Round 19
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 22 l. Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 29

2007 NRL Telstra Premiership Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: Aus_NZ > National > First Grade Competition: NRL Telstra Premiership

Manly edge out gallant Sharks
Sat July 21, 2007
Manly has all but sealed a top two finish and have kept their Minor Premiership claims alive as they edged out a gallant and depleted Sharks outfit 29-22 at Toyota Park last night.

Cronulla had many of their top line players missing including captain Brett Kimmorley, Paul Gallen, Greg Bird, Ben Ross, Lance Thompson, Adam Dykes and Brett Kearney, but the second string players put in a mighty effort and showed the future of the club is in good hands - even if the supporters had no faith in them.

Discarded and recalled halfback Brett Seymour opened the scoring in the 7th minute with a penalty goal and the first try came in the 21st minute when Luke Williamson crossed over. Glenn Hall scored three minutes later and it looked like that the Manly machine was in operation as they raced to a 12-2 lead with Steve Matai converting both tries.

The Sharks to their credit never gave up and scored two tries before half-time to Reece Williams in the 30th minute and Fraser Anderson five minutes before the break and Seymour converted both tries for the Sharks to lead 14-12 and it remained that way until half-time.

Henry Perenara extended Cronulla's lead four minutes after the break when he scored and Seymour's successful conversion pushed the Sharks eight points clear.

Manly got whipped back into action with Brett Stewart scoring in the 48th minute and Matai's conversion brought the Sea Eagles back within two points.

Seymour extended Cronulla's lead to four points with a penalty goal in the 55th minute, but from that moment on the Sharks ran out of steam as Manly powered home.

Chris Hicks scored a contentious try in the corner with the video referee awarding it a try whereas earlier in the year it would have been disallowed for an obstruction. The try by Hicks leveled up the scores with 19 minutes remaining and Matai wasn't able to put the Sea Eagles in the lead missing from wide out.

Adam Cuthbertson continued his recent run of excellent form crashing over in the 74th minute and Matai's conversion put Manly up by six points.

Stand-in halfback Michael Monaghan sealed victory for the Sea Eagles with a drop goal three minutes from time.

After the match, Sharks coach Ricky Stuart said, "Outside of the result, I couldn't be happier for the players.

"We spoke all week about this being about us - there couldn't be a person walk off that field tonight disappointed with the effort they put in.

"We were probably two inches away from a field goal winning the game for us.''

Stuart also said that he believed the better team didn't win and the difference between the two sides was outstanding Manly fullback Brett Stewart who is doing his chances of Australian selection later in the year no harm at all.

Manly coach Des Hasler said, "It was always going to be a tough game - the mental side of things and the way it's been built up during the week.

"Our execution and parts of our game were down a little bit but at the end of the day we got away with the win.

"We weren't under any illusions as to how it was going to be, we knew they'd fight and claw every inch of the way.''

Hasler also took aim at controversial referee Shayne Hayne and even brought out the infamous line, "At one stage there we might have been calling for a cement mixer, but we got away without it.''

The comment from Hasler was reference to the day Bob Fulton called for a cement truck to hit Bill Harrigan after the Sharks defeated Manly in 1987 where Hasler was the Sea Eagles halfback. Hasler was critical of Hayne's control of the ruck area. It hasn't been the best of times for Hayne as he was 'dropped' for last weeks action following his handling of the Sharks-Bulldogs clash two weeks before where he bungled and missed a number of incidents including his howler of forcing Hazem El Masri to take a kick 10m wider of where a try was scored.

Hayne's penalty count was 11-7 in favour of the Sharks, although two of the penalties against Manly were for kick-offs out on the full, which are a mandatory penalties. The Sharks worked the ruck area nicely and frustrated the star-studded Sea Eagles for much of the game until they ran out of steam.

Cronulla did themselves and obviously their coach very proud and it's just a shame that the Sharks fans had no faith in their side with a very poor crowd in attendance with no rain in Sydney during the week. The Sharks may have lost the match, but it could be a defining moment for them and their fans shunned the new kids in droves.

Manly on the other hand found new ways to with matches and hung in there until the game was there for the taking where they striked. It was always going to be a tough and frustrating night for them and the victory all but sealed a top two finish for them. Forget the over-rated tag, they are the only side that can beat Melbourne and in my opinion will beat the Storm when it matters.


Sharks welcome back Covell as skipper
Fri July 20, 2007
Source: www.sharks.com.au

Sharks winger and goal kicker Luke Covell is set to make a surprise return from injury and will be installed as the captain of a young and inexperienced Sharks side to take on the Manly Sea Eagles on Friday night.

Covell was expected to face a long stretch on the sidelines after injuring his ankle in the game against the Bulldogs, with his quick recovery the only positive Sharks news when it comes to injury and suspension.

Jacob Selmes has withdrawn with a knee injury, with coach Ricky Stuart to reshuffle his starting side to accommodate Covell. The final make up of his team won't likely be determined until up to an hour before the scheduled kick off at 7.30pm.

Fielding a team missing up to 12 players from their full time NRL squad, the Sharks face a tough assignment against a high-flying Eagles outfit which is sitting in second place on the NRL ladder.

In what is almost the opposite situation, with Kiwi centre Steve Mattai escaping suspension at a judiciary hearing last night, Manly will have all hands on deck as they attempt to put an end to a 21-year hoodoo in matches played between the two teams at Toyota Park.

The last Manly victory at the Sharks home ground came way back in 1986, with Ricky Stuart encouraging his side to show plenty of pride in the Cronulla jersey in a bid to keep their impressive streak intact.

"I told them to go out and play for the team and play for pride," Stuart said. "That's all I can ask of them."

Two players in the Sharks team who are certain to be excited about the opportunity which has come their way, are big prop Eddie Su'a and speedy outside back Dane Nielsen.
Su'a, a Parramatta junior who arrived at the Sharks from the North Sydney club at the beginning of the year, stands an imposing 190cm tall and weighs in at almost 115kgs. After spending a few weeks running around for the Helensburgh club in the Wollongong competition in a big to gain some match fitness, Su'a has earned his chance with a couple of robust performances in the Sharks Premier League team in recent weeks.

If the inclusion of Su'a has come somewhat unexpectedly, Nielsen's selection on the other hand has probably taken a little longer than some good judges may have predicted.

A standout in the Sharks Jersey Flegg side of two years ago, the Mackay born and raised Nielsen played in the Sharks Premier League team in 2006 and has turned in a number of impressive performances to date throughout 2007. Primarily a centre in Premier League, Nielsen has been selected to make his debut on the wing.

Also keen to play well on Friday night will be second-row/centre Paul Stephenson, a former Manly player. Stephenson has been named on the Sharks interchange bench and will likely get his opportunity in the back row.

Betting on SportsTab has the visiting Manly team a $1.36 favourite for the match, which will be controlled by referee Shayne Hayne.

The kick off will take place at 7.30pm at Toyota Park, with Premier League between the same two teams to begin at 5.30pm. The first match of the afternoon is an Arrive Alive Schoolboys clash between St Gregory's College of Campbelltown and Matraville Sports High, set down to start at 4.15pm.

The Sharks Jersey Flegg side have the bye this weekend.

Gates to Toyota Park open at 4.00pm.

News source: www.sharks.com.au

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