Panthers shock leaves Sea Eagles in the dark
March 31st 2009 05:20
While most of Sydney recovered from the blackout on Monday afternoon, reigning NRL premiers the Manly Sea Eagles have been left in the dark in season 2009, suffering the upset of the season against a spirited and gallant Penrith Panthers.
Although the Panthers did not have to contend with facing fourteen men on Monday night, not many people expected their starting 13 to pull off the upset of the season against the Sea Eagles at Brookvale Oval.
Even though Manly were winless after 2 rounds, whilst also missing key backline stars Brett Stewart and David Williams, the majority of fans in the NRL would have expected a comfortable Sea Eagles victory in front of the Brookvale faithful.
But as chaos reigned across the city of Sydney on Monday afternoon, the men from the Peninsula would find themselves badly affected in more ways than one.
Despite dominating the opening twenty minutes of the first half against Penrith, the Sea Eagles found themselves only six nil up, thanks to a try by Manly five-eighth Chris Bailey.
Bailey’s four pointer should have allowed the Sea Eagles to play more attractive football.
Instead they found themselves desperately trying to secure their maiden win of the season, even if it meant sacrificing the performances that made them the most effective attacking unit last season.
The pessimistic approach to Manly’s game allowed the Panthers to gain the necessary sniff needed to cause the eventual boilover.
Penrith ended up dominating the rest of a first half that saw the Sea Eagles possess a mindset of vulnerability not present for over two years.
Despite going into halftime six nil in front, it felt as if Manly were the ones trailing at the break, not the Panthers.
Indeed Penrith picked up where they left off in the first half, dominating possession and dictating play on the back of great go forward.
Panthers fullback Lachlan Coote eventually scored in the 59th minute to give hope to Penrith fans, and substantial heartache to Manly ones.
Interchange hooker Masada Iosefa eventually put the Panthers in front with ten minutes remaining much to the despair of Sea Eagles coach Des Hasler.
It took seventy minutes for Manly to realise that this game of football was not going to script, and they finally attacked to save a game many expected them to win well.
Although Bailey scored his second try for the Sea Eagles, Matt Orford’s conversion from the sideline failed to bring light to what was a blacked out Manly performance.
Despite numerous opportunities on Penrith’s goal line, the Sea Eagles failed to penetrate a superb Panthers defence that was full of the intensity that comes with defending an unexpected victory.
As the fulltime siren sounded, one of the ugliest games of football came to an end, with Penrith providing the shock that has officially shutdown Manly’s premiership defence.
| 34 |
| Vote |
