NRL 2011 Grand Final
September 29th, 2011 by Shaun · 4 Comments
With no further ado I give you the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles versus The New Zealand Warriors.
Regular season: Manly finished second on 40 points and the Warriors ended up in sixth spot on 32 points.
The path to the Grand Final: The Sea Eagles beat the Cowboys 42-8 and then Brisbane 26-14 after a week's rest to make the Grand Final. The Warriors had a arguably tougher path firstly losing 42-10 to the Broncos before ending the Tigers' season with 22-20 victory. Then they overcame the The Storm 20-12 to set up the decider against Sea Eagles.
Head to Head: Played 20 times. The Sea Eagles have 13 wins, the Warriors 7. Manly have won the past three games against the Warriors (including two games in 2011). They also beat the Warriors 32-6 in the 2008 preliminary final which was the last time the teams met in the finals.
The Teams:
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles: Brett Stewart, Michael Robertson, Jamie Lyon (capt), Steve Matai, Will Hopoate, Kieran Foran, Daly Cherry-Evans, Joe Galuvao, Matt Ballin, Brent Kite, Anthony Watmough, Tony Williams, Glenn Stewart. Interchange: Shane Rodney, Jamie Buhrer, Vic Mauro, George Rose, Darcy Lussick, Tim Robinson
New Zealand Warriors: Kevin Locke, Bill Tupou, Lewis Brown, Krisnan Inu, Manu Vatuvei, James Maloney, Shaun Johnson, Sam Rapira, Aaron Heremaia, Jacob Lillyman, Feleti Mateo, Simon Mannering (capt), Micheal Luck. Interchange: Lance Hohaia, Russell Packer, Ben Matulino, Elijah Taylor, Steve Rapira.
The Verdict: A game that pits evil against not so evil but they are from New Zealand so sure to be some mischief in their souls. But, as it appears from my view point, the Warriors mischief has captured the hearts of not just their Kiwi brethren but many Aussies as well. If the grand final was against the Storm then Manly would have not so much the hearts but some generally more positive feelings from Sydney. But without any real hard hearts against the Warriors, the hatred engendered in the 70s against Manly has risen greatly to make them almost outcasts in their home city.
But even with a team not well like and a team from across the ditch, the Grand Final is a sell out much the chagrin of some tweeters early in the week attempting to talk down the crowd and support footy has.
We know what Manly will bring to the grand final but what about the Warriors? Consistency is not one of their qualities but big games seem to be becoming their forte. But I like the enthusiasm of youth they have. Which is the difference between the two sides. The Warriors are generally a young side and a testament to Cleary's patience. Manly is a little more grizzled and experience. A team on the up meets a team at the top who one will start to fade is a season or two.
I know what the heart says as well as years of enmity as a Parra fan. But the head tells me Manly have the experience and consistency to get them over the line. I could be wrong and I bet I'll enjoy finding out.
Tags: NRL 2011 · Rugby League
4 responses so far ↓
Mountain Boy // Sep 29, 2011 at 11:26 pm
Should be a great game. Haven’t seen the article yet, and not sure what journos are waiting for, but would be a great read – the one about Ivan Cleary, who played his debut 1st grade game for Manly Warringah, and who played his last ever 1st grade game as fullback for the Auckland Warriors in Grand Final 2002. He plays his last game for the Warriors in a Grand Final, and he coaches his last game for the Warriors …in a Grand Final. How many know that he carries not just the hopes of New Zealand, but the taste of Grand Final defeat from 9 years ago into this one? Cleary has given this one a touch of ’91 Roycie Simmons feel. Sure he can’t do the first try / last try double like Roycie did, and he won’t offer to have a beer with every fan afterwards – but just the same you would love the Warriors to win for him. Go the Warriors!! Go out and win this one.
Mountain Boy // Oct 2, 2011 at 8:39 pm
Ok so I was right. This New Zealand team was better than the 2002 team, but just not quite good enough to say they were the best of the year. If not for a play the ball played sideways, which led to a try, and a couple of missed conversions, it could have turned the kiwis way. Congrats Manly. They did play the stronger and deserved Premiers.
Thanks everyone for season 2011 & welcome Ivan C.
I do end on a barb and have to say, its a shame that theres far too many out there that seem to show themselves through the passing of each finals series, an apathy that suggests them not be true followers of rugby league at all, just their own team. Not trying to change anyone. Each to their small-minded own. Just an observation.
Shaun // Oct 2, 2011 at 11:08 pm
The Watmough play the ball should have been penalised. The refs are afraid of making a decision that may change momentum and in the end make no decision and hence do change momentum. Still, you gotta take you chances and Manly did while the Warriors squandered theirs.
Having said that, Manly did look the better side for most of the game. Glenn Stewart deservedly won the Clive Churchill medal. His grubber that lead to the Manly’s second try was an audacious move that even the Warriors would have thought twice about.
The Warriors though are a team on the rise. Having three teams play in the GF indicates a bright future. Their one weakness is their strength. That unpredictability of play and desire to never die wondering.
My barb is about Rabs. Surely he is senile. On one of Inu’s runs where he dropped the ball (which was most of them) Rabs exclaimed it was one of the bravest runs on grand final history. I’m sure Rabs can’t remember before 2007 at the moment. Every play is one of the greatest grand final moments for him.
Mountain Boy // Oct 3, 2011 at 8:10 am
Shouldnt have taken long to work out if you get tackled one on one with Watmough, he’s gonna try and strip you. He must have thought all week to come up with that one whilst urinating in public. Still a bit of extra awareness on the Warriors part in that regard could have done wonders. Manu also drops two attacking bombs, but then who really expected him to go mistake-free?
I think the cake for Rabs could be shared with the shock Foran no-try, when bloody fantastic but up til now strange-new-never-before-seen slow-mo close ups showed he lost control. I wasn’t sure what to be more confused about – Rabs eyesight in relation to the big screen, or in his case a TV monitor in front of him, or these decisive replay technologies that had been under wraps for so long. Note all the normal replays very much showed a try, whilst just one look with the new stuff told the truth.