News - Aug/Sep 1998

Note: This page will not be updated again until the start of the 1999 season.

08 Sep 1998: That's all folks

The time to say goodbye has finally come: I move to the USA next week, and my involvement with this page has now come to an end. This page will continue in 1999 (under somebody else).

Many thanks to everyone who's sent in comments, advice, abuse or praise over the last four years - it's been fun!

06 Sep 1998: It's all over

Manly's brave semi-finals campaign has ended as quickly as it begun, with a 17-4 loss to the Canberra Raiders last week. Terry Hill, Nik Kosef, Steve Menzies and Geoff Toovey have all been named in the train-on side for the Test team to play New Zealand.

The season was marred by a dreadful start which cost the Eagles a higher place on the ladder, but Manly fans were still treated to some wonderful football, particularly in more recent weeks. The year's highlight must certainly be the Eagles' incredible win over the Brisbane Broncos back in April - few Manly performances have been so comprehensive.

Best players this season were undoubtedly Luke Phillips and Anthony Colella. Phillips' game has rapidly matured, and his last ditch defence is now nothing short of spectacular. Colella continues the amazing succession of brilliant forwards to emerge from the Manly stable in recent years - his charging runs more than made up for the departure of Carroll and Gillespie, and Buddha may well find himself in a Blue jersey in 1999. Captain Geoff Toovey had another superb season, as did try-machine Steve Menzies and exciting new find Alf Duncan.

And we now must accept that the career of the great Cliffy Lyons is now at an end. Right until his last game, Napper was still the side's main playmaker, and his absence will surely be felt in 1999. Despite copping plenty of criticism from the fans and the media, Craig Field had some great games this year, and hopefully can step up as a worthy replacement for Cliffy in the future.

And as for next year? The future looks good. Except for Albert Torrens and Cliff Lyons, the entire first grade side will be staying on, and the Eagles should be able to make a strong case for standing alone in 2000.

23 Aug 1998: We're in the semis!

Manly trounced Auckland 38-12 earlier today, capping off a fabulous last ten weeks which has seen them scrape into the finals series.

Manly cruised to a 16-6 lead at half-time. But it could have been very different after Auckland bombed two fantastic tries by getting over the line but failing to ground the ball. The Warriors were made to pay in the second half, the Sea Eagles racking up four superb tries to wrap up the win.

Luke Phillips and Cliff Lyons both had blinders in today's game, while the Beaver picked up another three tries to make it 20 for the season, the equal highest in the NRL. The highlight of the match was a Cliffy cut-out pass 15 metres from the Manly line, which put Terry Hill into a huge gap. Hill ran 50 metres before off-loading to Hancock, who gave the ball to Menzies to score under the posts down the other end.

While Manly won convicingly today, unfortunately other results did not go their way: field goals in two other games cost the Eagles an elimination final at Brookvale. But nevertheless, Manly still finish in tenth spot and are now four wins away from another Grand Final. It all begins with a tough assignment on Friday night, when the boys travel down to Bruce Stadium for a sudden-death appointment with the Green Machine.

21 Aug 1998: Bozo steps down

Bob Fulton has resigned as coach of the Australian side, having decided to spend more time with his sick wife. The rumour is that 1999 may be Bozo's last year with the Sea Eagles.

19 Aug 1998: Serdaris back in side

Jim Serdaris returns from suspension for Sunday's crucial game against Auckland. Joe Vagana has been named in the Auckland side, but will miss the game after being suspended by the NRL judiciary last night. Teams are:

Auckland: Ridge (c), N Vagana, Iro, Tatupu, Oudenryn, Ngamu, Jones, Swann, Kearney, Guttenbeil, Pongia, Clark, J Vagana. Res: Galuvao, Malam, Laututiiti, Seuseu.

Manly: Phillips, Hancock, Torrens, Hopoate, Hill, Duncan, Field, Toovey (c), Kosef, Menzies, Gartner, Colella, Serdaris, Peters (one to be omitted). Res: S Fulton, Lyons, Lussick, Olejnik, Hunter.

18 Aug 1998: Buddha to stay

Fantastic news this morning with the announcement that Manly have signed prop Anthony Colella for the next three years. Colella was offered substantially more money to switch to Balmain or Canterbury but, like team-mate Nik Kosef, has decided that staying at Brookvale is more important to him than the money on offer elsewhere. Only Geoff Toovey is now yet to re-sign, but this is expected to be a formality.

17 Aug 1998: Into the Ten!

Manly have crept into the top half of the NRL ladder for the first time this year after a solid 28-12 win over North Queensland in the Brookvale muck yesterday.

The Eagles started poorly in terrible conditions, finding themselves behind 8-2 after 15 minutes. But once the team settled down, the tries began to flow. Manly finally took the lead, 14-8, just before half-time, before three more tries in the second half wrapped up the win.

The stars of the day were Craig Field and Luke Phillips, their superb passing and kicking setting up most of Manly's tries. Those faithful at the game saw what was possibly the try of the season in the 60th minute. On the last tackle Toovey passed to Field, who drifted to the left ready to work the numbers for a try in a corner. But suddenly Fieldsy changed direction and put a lofted chip kick towards the right side of the field, seemingly kicking to nobody. Nobody, that is, except the Beaver, who had started running before Field even got the ball, had to slow down to catch it, then dived over the line without being touched.

Yesterday was probably Cliffy Lyons' last game at Brookvale. The great man did not disappoint, slipping some great passes and being involved in several tries. Every time he touched the ball the crowd erupted, and almost everyone stayed behind to see Cliff's lap of honour once the game was over. Napper now looks likely to take up a development position with the club in 1999.

With Illawarra's surprise win over Cronulla on the weekend, Manly can now guarantee themselves an unlikely spot in the finals series if they can beat Auckland at Ericsson Stadium next Sunday. It has been an amazing turn around for a team which won just four of their first 14 games.

12 Aug 1998: What will we do without you?

Our worst fears have been confirmed, with living legend Cliff Lyons revealing that he has been told by the Manly club that his services will not be required in 1999. It's hard to imagine what life might be like without Napper: in an incredible 13 seasons with Manly, he has produced an endless stream of dummies, miracle passes, chip kicks, intercepts and inside balls (the latter usually to Steve Menzies), single-handedly winning more games for the Eagles than any of us can remember. Cliffy has achieved everything rugby league has to offer, and surely must go down as one of the greats of the modern game. It looks like Sunday will be the last time he ever runs out onto Brookvale Oval - so get down there and say goodbye!

In other news, John Hopoate moves into the forwards to replace the injured Joe Taylor. Jamie Olejnik comes onto the bench.

Manly: Phillips, Hancock, Torrens, Hill, Duncan, Field, Toovey (c), Kosef, Hopoate, Menzies, Gartner, Colella, Peters. Res: S Fulton, Lyons, Hunter, Browne, Olejnik.

North Queensland: Mahon, Hannay, Nadruku, Mercy, Coorey, Dunemann, Ferris, Death, Shipway, Cunningham, Locke, Walters, Lomax (c). Res: Doyle, Roberts, Fritz, Tassell.

FootyTAB: North Queensland +12.5

10 Aug 1998: Victory over the Rams

Manly finished 32-10 victors over Adelaide on Friday tonight, running away with the match after it was 14-10 at half-time. Steve Menzies picked up three tries, while Alf Duncan scored yet again to have now crossed the line in every one of his last eight games. Prop Joe Taylor broke his ankle and is out for the season.

Manly play North Queensland at Brookvale next Sunday afternoon. The Sea Eagles need to win both their remaining games, and hope that one of Cronulla or Canterbury lose a game, to make the finals series.

05 Aug 1998: Jimmy out

Jim Serdaris has pleaded guilty to a spear tackle, and has been suspended by the NRL judiciary for two weeks. Anthony Colella replaces him at hooker, while Joe Taylor comes off the bench and into the front row. Teams for Friday night are:

Adelaide: Bird, Daylight, Grimley, Appo, Jensen, Quinn, Goldthorpe, Schifilliti, Iro, Doherty, Corvey, Walters (c), Pierce. Res: Cann, Wieland, Peek, Clarke, Williamson.

Manly: Phillips, Hancock, Hopoate, Hill, Duncan, Field, Toovey (c), Kosef, Gartner, Menzies, Taylor, Colella, Peters. Res: Torrens, Lyons, S Fulton, Browne, Hunter.

FootyTAB: Adelaide +10.5

In other news, Geoff Toovey now looks certain to play out his career with the Sea Eagles. Toovey has been given special consideration in the calculation of Manly's salary cap, because of his long association with a single club.

03 Aug 1998: Still on that tightrope...

Brookvale's biggest crowd this year saw an absolute nailbiter yesterday, Manly sneaking home 20-18 over Balmain to keep their finals hopes alive. The Eagles began strongly, skipping to a 16-0 lead at the break after three great tries to Alf Duncan. But mistakes and a lack of intensity in the second half saw Balmain claw their way back into the match, scoring three tries of their own to take the lead 18-16. Looking down the barrel with 10 minutes remaining, a pinpoint kick from Geoff Toovey saw Alf Duncan pounce on the ball in the in-goal area for what should have been the match-winning try. But it was agony for Manly fans as the referee called things back 30 metres for a trivial scuffle between Cliff Lyons and Darren Senter. Thankfully, justice was done a few minutes later when Craig Field opted to run the ball on the last, then floated a spectacular 30 metre pass out to Hoppa who steamed over for the final try.

Manly's best was Alf Duncan, whose superb finishing skills saw him grab his first top-grade hat trick. Alf could have had five tries, if not for some questionable decisions from referee Brian Grant. Anthony Colella, Luke Phillips and Craig Field were also impressive, while Jim Serdaris was placed on report for a spear tackle.

Manly now leapfrog Balmain on the ladder to sit in 12th spot, on equal points with Canterbury and just one point behind Illawarra in 10th place. On Friday night the Sea Eagles head to Hindmarsh Stadium to take on the lowly-placed Rams.

Meanwhile, Nik Kosef has shown his blood runs maroon and white, re-signing on Friday with Manly for the next five years despite a much bigger offer from Balmain. Andrew Hunter has also re-signed for another two years.

Earlier stories: [Jan-Feb 98 | Mar 98 | Apr 98 | May 98 | Jun 98 | Aug 98]

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09-Sep-1998
Bryan Gaensler
bgaensler@dunlap.utoronto.ca