Sydney Roosters vs Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Grand Final Match Thread

[easts4eva]

Manly absolutely tried to destroy us in that last semi. That was one of the most brutal games I'd ever seen Mini was just settling back to the fullback role, no JWH, cordner & Moa for 55mins. 36% possesion & somehow still won. Skd was great on sat night & Guerra was brilliant. I reckon we got em covered.

[Darkone]

I think our team can learn a lot from the previous encounter with Manly. Our edge defence was exposed last time around with Jamie Lyon and David Williams making plenty of inroads from the back. We scrambled very well but if they did break our line during that second half we could have easily been run down.

One thing Manly did really well was negate our go forward, yes we were without our pack leader - JWH and Sam Moa for moments in the clash but we must win that particular battle to give the likes of Jake Friend and our quick halves room to move. If our team can somehow get second phase plays going with some offloads it could really juice this Manly team. Keeping possession is so vital to wear them down.

Dangers are obviously DCE’s clever kicking game, Jamie Lyon’s ability to draw and pass and Brett Stewart chiming in the back.

It’s the battle in the middle though that can dictate the result. If we over power Manly we have speed to expose their defence.

A concise & most productive contribution to this thread thus far, thanks Henryj.....

Watmough came out today & attempted to detract from "the middle' by declaring if they stop RTS they control the game???

couldn't agree more, should JWH lead his pack successfully we are difficult to hold out.

We may have played them 3x but each occasion we posed a different line up, it must drive Tooves nuts!!

[Guest]

A concise & most productive contribution to this thread thus far, thanks Henryj.....

Watmough came out today & attempted to detract from "the middle' by declaring if they stop RTS they control the game???

couldn't agree more, should JWH lead his pack successfully we are difficult to hold out.

We may have played them 3x but each occasion we posed a different line up, it must drive Tooves nuts!!

I think it will be one in the halves. DCE and Foran did it before in 2011, manly have only missed one finals game (2012 grand final) since the pair first played together 2 seasons ago. Maloney and Pearce, especially Pearce, need to stand up to the pressure and perform.

[roostersrule2]

Watched the Roosters Manly game again yesterday, and they had something like 40 tackles in our 20 compared with us having only 12 in theirs. With Brett Stewart back there's no way we can count on being able to hold them out again if they get that much field position.

Perhaps but Hiku was MOTM, you can't really say we lost because their FB was out when their replacement was the MOTM.

[Guest]

I think it will be one in the halves. DCE and Foran did it before in 2011, manly have only missed one finals game (2012 grand final) since the pair first played together 2 seasons ago. Maloney and Pearce, especially Pearce, need to stand up to the pressure and perform.

Top analysis Kegs. You are probably the first bloke to say that. Very insightful you are.

[Darkone]

It will be a game of "chicken"

who blinks first will falter, patience is the key for this coming weekend.

[Guest]

I really do feel that Souths choked, they lost their composure and didn't know what options to take when they hit the lead.

14-0 was the worst thing that could have happened as it forced Manly to get points and just focus on playing football. This is where Souths needed to be punishing them in defence and forcing a grinding match, instead their wingers and centres were exposed and that is where they lost it.

We need to be aware of this and know that Manly will come out with an attitude of winning the match and try to put us to the sword. We need to punish them again and again and not let up and eventually we will crack them open.

The key is us getting 50-50 of the ball, everyone talks about Brett Stewart missing, as great as he is I think the outcome rests on the amount of possession we get, last time we got very little possession and just held on, if we get it to 50-50 I think you will see a better performance from our boys than in the semi-final.

[Darkone]

I think it will be one in the halves. DCE and Foran did it before in 2011, manly have only missed one finals game (2012 grand final) since the pair first played together 2 seasons ago. Maloney and Pearce, especially Pearce, need to stand up to the pressure and perform.

true kegs

halves are the ones but require some space to execute, that space is courtesy the pack

[Darkone]

I really do feel that Souths choked, they lost their composure and didn't know what options to take when they hit the lead.

14-0 was the worst thing that could have happened as it forced Manly to get points and just focus on playing football. This is where Souths needed to be punishing them in defence and forcing a grinding match, instead their wingers and centres were exposed and that is where they lost it.

We need to be aware of this and know that Manly will come out with an attitude of winning the match and try to put us to the sword. We need to punish them again and again and not let up and eventually we will crack them open.

The key is us getting 50-50 of the ball, everyone talks about Brett Stewart missing, as great as he is I think the outcome rests on the amount of possession we get, last time we got very little possession and just held on, if we get it to 50-50 I think you will see a better performance from our boys than in the semi-final.

Souths had a pack of poms, a tactical mistake...

there's nothing better than a pack of poms to fire up the opposition when it MATTERS MOST

[stringaz]

Yes yes yes loving this week with the GF buzz hanging over us all, it's been a phenomenal year so far, best two teams going head to head for the big one, feeling the hate even up here on the tweed/goldie, feels more like 02 than 2010 just without freddie.

I can't wait to watch my roosters play their best game of the season so far

We have good selection headaches from what I read on here, (:s?) i have faith robbo will make the right choice to get the job done on the day.

I'd be a proud rooster watching mini hold that trophy high

Go easts, Go you ROOSTERS!

THIS IS OUR YEAR. 2013.

Welcome to Roosterland

[Guest]

interesting stat: there have been only 4 all Sydney grand finals since the turn of century, all of which have involved the roosters. (03 v panthers, 04 v bulldogs, 10 v dragons and 13 v manly)

[milanja]

interesting stat: there have been only 4 all Sydney grand finals since the turn of century, all of which have involved the roosters. (03 v panthers, 04 v bulldogs, 10 v dragons and 13 v manly)

Welcome back kegs!

Try hanging around a bit more this time.

thats a pretty avg stat, looks like we would of been better off playing melb. Think we can get this one though, our forwards should really be able to dominate, and cant wait to see what sonny has to offer in the big dance.

[Guest]

Welcome back kegs!

Try hanging around a bit more this time.

thats a pretty avg stat, looks like we would of been better off playing melb. Think we can get this one though, our forwards should really be able to dominate, and cant wait to see what sonny has to offer in the big dance.

I'll try mil.

IMO, stats, while interesting, mean nothing. The above stat, the stat I mentioned earlier in the thread, wont determine who will win on Sunday. I saw somewhere that Manly won the comp in 72, 73, 76 and 78; and although they lost in 07, won in 08, 11 and are now looking to win in 13. While this is an interesting trend, it does not mean they will win. (they didn't win in 07 either, so it doesn't count!)

I think SBW will kill it on Sunday. He came here to win us a premiership and he wont go down without a fight.

[roostersrule2]

I'll try mil.

IMO, stats, while interesting, mean nothing. The above stat, the stat I mentioned earlier in the thread, wont determine who will win on Sunday. I saw somewhere that Manly won the comp in 72, 73, 76 and 78; and although they lost in 07, won in 08, 11 and are now looking to win in 13. While this is an interesting trend, it does not mean they will win. (they didn't win in 07 either, so it doesn't count!)

I think SBW will kill it on Sunday. He came here to win us a premiership and he wont go down without a fight.

Stats only mean something for FPN hey.

[Guest]

Stats only mean something for FPN hey.

I never said they didn't tell a story.