Less than a week after returning from a game in Fiji, the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles now face their 'biggest challenge' of the year in Canberra on Saturday in the Jersey Flegg Cup.
The Sea Eagles travel down to Canberra on Friday to tackle the Raiders at GIO Stadium, less than a week after a two day trip to Fiji in which Manly beat a spirited Kaviti Silktails 28-22 in very humid conditions at Churchill Park, Lautoka.
The Raiders head into the round 23 game four points clear on top of the ladder with four rounds remaining before the finals. Manly sit in fifth place with the top five teams making the finals.
The Sea Eagles will go from the humid conditions of Fiji to the cold winter in the nation's capital.
Match: Raiders v Sea Eagles
Round 23 -
home Team
Raiders
1st Position
away Team
Sea Eagles
5th Position
Venue: GIO Stadium, Canberra
Manly Coach Scott Kenna said the team has responded well from the trip to Fiji in which they led the home side 28-0 at half-time before holding off a late fightback.
"We started really well and executed what we had planned,'' Kenna said.
"The second half was a different story. We had no possession and completed very low in very hot and humid conditions.
"You can't take nothing away from the Silktails. They outplayed us in the second half in all areas and dealt with the conditions a lot better than us.
"It was still a great experience for all involved and we take a lot of lessons and learnings from the trip.
"This is our biggest challenge of the year travelling down to Canberra as the Raiders are the benchmark of the competition at the moment.
"The players are all excited and ready for the challenge."
