Bk's Tough Love Warranted As Manly Fluff Lines

Sydney Morning Herald

Monday April 17, 2006

GREG PRICHARD

BEN Kennedy is a very hard marker, but that is what you've got to be if you want your team to get anywhere in such a tough, even competition.

Some people may have thought the Manly captain was a bit tough in his criticism of the performance by the Sea Eagles in losing 26-24 to St George Illawarra at Brookvale Oval, when he launched into his team for their stupid mistakes, dumb penalties and poor options.

But he wasn't being tough, he was just being realistic, and he was dead right in his belief that Manly had blown a golden opportunity to win.

The difference between the two sides was not that the Dragons were more creative than the Sea Eagles. It was that - when it came to the crunch - they simply executed better. They were more composed under pressure and while their comeback halfback Mathew Head grabbed all of the headlines, the key figure for them was five-eighth and captain Trent Barrett.

It was a massive game for St George Illawarra, after Newcastle had flogged them the previous week, and they could have easily panicked after Manly got to an 8-0 lead. But the leadership by example from Barrett was cool and, as a result, the rest of the team didn't lose their way.

Barrett took on most of the playmaking early, while Head was feeling his way into the match after having played only one game back in Premier League following a knee reconstruction. But, gradually, Barrett stepped back while Head stepped forward. It was a mature display from both players.

Considering the overall performance by Manly, it didn't come as a surprise when, as they threatened to score a late try that would have won them the game, they played into St George Illawarra's hands one last time.

Tackles were running out when fullback Brett Stewart went for a low-percentage charge at the line from close range. Predictably, he was stopped, which meant he had to play the ball from just centimetres out. That gave the defence the chance to rush up as Manly desperately swung the ball wide and Head claimed an intercept to kill the game.

Penrith were strangely flat in their 40-18 loss to Melbourne at Hindmarsh Stadium in Adelaide and the rib injuries which put Tony Puletua out of the game early and restricted Craig Gower for most of it can only partly explain that.

Both teams have been on the road throughout the early rounds, with their home grounds unavailable, but the Storm have had the longer hauls, including trips to Auckland and Townsville. Yet it was the Storm who looked fresher and brighter from the start and the bye they were coming off must have done them the world of good.

There didn't look to be the threat of anything stunning happening between Canberra and New Zealand Warriors at Canberra Stadium and that was how it turned out.

An eight-point lead is nothing these days, but it should have meant more in this game, considering the lack of firepower in both sides. Yet the Warriors, leading 14-6, couldn't hang on and they have only themselves to blame. The Raiders simply wanted it more.

© 2006 Sydney Morning Herald

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