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Post by Druzik on Oct 24, 2008 1:33:53 GMT 10
Well looks like Manly are taking this one seriously. But friggin hell, like this is the insular crap that Aussie "League fans" and Jouranlists dish out. Spot the MISTAKE. Marv not sure which game dean Richie saw but certainly wasn't the one we went to. |
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Post by Druzik on Oct 29, 2008 0:20:15 GMT 10
Been announced. Not the most ideal day, a sunday night. Time to start planning time off.  |
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Post by Druzik on Nov 17, 2008 21:15:51 GMT 10
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Post by Druzik on Mar 2, 2009 18:26:01 GMT 10
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Post by Druzik on Mar 2, 2009 18:59:43 GMT 10
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Post by arh21980 on Mar 3, 2009 1:18:11 GMT 10
It was a good old fashion game with plenty of spice in it. Absolutley loved it. It was abit hard to cheer for the boys at 4:00am this morning though
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Post by arh21980 on Mar 3, 2009 1:18:49 GMT 10
Leeds back bigger Club Challenge
Manly stopped Leeds from becoming the first team to ever retain the trophy
Leeds Rhinos chief executive Gary Hetherington believes the World Club Challenge should be expanded to incorporate more teams.
Hetherington's idea is backed by his opposite number at Manly, Grant Mayer, and would see the top three teams from Super League and NRL play each other.
"It's an idea that's been spoken about in the last 12 months," Hetherington told the BBC's Super League Show.
"The Australian clubs are keen and we feel our teams would be competitive."
Manly became the first Australian side in five years to lift the World Club Challenge Trophy after beating Leeds 28-20 at Elland Road on Sunday night.
This new innovation would see the best three clubs from the Northern and Southern hemisphere go head-to-head over one weekend.
"If you took last year's standings," said Hetherington, "we'd have Wigan v Cronulla on the Friday night, Saturday night would see St Helens against Melbourne. Then it would either be 1-1 or 2-0 in the battle of Super League v NRL.
"Then come the Sunday it would be Leeds v Manly. The winners of that would still be the World Club Challenge champions but we would have also had a mini tournament of Super League against NRL.
Manly's Grant Mayer added: "Both leagues are very strong currently and, as a code, together we need to look at ideas like this one.
"It is important for the entire game for both leagues to do things like this and expand our shores."
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Post by arh21980 on Mar 3, 2009 1:25:01 GMT 10
MANLY have become the first Australian side in six years to clinch rugby league's World Club Challenge.
And captain Matt Orford insists the Sea Eagles are in great shape to defend their NRL crown.
Des Hasler's men ended the NRL's six-year losing streak on British soil with a comprehensive 28-20 win against Super League champions Leeds Rhinos.
The Sea Eagles showed glimpses of the form that saw them hammer Melbourne 40-0 in the Grand Final in October and Orford has already set his sights on more glory.
Doubles from Brett Stewart and the outstanding Anthony Watmough did the damage at Elland Road before late tries from Keith Senior, Ryan Hall and Danny McGuire gave the scoreline a flattering look.
Orford, who will lead his side in the NRL opener at Canterbury Bulldogs in a fortnight, said: “We've had a fantastic pre-season and that performance didn't really surprise me - I expected it.
“To come here and win the World Club Challenge is a fantastic achievement and there's no denying that we deserved it. It was a fantastic experience and at times we couldn't hear ourselves to communicate but we no each other so well that our hand signals got us through.
“It's a great start to 2009 and it's up to push on and build on the success we've had in the last few months.”
Orford converted tries from Brett Stewart and Watmough before Jamie Jones-Buchanan crossed for the Rhinos to leave the match in the balance at 12-4 at the break.
But the Rhinos, who were bidding to make history as the first team to retain the crown, were never in it once Brett Stewart, Watmough and fiery centre Steve Matai scored inside the first seven minutes of the second half.
Senior, Hall and McGuire reduced the deficit in the final 15 minutes but Hasler's side were always comfortable.
Hasler, who played in Manly's 8-2 defeat to Wigan in 1987, has vowed to do all he can to make sure the Sea Eagles regain the world crown when the annual match takes place in Sydney next year.
“It was a fantastic experience for my players in a wonderful atmosphere and they produced a comprehensive display,” said Hasler.
“We controlled the game and the soft tries at the end meant the scoreline didn't reflect how much we dominated.
“I'm really looking forward to this game moving to Sydney next year and we would love to defend it on home soil.”
Leeds coach Brian McClennan, who led New Zealand to 2005 Tri Nations glory, had no complaints with the result.
McClennan believes the Rhinos fate was sealed before the break rather than the early second-half burst from Stewart, Watmough and Matai.
“We knew it was a chance to make history and we wanted to do so well but it was not to be and Manly showed what a great outfit they are,” McClennan said.
“They are a really classy side and they were the better side on the day.
“The three tries at the start of the second half killed the game but I thought we lost in the first half.
“We didn't apply enough pressure when we had the ball and that took a lot out of us.”
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Post by Druzik on Mar 3, 2009 1:30:49 GMT 10
It was a good old fashion game with plenty of spice in it. Absolutley loved it. It was abit hard to cheer for the boys at 4:00am this morning though 4 am thats just being soft mate  I never saw the game so cant comment but hear that it was quite spiteful. score seems close... so that's good I s'pose... but wonder how much Manly took the foot of the pedal towards the end. |
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Post by arh21980 on Mar 3, 2009 12:23:58 GMT 10
It was a good old fashion game with plenty of spice in it. Absolutley loved it. It was abit hard to cheer for the boys at 4:00am this morning though 4 am thats just being soft mate I never saw the game so cant comment but hear that it was quite spiteful. score seems close... so that's good I s'pose... but wonder how much Manly took the foot of the pedal towards the end. I think Leeds were lucky that Manly didn't have a couple of games under there belts or it could have been another massacre They were up 26 - 4 wih twenty minutes to go |
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Post by Kiwi fan on Mar 3, 2009 13:08:12 GMT 10
I'm definately in support of extending the club challenge but there's no point in Wigan playing Cronulla in a exhibition match with no chance of the eventual prize.
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Post by arh21980 on Mar 3, 2009 14:47:45 GMT 10
I was going to ask your thought's on this expanding the WCC. I totally agree in making so that every side in the comp can win it
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Post by Druzik on Mar 3, 2009 16:59:33 GMT 10
No, the only expansion you need is it to go to a two game series Home and away... at worst take it as a sole game but on the road somewhere and use it to promte and expans the sport as well.
The teams have enough games as it is. I dont think the fans down south realsie just how many games the SL teams play, its a loooong season foer them, one that start in January and ends in november... some players only get a 5 week off season... Aussies get 3 months nearly.
I have been thinking if the WCC should be a mid year game/series have it around a rep month where the comps take a break for internationl rep dutie.
The thing about WCC is that it can really bring in a different dimension into a game... people talk about the long trips etc... but I like that, it adds a different element into a match to see teams have to get through that.
as for more teams... rediculous... like you saz Kiwi Fan, what would be the point of a Wigan v Cronulla game if they dont have a shot at the ultimate prize.
What you and we are seeing is the usualy short sightedness... knee jerck reaction by the antipodean media towards the english game.... and its completely unjustified in my view.
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Post by Marv on Mar 3, 2009 19:28:10 GMT 10
I think Leeds were lucky that Manly didn't have a couple of games under there belts or it could have been another massacre They were up 26 - 4 wih twenty minutes to go i agree 100% I dont think it was manly choosing to take their foot off the gas, I dont think they had a choice! they were fucked as arh says, if manly had a game or 2 under their belts it would have been a massacre |
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jim
Marquee Player
Posts: 1,150
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Post by jim on Mar 3, 2009 19:42:59 GMT 10
Leeds were truely quite poor, take nothing waay from Manly, the form they were in tonight they would have beaten Leeds even if they were full strength and on their game.
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