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Post by Electric Eel on May 23, 2020 17:36:58 GMT 10
2003 Trial Game: Parramatta 30 d Manly 20
SMH
No-name Eels too slippery for Manly
By Brad Walter
January 26 2003
The Sun-Herald
After three years of playing under the unpopular Northern Eagles tag, Manly last night officially returned to the National Rugby League - but indications from their trial against Parramatta were that it may be a while before they recapture the hate of rival fans.
While the standard of the first pre-season hit-out between two NRL teams satisfied the enthusiastic 12,127 crowd, the Sea Eagles were outscored six tries to four by a virtual no-name Eels outfit.
Skippered by centre Luke Burt, Parramatta boasted just five regular first graders from last season but it required the re-appearance of ballplaying second-rower Dean Widders in the final 20 minutes to secure the win.
Trailing 20-16 at three-quarter time, the Eels piled on three unanswered tries and Widders was responsible for two of them - scoring himself in the 68th minute and then putting fullback Ronald Prince over six minutes later.
Things started badly for the inexperienced Parramatta outfit when Manly halfback Jason Ferris dummied his way over for a try in the second minute of the match.
But the Parramatta defence quickly gained sufficient sting to force Sea Eagles props Nathan Long (head wound) and Jason King (concussion) to the sideline midway through the opening 20-minute quarter.
Aided by a string of penalties, the Eels also responded on the scoreboard with winger Nick Emmett crossing in the 13th minute off a Steve Witt grubber and hooker Nathan Hollingsworth ducking over from dummy-half five minutes later.
Winger John Hopoate sent a scare into the Manly camp when he hobbled from the field with an ankle injury seven minutes into the second quarter but the Eagles regained their composure to take a 16-10 lead at the break.
Again it was five-eighth Luke Dorn who set up their second try, this time putting skipper Steve Menzies into a gap before the Test backrower unselfishly passed for an unmarked Albert Torrens to score in the 31st minute.
Ferris goaled from out wide but he could not convert from the opposite corner five minutes later after starting a movement that resulted in Matt Hill crossing untouched. The success of the match will continue the push for a Gold Coast-based NRL team, but any new side is unlikely to go under the Chargers nickname after the club was formally wound up last week.
Despite being axed in 1997 as part of the deal to end the Super League war, the Chargers have still supported the game financially and last year even provided a loan to Newcastle to overcome a short-term cash flow problem.
But a board meeting last week elected to wind up the club and transfer the last remaining $400,000 to the ARL, which established the Chargers after the previous administration went broke.
Former player Michael Searle, now a player manager and promoter, said his company International Sports Australia was determined to "prove to NRL officials that the Gold Coast can and will support a team at Carrara Stadium".
PARRAMATTA 30 (R Prince 2, N Emmett, N Hollingsworth, R Duffy, D Widders tries; L Burt 3 goals) beat Manly 20 (A Torrens 2, J Ferris, M Hill tries; J Ferris 2 goals) at Carrara Stadium. Refs: M Cecchin/ T Mander. Crowd: 12,127.
SMH
No-name Eels too slippery for Manly
By Brad Walter
January 26 2003
The Sun-Herald
After three years of playing under the unpopular Northern Eagles tag, Manly last night officially returned to the National Rugby League - but indications from their trial against Parramatta were that it may be a while before they recapture the hate of rival fans.
While the standard of the first pre-season hit-out between two NRL teams satisfied the enthusiastic 12,127 crowd, the Sea Eagles were outscored six tries to four by a virtual no-name Eels outfit.
Skippered by centre Luke Burt, Parramatta boasted just five regular first graders from last season but it required the re-appearance of ballplaying second-rower Dean Widders in the final 20 minutes to secure the win.
Trailing 20-16 at three-quarter time, the Eels piled on three unanswered tries and Widders was responsible for two of them - scoring himself in the 68th minute and then putting fullback Ronald Prince over six minutes later.
Things started badly for the inexperienced Parramatta outfit when Manly halfback Jason Ferris dummied his way over for a try in the second minute of the match.
But the Parramatta defence quickly gained sufficient sting to force Sea Eagles props Nathan Long (head wound) and Jason King (concussion) to the sideline midway through the opening 20-minute quarter.
Aided by a string of penalties, the Eels also responded on the scoreboard with winger Nick Emmett crossing in the 13th minute off a Steve Witt grubber and hooker Nathan Hollingsworth ducking over from dummy-half five minutes later.
Winger John Hopoate sent a scare into the Manly camp when he hobbled from the field with an ankle injury seven minutes into the second quarter but the Eagles regained their composure to take a 16-10 lead at the break.
Again it was five-eighth Luke Dorn who set up their second try, this time putting skipper Steve Menzies into a gap before the Test backrower unselfishly passed for an unmarked Albert Torrens to score in the 31st minute.
Ferris goaled from out wide but he could not convert from the opposite corner five minutes later after starting a movement that resulted in Matt Hill crossing untouched. The success of the match will continue the push for a Gold Coast-based NRL team, but any new side is unlikely to go under the Chargers nickname after the club was formally wound up last week.
Despite being axed in 1997 as part of the deal to end the Super League war, the Chargers have still supported the game financially and last year even provided a loan to Newcastle to overcome a short-term cash flow problem.
But a board meeting last week elected to wind up the club and transfer the last remaining $400,000 to the ARL, which established the Chargers after the previous administration went broke.
Former player Michael Searle, now a player manager and promoter, said his company International Sports Australia was determined to "prove to NRL officials that the Gold Coast can and will support a team at Carrara Stadium".
PARRAMATTA 30 (R Prince 2, N Emmett, N Hollingsworth, R Duffy, D Widders tries; L Burt 3 goals) beat Manly 20 (A Torrens 2, J Ferris, M Hill tries; J Ferris 2 goals) at Carrara Stadium. Refs: M Cecchin/ T Mander. Crowd: 12,127.
