My future…?
It’s no secret I want to be a sports journalist, my mum knows it, my friends know it, even Santa knows it. So I was very happy to be enrolled in the very limited Sports Journalism course at uni, a course they hadn’t ran since 2004!
Last night was the first of our “live” match reports, and we covered the action packed Manly vs Tigers game at ANZ stadium. It was pretty awesome finally going into a match environment, having to soak up everything around you (so you could write about it later), and then to be in the press conference. It felt like I was a journalist.
So here’s the first match report, hopefully I’ll be doing plenty more in the years to come.
Miserable Tigers To Pay With Their Contracts
West Tigers’ coach Tim Sheens launched a stunning attack on his team following their demoralising 48-16 loss to Manly tonight.
Sheens questioned the quality and attitude of his players, before stating that heavy recruitment will be needed for the next two seasons if the club is to stop their rapid decline since their 2005 Premiership.
Sheens highlighted the lack of defensive commitment, before conceding that some of the club’s youngsters have finally run out of chances.
“We’re going to have to move some players on, simple as that. We can’t finish this year waiting for potential to happen, waiting for players,” Sheens said. “It’s time to bite the bullet and go look for some players to really improve the club.”
Tigers captain Brett Hodgson joined Sheens in questioning the mental attributes of his teammates, despite the importance of the game.
A visibly upset Hodgson said: “It’s shattering to think we dropped our heads and didn’t play for our season.”
Much hype had surrounded this encounter, as both sides looked to answer their critics. Manly’s title challenge had been questioned after suffering consecutive losses to Melbourne and Souths, while the Tigers were in a must win situation to qualify for the finals for the first time in three seasons.
However, from the onset, it was clear that only one team had come to win. The Sea Eagles were keen to prove they had rebounded from the previous two weeks’ disappointments, and they played with energy and commitment.
Coming out with an attacking intent, Manly captain Matt Orford’s kicking game in the early minutes had twice stretched the Tiger’s defence, the home side surviving only on the advice of the video referee on both occasions.
Having put up with sustained pressure in the opening 15 minutes, the Tigers finally cracked when another delightfully weighted Orford grubber found its mark, and leading try scorer Brett Stewart sprinted through a flat footed Tiger’s backline for the try.
Despite scoring the first points, the Sea Eagles were on the back foot nearly straight away, as several consecutive sets of six by the Tigers saw youngster Daine Laurie score. Laurie, a rare positive in a miserable Tigers’ performance, showed tremendous strength by riding two tackles before breaking free to score under the upright.
However, Manly’s dominance soon returned with a good passing movement cross field ending up with winger Mike Robertson through in the corner.
The game was cracked wide open minutes prior to half time, when Manly veteran Steve “Beaver” Menzies took advantage of a John Morris mistake to score on the counter attack.
Leading 16-6 at half time, Manly coach Des Hasler wanted his troops to compound the pressure, and they responded with a blistering ten minute spell after the break. A dazzling performance saw Manly score three quick tries, effectively killing off the game.
The score ballooned out to 42-6 before Laurie and Beau Ryan scored late consolation tries for the Tigers.
The win helped Manly keep pace with competition frontrunners Melbourne, while the Tigers now must rely on the dreaded “mathematically possible” scenario for them to qualify for the Finals.
