Manly Sea Eagles 2009 season preview
March 11th 2009 06:42
The lowdown
The Manly Sea Eagles should be approaching season 2009 with lots of enthusiasm. After all, they are the defending premiers, walloping the Storm 40-0 last season to register their seventh premiership.
Instead, Manly will begin season 2009 like a club in turmoil. Whether it be their financial crisis, or Brett Stewart's sexual assault allegations, the Sea Eagles mindset at the moment is far from where it should be.
To make matters worse, the NRL have fined the Sea Eagles $100,000, whilst also suspending Stewart until round 5 of the 2009 season.
Matters off the field for Manly has placed the club under pressure to perform well this season. Their early season form this year will determine if the Sea Eagles are genuine contenders for back to back premierships.
2009 Prospects
Like any reigning premiers, the Sea Eagles will be favoured to at least reach the preliminary finals come late September.
Despite some off season losses, Manly still boost a tremendous player roster that now includes a mature and genuine leader in Matt Orford.
Michael Robertson, Steve Matai, Jamie Lyon, David Williams and Tony Williams provide a stable backline that can score tries on a consistent basis.
Although Stewart's loss for the early rounds of the season will hurt Manly, they still have enough in the ranks to overcome his terrific try-scoring potency.
Indeed the Sea Eagles were the best performed side in attack last season, scoring over 118 tries, thanks mainly to the prowess of Stewart and the organisation of Orford.
They were also very tidy in defence, conceding just 50 tries to place them as the second best defensive unit in the NRL.
Considering the Sea Eagles were going no where fast five seasons ago, their defensive performance, particularly in the final series, demonstrated the fact that their attitude was spot on for the majority of last season.
Coach Des Hasler has moulded a team that appeared also rans to premiership champions in the space of four years.
Having now become the team to beat in the NRL, Hasler and his Sea Eagles face a new challenge - from both the salary cap and the fifteen other teams all vying for their crown.
Despite the off field trauma surrounding Manly, it would be stupid to suggest that the Sea Eagles would not give the 2009 premiership a huge shake.
You only have to look at what the Bulldogs did in 2004 to see how some bad publicity can galvanise a team.
Prediction
The Sea Eagles are deserved NRL favourites for the 2009 premiership. Their off field troubles however have put them back in the pack, and it seems teams such as the Sharks, Storm and Broncos will fancy their chances against them.
Regardless of their turmoil, the Sea Eagles have become a class unit. Under Des Hasler, they have a coach who has experience in leading a club out of troubles. 2009 should be no different.
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