Yes thank you for the updates guys!! Was a great sunny arvo to watch some footy..... Even better when the boys put out a great team performance!
Their defense was great today and held them in good stead to make the most of attacking opportunities.
I agree with The Wheel that there were no real standouts which I think is a compliment to their quality team work in both defense and attack.
However, I do think JSL had a great game and looked hungry running the hit ups. I think Lawrence had a good first game back and his prevented, talk and influence steadied our pack in attack and defense. I also think Aldridge had a solid game and his combination with JLJ and Rudolph worked really well and looked nicely balanced.
Reardon had another quality game at fullback.
Even though it was 22-0 at half time, the game was very even thanks to both teams coughing up plenty of cheap penalties, but Manly capitalised on some of those penalties better by scoring try's and giving them a healthy lead going into half time.
Manly came out fired up in the 2nd half and scored a quick try.....
But then for the next 15-20mins they slightly took the foot of the throttle and allowed the Tigers to then capitalise on the back of a couple of cheap manly penalties, which gave the Tigers a sniff! Luckily for Manly theyve learnt how to properly close out a game and keep the pressure on the Tigers by constantly trying to attack the try line and score more points, rather than be the Manly of old who constantly gifts their opposition possession of the ball while they try to defend their lead.
But after Aldridge pinched a try from dummy half and directly under the posts, the boys seemed to get their mojo back and then really ran away with the game in the last 8-10mins with run away try's through Satini and Wolfman!
Great game of footy to watch, I just wish they could play a whole 80mins of it every week instead of inconsistent glimpses and flashes of pure team brilliance!
Looking forward to getting over to NZ and watching the boys take on the Warriors in Auckland Sat week after next weeks bye round.
