Lyon happy to be back in rep picture

May 4, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Last year Manly centre Jamie Lyon did not want to represent his country because of his kids but now they are a major motivation.

Lyon will run out for the Kangaroos on Friday night’s Test against New Zealand in Melbourne, watched in the stands of AAMI Park by his two young sons, five-year-old Riley and three-year-old Jed.

It is a moment the boys would have missed if Lyon’s request early last year to the ARL for exemption from representative matches had been successful.

Joining his Kangaroos team-mates as they prepare in Melbourne Lyon, who has played seven Tests since 2001, said he was now relieved the application had been knocked back.

“I think now that a few years down the track I would have regretted it,” said the 28-year-old.

“It’s definitely worked out for the better.”

A country boy from Wee Waa in north western New South Wales, he wanted exemption to spend more time at home with the family.

“I’ve got two young boys and it means you have to be away from home quite a bit,” he said.

“But I think they love the footy just as much as me now.

“They get in front of the TV and run around and tackle each other in their jerseys.

“I wouldn’t have heard the end of it from my older son if I wasn’t playing.”

The laid-back Lyon did not want to be drawn into the non-selection of Brisbane young gun Israel Folau due to his plans to switch codes, but thought he himself may have missed a chance to play Test football again after last playing in 2007.

“I wasn’t too sure, I thought I might be a chance for Country, that’s up to the selectors and I was happy with their decision,” he said.

“I thought it had passed but I was lucky enough to get another chance.

“When you get the opportunity it’s a massive buzz to pull on the jersey again, it’s going to be unreal.”

Test coach Tim Sheens’ preference for Lyons to mark his Manly team-mate Steve Matai botched plans for the Sea Eagles co-captain to play five-eighth for Country Origin, with a view to the NSW Origin line-up.

Country Origin will play City Origin in Port Macquarie, also on Friday night.

Lyon said he would happily take on the playmaking role for the Blues, if called upon.

“I’ve played five-eighth a little bit for Manly, I’m more accustomed to centre but if I’m picked I’ll try my best.”

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Inglis cleared of major injury

April 21, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Melbourne big gun Greg Inglis is rated a 50-50 chance of taking on the Warriors in their NRL clash on Sunday after scans cleared the Test star of major injury.

Inglis was on Tuesday named in the Melbourne line-up for the Anzac Day match at Docklands, less than 24 hours after being assisted from the field late in the first half of the Storm’s 18-16 loss to Manly.

Scans cleared the giant centre of any new structural or ligament damage, although he aggravated an existing injury when tackled by Sea Eagles centre Steve Matai.

He was off his crutches at the team recovery pool session on Tuesday, but did solo work, wading in the shallow pool.

Fellow Storm centre Dane Nielsen nursed a thumb and finger injury, which forced him off in the second half, but was also included in the squad, avoiding a major backline reshuffle.

Furious Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy forecast team changes after the disappointing performance, however the only new face in the squad is Brett White.

With Bellamy complaining about poor attitude and a lack of aggression from his forwards, White is set to play his first game of 2010 following off-season shoulder surgery having being added to an extended bench.

Storm skipper Cameron Smith acknowledged his team lacked mongrel against a fired-up Manly.

“It was a pretty physical match and we got out-played in the forwards in the first half definitely,” he said.

“I don’t think I’ve played against Manly when they’ve played like that, particularly Jason King, I’ve never seen him run like that before and he really led the way for them.”

After the match he rated his showing, with a number of fumbled balls and a shanked easy conversion attempt as “one of the worst of his career”.

After a night of reflection Smith said he had been harsh on himself but was still bitterly disappointed.

“The feeling that I had after the game was one of missed opportunity,” he said.

“We played pretty poorly and lost by two points so we had a chance to win it.

“That kick I missed, I could probably have usually kicked with my eyes closed.”

One player who had something to celebrate was league journeyman Bryan Norrie, who scored the first try of his career after 64 NRL games, since making his debut in 2004.

The 26-year-old prop, who has played at St George Illawarra, Penrith and Cronulla before joining the Storm this year, was grateful to break the duck but would have traded it for a win.

“It was disappointing we didn’t get a win,” he said.

“We’ve got to try to have a good week because we’ve got the Warriors and they’re a big side so we’ve got our work cut out there.

“The boys have got their heads up and we’re going to rip in at training and get a win against the Warriors, hopefully.”

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Manly refuses to stand down Williams

April 15, 2010 By Leave a Comment

The Sea Eagles have refused to suspend Tony Williams, instead opting to fine the giant winger as well as ordering him to undertake community service following his drink driving charge.

On Tuesday Williams was charged with mid-level drink driving after allegedly blowing more than twice the legal limit in a random breath test in Sydney’s west.

Yet he has been cleared by the club to play in Monday night’s clash against Melbourne.

The Sea Eagles have still to determine the amount of the fine, with chief executive Graham Lowe adamant the punishment was in line with the seriousness of the incident.

“The issue is a serious one, a very serious one,” Lowe said in a statement.

“Tony Williams is a footballer and playing rugby league is his job.

“He will need to play plenty of games to pay for his upcoming fine which is yet to be decided, but it will be more than significant.”

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

O’Donnell facing three-week ban

April 13, 2010 By Leave a Comment

North Queensland lock Luke O’Donnell’s minute of madness in the Cowboys’ 23-16 loss to the Wests Tigers looks to have cost him at least three weeks on the sidelines.

O’Donnell has been charged by the NRL match review committee with a grade two dangerous contact offence after an ugly tackle on Tigers full-back Beau Ryan, which saw his neck twisted.

The tackle prompted a minor melee and the New South Wales State of Origin representative was sin-binned just before half-time.

O’Donnell will be out for three weeks if he enters an early guilty plea but risks fours weeks if he decides to challenge it at the judiciary.

It was a fiery night for the 29-year-old, who was penalised four times during the match in Townsville on Saturday night, including one incident in which he launched a spray at referee Gavin Badger.

Two charges have come out of South Sydney’s 28-10 win over Newcastle in Gosford earlier on Saturday night with Rabbitohs utility Ben Lowe looking at a one-match ban for a grade two careless high tackle.

Knights centre Junior Sau faces the same length of time for a grade one dangerous contact to knee or legs.

Dragons prop Michael Weyman also risks a one-match suspension for a grade one striking charge during his side’s 34-16 win over Brisbane in Wollongong on Friday night.

Manly’s Test front rower Brent Kite will be able to play in next Monday night’s match against Melbourne if he enters an early guilty plea for a grade one careless high tackle on Cronulla winger Blake Ferguson.

The incident occurred during the Sea Eagles’ 40-12 triumph at Brookvale Oval on Sunday.

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Stuart accuses Sharks of giving in

April 13, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Cronulla coach Ricky Stuart accused some of his players of “throwing the towel in” as Manly ran away with a comprehensive 40-12 NRL win at Brookvale Oval.

Although the Sharks have won just one match from their past 15 starts, Stuart has always previously praised his team for their work ethic and commitment.

Cronulla held the upper hand for the first quarter of the match before crumbling to concede five first half tries – much to Stuart’s disappointment – as the Sea Eagles cruised to an easy win.

Stuart was keen to stress that Manly’s individual class was what won out in the end but he also criticised the attitude of some players when the going got tough.

“We had inexperience, Manly at Manly is very, very tough and we spoke about that,” Stuart said.

“The only negative for my side is that… I think some parts of our playing team threw the white towel in at the 20-minute mark and that’s the main disappointing part for me as a coach.

“There were parts of the game where we threw the towel in, and it got too hard for us… it’s uncharacteristic for this team.

“[We were] outclassed, outplayed. I haven’t got much more of an excuse than that. [Manly] showed some brilliant pieces of footy.”

Foran in Test frame

Sea Eagles five-eighth Kieran Foran put his hand up for selection for New Zealand against Australia next month with a masterful display, while centre Jamie Lyon further enhanced his New South Wales Origin prospects with two tries in a personal 20-point haul.

Winger Michael Robertson also nabbed a double for Manly, which has stabilised its season nicely after losing its opening two matches.

Foran and half-back Trent Hodkinson have adjusted well to the playmaking duties left vacant by departed skipper Matt Orford, and the Auckland-born emerging star appears certain to partner Benji Marshall in the halves for the Kiwis after getting a taste of international football in last year’s Four Nations series.

“I was pretty happy with my performance today, I’m more confident each week as a ball player and leading this team out,” Foran said.

“Nothing explains pulling on that black and white jersey in front of your family and for your country, but to be honest I haven’t really thought too much about it, I’ve just been trying to get things right here week to week.”

With the game evenly poised at 12-6 to Manly with seven minutes to go in the first half, Foran took control setting up two of the Sea Eagles’ three quick-fire tries before the break.

Opposite number Trent Barrett was more willing to predict Foran’s future as a Test footballer.

“He’s a good player, a good ball runner and a strong kid. He’ll be an international for the New Zealand side I think for a long time, very soon,” Barrett said.

A satisfied Manly coach Des Hasler also heaped praise on his leading man.

“He was taken away on the tour last year just to experience it… so you’d think he’d certainly come under Test selection,” Hasler said.

Manly has one worry ahead of next week’s big clash against Melbourne, with Brent Kite put on report for a high tackle on Blake Ferguson in the second half.

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Sea Eagles untroubled by sloppy Sharks

April 12, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Manly has continued its near impeccable record against Cronulla at a steamy Brookvale Oval, running in seven tries to two in a 40-12 blitz.

The Sea Eagles’ third win from five matches was never in question after three tries in seven minutes late in the first half gave them a 30-6 advantage at the break.

The Sharks stemmed the flow of points in the second half but were ultimately outclassed in the ‘battle of the beaches’ after snapping a 13-game losing streak by beating Parramatta at home last weekend.

Recent acquisition Tim Smith opened the scoring for Cronulla in the fourth minute off the back of a penalty, but from there it was all the home side, with co-captain Jamie Lyon and elusive winger Michael Robertson both helping themselves to doubles in front of a crowd of 16,055.

Half-back Trent Hodkinson, second rower Glenn Stewart and interchange prop Matt Cross also went over for four-pointers, Cross landing a crushing blow when he forced his way over with the half-time hooter sounding in the background.

Manly had two other scores disallowed for offside and obstruction and always looked dangerous with the ball in hand.

Narrow defeats to Wests Tigers and Parramatta blighted the Sea Eagles’ start to the season but they have since atoned with three straight victories, the latest coming in their first outing at Brookvale this season.

Prop Jason King dismissed suggestions that the Sea Eagles are back.

“I don’t think we went anywhere really, we should have won those first two games,” he told Grandstand.

“We just wanted to get the little things right, that was the emphasis this week and I think we did that pretty well today.”

Lyon said the Sea Eagles were aware Cronulla would try to muscle them out of the game early and his men were prepared.

“You’ve got to get used to the grind and the arm-wrestle, that was the game plan for them,” he said.

“Lucky for us we got a couple of penalties and we probably earned them.

“I thought it was a good game from us, hopefully we didn’t get too many injuries and [we've got] a good game next week against the Storm.”

Cronulla shot itself in the foot with poor options and discipline, inexplicably leaking the flood of first-half points despite a perfect completion rate.

Skipper Trent Barrett put on a nice cut-out pass to put Grant Millington over for a second-half try, but also threw a blatantly forward one with Cronulla on the attack as the match drew to a close.

“[We were] horrible, we just didn’t hang onto the ball enough and we’re all guilty of that I suppose,” Barrett told Grandstand.

“In weather like this you can’t just defend all day, we didn’t help ourselves, they cut us up around the ruck a fair bit and our edge defence was pretty disappointing.”

He said coach Ricky Stuart was livid when the teams entered the dressing-rooms at half-time.

“Irate, that’s one word for it and deservedly so,” he said.

“We’ve got another hard one on Sunday arvo against Brisbane, so we’ve got a lot of work to do this week.

“We started good and everything was going OK, we just made too many errors and I was guilty of that as well.”

The only negative for Manly appears to be Brent Kite being put on report for a high tackle on Blake Ferguson early in the second half.

Sea Eagles:40 (J Lyon 2, M Robertson 2, M Cross, T Hodkinson, G Stewart tries; J Lyon 6 goals)

Sharks: 12 (G Millington, T Smith tries; N Stapleton 2 goals)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Eagles outrun weary Warriors

April 5, 2010 By Leave a Comment

New Zealand’s injury-riddled ranks were no match for Manly as the Sea Eagles notched their second straight win, a 14-6 result at Mt Smart Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

A second half try to Steve Matai pushed the game out of reach for the flagging Warriors, but it was not without controversy as video replays suggested the Manly centre did not ground the football.

The try was awarded despite Matai appearing to have never been in control of the ball after diving on a Kieran Foran grubber kick through the home side’s complacent defensive line.

After a hard-fought first 40 minutes, Manly led 6-0 thanks to an impressive leaping try to Michael Robertson on the left wing and the visitors were already eyeing off their seventh win in nine starts in Auckland.

The Sea Eagles spread it wide with purposeful passing and Robertson finished with a dive that avoided the corner post and an outstretched Warriors defender by millimetres.

It became a contest of who wanted to win more and while the Warriors scored first after the break through Jerome Ropati, they lacked urgency and the ability to complete their sets.

Jacob Lillyman told Grandstand the New Zealanders lacked direction against a gutsy Manly outfit, with captain Simon Mannering and star winger Manu Vatuvei sidelined.

“They were a lot better in the arm wrestle,” he conceded.

“We pushed a few passes and weren’t really organised, especially when we were attacking their end.

“We have lot of things to work on this week.”

Tough afternoon

Lillyman dismissed any notion that the Warriors were fatigued after their 48-12 thumping of the Broncos on a hot Brisbane afternoon last Sunday.

“We had the seven-day turnaround and we ended up running away with that win,” he said.

“We just lacked direction attacking [Manly's] line and giving them some easy ball.

“Against Manly, who are a tough grinding side, you’ve got to play their style of footy and get into the grind.

“Pushing silly passes and lacking direction, you’re just going to struggle.”

Anthony Watmough was unstoppable going forward and led the Sea Eagles with 163 metres gained and had nine bruising hit-ups, but was also Manly’s worst offender in turnovers (five) and missed tackles (six).

Lance Hohaia and rookie Bill Tupou were consistent in moving New Zealand up the park and the latter was impressive in his NRL debut.

Tupou gained confidence as the game wore on after a nightmare start to his first grade career – he fumbled the ball when gathering up a Sea Eagles clearance kick in after the contest’s opening exchanges.

Filling the injured Vatuvei’s shoes was never going to be an easy task but the 19-year-old made some good runs for the New Zealanders.

Manly was rarely threatened in the first half, despite playing a man down when Ben Farrar was sinbinned for a professional foul on Tupou.

The fleet-footed Warriors teenager made a clean break and Farrar did well to chase him down, but overstepped the mark when he threw Tupou down a second time after the initial tackle.

The home side blew its chance to capitalise on the field position and the extra man when a wild high pass was dropped and Manly regained possession in the next set.

Sea Eagles: 14 (M Robertson, S Matai tries; J Lyon conversion, 2 penalty goals)

Warriors: 6 (J Ropati try; J Maloney conversion)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , ,

Stewart’s season finished

March 26, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Manly full-back Brett Stewart will miss the rest of the NRL season as his knee injury is worse than first thought.

The 25 year old had surgery on his left knee after damaging it in the first round of the season.

He had hoped to come back for round 20 but has been told there is no chance of him returning this year.

Stewart missed most of last season with a similar injury to his other knee.

“It was a shock to Brett and to the entire club but he is a fighter and he will be back as good as ever,” Manly coach Des Hasler said.

“The operation went well and Brett will make a full recovery but it won’t be this season – that’s certain and we now have to get on with the rest of the season without him.

“The players accept that and will respond to the challenge as they did without him last year.”

The Sea Eagles have lost both their opening two matches of the NRL season.

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Refs got it wrong, admits Finch

March 23, 2010 By Leave a Comment

NRL referees boss Robert Finch has conceded his officials made two errors costing Manly and the Eels points in Sunday’s match at Parramatta Stadium.

Finch says the referees erred in awarding the Sea Eagles’ first try and an obstruction penalty should have been awarded to the Eels.

He also says the final pass for centre Joel Reddy’s crucial try for the Eels was forward.

Sea Eagles coach Des Hasler blasted the match officials after his side’s 24-20 loss.

“I’m pretty disappointed with the team’s performance yesterday afternoon,” Finch said.

“There were two incidents in this game which led to points – the first being the first try that Manly scored, which was clearly a breach of the key indicators.

“An obstruction should have been awarded against the Manly side and a penalty to the Eels.”

“And the (Joel Reddy) try that the Eels scored … the last part was clearly forward.”

Finch says a decision on whether touch judge Gavin Reynolds will be dropped for round three will be made on Tuesday.

- AAP

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Sea Eagles chased down by Hayne train

March 22, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Manly has surrendered a 20-point lead to be run down 24-20 by a Jarryd Hayne-inspired Eels side in a thrilling Sunday afternoon contest at Parramatta Stadium.

After leading the Tigers 20-4 last week and losing, the Sea Eagles were handed yet another gutting defeat as Hayne ran riot to have a hand in all but one of the Eels’ four tries in the second half.

It was a complete turnaround by the hosts after they leaked four straight tries of their own on the back of woeful handling and poor discipline in the first 40 minutes.

Manly looked well on the way to its first competition points of the season when prop Matthew Cross was on the spot to take the score to 20-0 just two minutes after the break.

But Parramatta suddenly clicked into gear when Fuifui Moimoi barrelled his way over some soft goal-line defence from a penalty tap 10 minutes later.

Hayne gave the comeback even more impetus on the hour mark when he received a pass from Luke Burt in his own in-goal and beat five players in a scintillating 70 metre dash which ended with an off-load to Timana Tahu to sprint the rest of the way.

Tahu’s first try since his return to the NRL was backed up by another 12 minutes later on the back of a Hayne chip and chase, with Kris Keating’s blatantly forward pass putting Joel Reddy under the posts to make it 20-18.

Hayne popped up again to win the game for the Eels with three minutes left, his pinpoint cut-out pass finding Eric Grothe on the right wing to give Parra a remarkable come-from-behind victory.

Manly coach Des Hasler was clearly fuming at the decision to let play continue for Parra’s third try and could land himself in hot water.

“I’ll personally pay for those two touchies to visit OPSM and get a check up,” he said post match.

“Because I don’t know if we reverted to gridiron, not once, but twice at a critical part of the game, ” he added referring to both Hayne’s pop pass to Keating and the final ball to Reddy.

Any chance of an Eels win looked unlikely after they produced a terrible first half littered with 10 knock-ons and five penalties, many of which were in their own half, as well as two kicks out on the full.

Manly took full advantage, completing all of its first 13 sets to open up an intimidating 14-0 lead thanks to tries from debutant Trent Hodkinson, former Eel Tony Williams and pivot Jamie Lyon.

Tahu was in particular found out in defence, falling for a second man decoy for Williams’s try from a scrum base move before a poor read let Lyon dart through from close range.

When Cross scooped up a loose grubber to touch down next to the posts at the start of the second half, the lead seamed insurmountable for the Eels.

But the hosts proved true the old saying of a tale of two halves, making only three mistakes as they improved their completion rate to 87 per cent to throw the shell-shocked Sea Eagles on the back foot.

Hayne then single-handedly took the contest by the scruff of the neck with his hard running and ball play as he mirrored his heroics from late last season.

It was the third match of the weekend where a side has given away a substantial lead to lose after the Panthers led the Cowboys 20-8 and the Knights had a 14-0 advantage over Melbourne.

Eels: 24 (F Moimoi, T Tahu, J Reddy, E Grothe tries; L Burt 4/4 conversions)

Sea Eagles: 20 (T Hodkinson, T Williams, J Lyon, M Cross tries; J Lyon 2/4 conversions)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Tigers, Roosters off to flyers

March 22, 2010 By Leave a Comment

It took just one round for Wests Tigers and Sydney Roosters fans to begin dreaming of their sides making the NRL finals.

And it has taken only two rounds for the clubs to find themselves in a bona fide Sunday afternoon blockbuster at the Sydney Football Stadium.

The Roosters’ 36-10 upset of South Sydney and the Tigers’ amazing comeback to beat Manly 26-22 were two of the gobsmacking results of the season’s opening weekend.

On Sunday the two first-up winners are likely to run onto the ground they share in front of a bumper crowd boosted by Lote Tuqiri’s impressive return on Monday night.

“I don’t know about an all-time high but, from my point of view while I’ve been around, I reckon the footy that was played last week and the general feeling in footy at the moment is big,” Roosters coach Brian Smith said.

The key combinations of the Tigers’ Benji Marshall and Robbie Farah, and the Roosters’ Mitchell Pearce and Todd Carney are likely to be as thrilling as they are crucial to their side’s chances.

A support cast of Robert Lui and Tim Moltzen for the Tigers, and veteran Braith Anasta for the Roosters should ensure skill will be a major factor in the result.

Carney is wary of Marshall’s more direct play in attack this year after the New Zealand captain’s superb ball-playing display against the Sea Eagles.

“I watched a bit of stuff on him, he looks like he’s getting back to his best,” Carney said.

“When he’s running across the field and he’s got a lot of space he’s very dangerous.

“I noticed he’s taking the line on a lot more and he’s a lot more dangerous when he does that – he and Farah and Moltzen’s combination looked really good, so we’re going to have to tighten up that middle.”

Carney, who played a blinder against the Rabbitohs, is under no illusion his move to full-back will be tested under instructions from wily Tigers coach Tim Sheens.

“I’ll be ready for all the trick kicks and bombs and the players coming through,” Carney said.

“There’s going to be a lot of pressure but I’ve just got to concentrate on my game and hopefully I just do my job.

“The Tigers are a team that you have to be on (against), when they shift they shift, they’re deep and they’re coming (at you).”

Tuqiri’s second match back after seven years in rugby union has taken on drawcard proportions after his first-touch try against the Sea Eagles and his late charge down the left wing, which helped rescue the match for the Tigers.

Smith is not sure whether he will be even better for the hit-out on Monday night.

“That’s hard to say,” he said.

“Some guys do and some guys, it takes a lot out of them and it takes them a couple of weeks to get going again.”

Meanwhile, Roosters prop Jason Ryles, named on the bench this week, is likely to start the match.

- AAP

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,