Grand Final
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 40 d. Melbourne Storm 0

2008 NRL Telstra Premiership Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

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

Manly Civic Reception and Grand Final Tribute
Wed October 8, 2008
Source: www.manlyseaeagles.com.au

The Manly Sea Eagles will salute their army of fans at Brookvale Oval later today (Wednesday, October 8) with a giant photograph of supporters with the winning 2008 premiership team and the Telstra Cup.

All Manly fans are invited to be in the photo shoot which will take place at around 4pm. Manly Council and Warringah Council have joined in the celebrations with the Sea Eagles to give fans an opportunity to celebrate with their heroes. Families are invited to bring a blanket and enjoy time on Brookvale Oval with Matt Orford and his successful team.

The Manly players will meet in the bus bay opposite the Manly Pacific Hotel at 3pm and travel by golf buggies to Manly Council where Mayor Jean Hay will afford the club a civic reception.The team will then travel by open bus to Brookvale Oval to meet the fans and be greeted by Warringah Mayor Michael Regan.

News Source: www.manlyseaeagles.com.au


Orford finally stands tall
Mon October 6, 2008
Matt Orford has been the most malligned and criticised big match player - although really that title should belong to Braith Anasta, but Orford yesterday delivered the killer blow that he can handle the big occasion.

Aside from the Grand Final last year and maybe 1-2 other performances, the majority of Orford's poor performanes in the finals arena have come against the one player - former Bulldogs halfback Brent Sherwin.

Orford has been criticised unfairly in many quarters as aside from his battles against Sherwin he hasn't had a bad big match record with one notable exception and has been consistently villified by representative selectors. Orford or experienced Cronulla halfback Brett Kimmorley should have been the NSW halfback before the experiments of Peter Wallace or Mitchell Pearce this season.

When it comes to under performing in big matches Orford has been the player consistently targeted whereas Anasta has had far more opportunities to perform, gets all the extra chances and hasn't yet delivered. Anasta's performance in the 2004 Grand Final kept the Roosters right in the match - the only problem was that Anasta hadn't yet joined the Roosters at that stage.

Orford needed a big month of football to silence his critics and there were some around after he won the Daily Telegraph Player of the Year award. Orford steered Manly around the park in their semi-final victory against the Dragons, was outstanding against the Warriors and yesterday capped it off by leading Manly to their first premiership success in 12 years.

The bogey of Orford being unable to perform under pressure should finally be put to rest and if NSW are looking for a halfback for the next one or two seasons than Orford is certainly by far the best option - as he was this year and will be in the coming years.

Johnathan Thurston will be named Australia's World Cup halfback and Scott Prince also deserves to be in the squad. They are Australia's two best options in the halves along with captain Darren Lockyer at five-eighth. However, if something happens to Lockyer, Thurston or Prince than the selectors should look no further than Orford. He's proved himself and now he deserves the opportunity to showcase his talents on the representative stage.

When it comes to big name players under performing on the highest stage the first name mentioned should be Anasta and certainly not Orford.

Mon October 6, 2008
• Storm fall embarrassingly short of greatness
  
Sat October 4, 2008
• Storm drift in, Manly still favourites
  
Fri October 3, 2008
• Storm Grand Final Game Notes v Manly
  
Fri October 3, 2008
• 2008 NRL Grand Final Preview
  
Thu October 2, 2008
• Manly still favourites despite Storm dominating Thursday betting
  
Tue September 30, 2008
• Melbourne finally outweigh Manly in the betting stakes
  
Tue September 30, 2008
• Storm 2008 Grand Final Squad
  

Advanced Search