Other Manly players named in the Australian squad were Mark Carroll, Terry Hill, Daniel Gartner, Steve Menzies and Jim Serdaris. Gartner will be making his Test Debut, and will be the club's 61st international player. His selection means that five of the eight local juniors in the Manly first grade squad are also Kangaroos - a strong argument against those who would claim that the club ``buys'' the premiership!
The team put in another machine-like display to defeat St George 20-8 at the SFS earlier today, leading from start to finish. The Eagles opened the scoring in the 5th minute with a try in the corner to Craig Innes. After a penalty goal apiece, the score was 8-2 heading into half-time. But Steve Menzies scored under the posts on the siren, to give Manly a handy lead at the break of 14-2. The try was a controversial one - in the lead up, Matthew Ridge played on after appearing to be held in a tackle by Nathan Brown.
After the break the Eagles extended their lead through Danny Moore. St George countered with a late try to Nick Zisti, but it was too little, too late.
And so Manly are victorious, their first premiership in ten years. Captain Geoff Toovey received the Clive Churchill Medal - also to shine were Ridge, Kosef, Serdaris and Innes. To Ridgey, Des, OJ and Cement: thanks, guys - we'll miss you!
Ridge, Moore, Innes, Hill, Hopoate, Lyons, Toovey (c), Hasler, Kosef, Gartner, Menzies, Carroll, Serdaris, Cunningham, Gillespie (two to be omitted). Reserves: Tierney, Elsegood, Fulton, Hancock, Dunford, Guberina
The Sea-Eagles answered their critics superbly yesterday, with a thoroughly dominant 24-0 victory over Cronulla at the SFS. The Eagles opened the scoring through Cliff Lyons in the 21st minute, the score 6-0 at half-time. But in the second half it was a repeat of last year's semi-final, some crucial Cronulla mistakes causing Manly to run away with it.
In a game full of spite, many players were injured and had to leave the field. Matt Ridge suffered a knock to the head in the first half and did not return, while Geoff Toovey and Jim Serdaris also had head injuries. All are expected to be fit for next week's game.
Manly will now face up to St George in the 1996 ARL Grand Final, to be played on Sunday afternoon at the SFS. This will be the last game in the maroon and white for a number of players, including Matthew Ridge, David Gillespie, Des Hasler and Owen Cunningham.
The Sea Eagles and the Dragons have both been runners-up in recent years, Manly losing last year's Grand Final to the Bulldogs, while St George being defeated in both 1992 and 1993 by Brisbane. The two clubs have met in the Grand Final twice before, victory going to the Dragons in both 1957 and 1959.
Ridge, Moore, Innes, Hill, Hopoate, Lyons, Toovey (c), Hasler, Kosef, Gartner, Menzies, Carroll, Serdaris, Cunningham, Gillespie (two to be omitted). Reserves: Tierney, Elsegood, Fulton, Hancock, Dunford, Guberina
The Eagles scored early through John Hopoate, but the Roosters clawed their way back through two penalty goals, trailing 6-4 at the break. A try to Steve Menzies had Manly leading 10-8 with 18 minutes remaining, but then Brad Fittler went over to give the Roosters the lead for the first time in the match. It took some classic Cliffy Lyons genius in the dying stages to seal the result, a smart move putting Craig Innes in to seal the result.
Coach Bob Fulton will no doubt be hoping to iron out some of the mistakes which have crept into the Manly game of late. In particular,``brain explosions'' from John Hopoate and Danny Moore could have cost Manly dearly, both passing the ball in their own in-goal area. The Eagles are now just one win away from the Grand Final, and in a fortnight will face the winner of this weekend's match between Brisbane and Cronulla.
Ridge, Moore, Innes, Hill, Lyons, Toovey (c), Hasler, Kosef, Gartner, Menzies, Carroll, Serdaris, Cunningham, Gillespie (two to be omitted). Reserves: Tierney, Elsegood, Fulton, Hancock, Dunford, Guberina
The Eagles have their first game of the finals series this Sunday at the SFS against the Sydney City Roosters. The winner will have a week off while the loser will then be one loss away from oblivion.
Earlier stories: [Mar 96 | Apr 96 | May 96 | Jun 96 | Jul 96 | Aug 96 ]
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