.”

And Waerea-Hargreaves, who as a teenager dared a much older first grade club rugby player to run at him, fits that mantle perfectly.

Hasler will give his young guns at least 40 minutes against the Harlequins at The Stoop in London, before the grand final-winning squad takes over.

 

[ManlyBacker]

This may have been put up elsewhere, but does anyone know if the Harlequins game is on FTA or Fox or some other viewing area?? I can't wait to see JWH in his debut.

 

[Berkeley_Eagle]

Manly expect tough first test
Valkerie Mangnall
February 21, 2009 - 11:44AM

Manly expect a stern test of their World Club Challenge (WCC) preparations when they meet London Super League team Harlequins on Sunday.

The match, at Twickenham's Stoop Stadium, is a warm-up for the March 1 contest between the NRL premiers and Super League and defending WCC champions Leeds Rhinos at Elland Road.

Manly captain Matt Orford expected his players to be a little rusty against a side that has already started their season.

"Harlequins are going to be a very good measure for us," Orford told AAP.

"We've seen some tapes and they're a big team.

"They've got a few former Manly boys their team - Luke Williamson and Chad Randall. We caught up with them this week. They're looking forward to it."

Not only do Manly have to contend with a team starting to hit their rhythm on home soil, they have also been struck down by a stomach bug.

Prop George Rose, utility Shane Rodney and back row Glenn Stewart missed training during the week with a virus.

But a team spokesman said the entire 23-man squad is expected to play against Quins, where coach Des Hasler would trial a younger side in the first half and a near full-strength team after the break.

"Everyone will get a run," the spokesman said.

"We've had a bit of trouble with a virus, but everybody's ok ... the doctor has arrived and he traced it back to the plane trip.

"The guys were all in the same group on the plane, in the same row."

Harlequins head coach Brian McDermott announced he would use at least 20 players.

"Facing a team you know less about can actually be helpful," McDermott said.

"We'll be focused on what we can do and control, rather than what we think we know about Manly.

"Saying that, we have seen some videos and you'd struggle not to have seen their incredible run the last few seasons. But we'll be concentrating most on our game, not theirs.

"This match is a great opportunity for us to play against one of the best sides in the world."

The conditions - often been blamed for Australia's poor WCC record of just two wins since 2000 - should not be a factor.

Sea Eagles fullback Brett Stewart and his team-mates were pleasantly surprised by the weather that has greeted them this past week, and London's recent mild temperatures were forecast to continue.

"I was speaking to Chad Randall last week and he said it was covered over in snow here ... but it's pretty pleasant at the moment," Stewart said.

Temperatures may turn colder when the team head north to face Leeds, but Stewart said Manly were focused on their bid to become the first NRL side since the Sydney Roosters in 2003 to win the WCC.

In doing so, they would deny the Rhinos back-to-back titles.

"We're taking it pretty serious," Stewart said.

"That's probably the first thing Des spoke to us about in the pre-season, it's the first hurdle of the year."

The Harlequins match kicks off at 3pm on Sunday (0200 Monday AEDT).

Both teams will wear black armbands and a minute's silence will be observed for victims of the Victorian bushfires.