It's time to reflect on some of the serious, and light-hearted, moments from our win over Canberra in 'The Things We Learnt' column.
A week is a long time!
The past week has certainly been very long for Manly with what has gone on off the field. However, for the players and Coach Trent Barrett, it was all about getting their preparations right and focusing on what they had to do to bounce back after that horrible loss to Souths (some fans thought the world had ended). Full credit to Trent and the team on a job well done in pumping the Canberra Raiders. Our latest rivalry with the Raiders continues in late May when we head back down to the Nation’s Capital to be greeted by freezing weather, warm hospitality from Raiders fans, and of course, the ‘clap’. For those a little confused by that, the ‘clap’ is a welcome greeting to their team. We just prefer the ‘Eagle Rock’.
Injury Gods Strike Again
The injury Gods haven’t been kind, have they? First Darcy Lussick, then Jorge Taufua, and now we lose forwards Kelepi Tanginoa and Curtis Sironen for the season. Ouch. We saw last year how much we missed ‘Siro’ when he was out with a pec injury. Fortunately we have some great depth in the back-row. On a positive note, the news was much brighter for Tom Trbojevic who is likely to miss the next two weeks with an ankle injury after going down late in the game. Manly fans will eagerly be awaiting ‘Team List Tuesday’ as to who Barrett brings in. You will see it first at 4pm on our website!
Full-throttle ‘Turbo’
Was there a ‘half price Easter eggs’ sale on at Warringah Mall on Saturday night? The way Tommy Trbojevic was running in the first 15 minutes, he could have jumped the Lottoland fence, dash down the road into Target, raced back again, before DCE even converted the full-back’s try. The only thing that could have run down ‘Turbo’ in the first half was the mighty mare Winx!
Brotherly love
Don’t you enjoy some ‘brotherly love’? How good is it to see Tom and Jake Trbojevic combine for tries. It just warms your heart and there is so much more to enjoy in the years ahead. Success has not changed these down to earth brothers at all. And there to watch them do their stuff was their wonderful family from mum Melissa, dad John, brothers Ben and Luke, and of course, their beautiful Nan, who just lives and breathes her footy and the mighty Sea Eagles!
Jumpin' Jack Flash
On your marks, get set, go…when it comes to starting quickly, the Sea Eagles are now out of the blocks faster than kids at school on the last day waiting for the bell to ring for summer holidays. Take in the 54-0 thumping of the Eels (we know you are still smiling) combined with the 26-6 lead at half-time against the Raiders, and Manly has an 80-6 aggregate score in 120 minutes of football at Lottoland. There certainly is no place like ‘home’.
The ‘Fortress’
Speaking of ‘home’, the Fortress is getting stronger and stronger with each home game that passes. The win over the Raiders made it seven straight victories at Lottoland when you take in the five last home games in 2017, and the two this season. The last time Manly was beaten at ‘The Fortress’ was against Melbourne last April in round 7. All that is needed for the next home game on Sunday, April 15, against the Wests Tigers is more Manly fans to surround it.
Happy Half-time!
To top off the outstanding first half by the Sea Eagles, the Manly faithful were treated to a colourful performance from the lovely Seabirds as they danced to the hit song ‘I Can’t Help Myself’ by the Four Tops. It was followed by an Easter Hat Parade with some very excited kids (and a few adults) being handed Easter eggs by the Seabirds. Does it get any better than that on a Saturday night at Lottoland when your team leads by 20 at half-time? Come on, let’s sing together….Sugar pie, honey bunch, You know that I love you, I can't help myself’.
900 Not Out!
The win over the Raiders brought up 900 first grade victories by the Sea Eagles since entering the NSWRL competition in 1947. There are so many memories of great players, eight premierships, and some very special moments. Let’s keep it rolling and bring on 1000 wins!
‘We’re going to ‘Gladstone’
No, it’s not the words to a great Johnny Cash song (he went to Jackson!) but the Sea Eagles are hitting the road to Gladstone. There is plenty of excitement from our passionate Manly fans in regional Queensland (yes, Manly fans are everywhere) and it’s going to be a great few days up north as our fans drive, fly, and even caravan it into town. There will be a big army of Sea Eagles fans at Marley Brown Oval for our away match to the Gold Coast Titans. All that is left now is to change some of Johnny Cash’s words. How about this Manly fans…‘We've been talkin' 'bout Gladstone, ever since the draw came out, I'm goin' to Gladstone, Look out Gladstone town’. See you there!
