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Manly vow to bounce back in 2008Manly vow to bounce back in 2008Monday, October 1, 2007 - 7:47 PM 
Manly have vowed to avenge their NRL grand final disappointment by mirroring Melbourne's 2007 comeback and becoming top-four mainstays for the coming years. The Sea Eagles drowned their sorrows from Sunday night's 34-8 grand final shellacking from the Storm with private "Mad Monday" drinks on the northern beaches. But club chief executive Grant Mayer says the players have already made a commitment to go one better in 2008. Mayer said the Sea Eagles were inspired by their surprising performance to finish runners-up this year and were determined to follow in Melbourne's footsteps by turning a losing grand final into premiership success. "It's a disappointing way to finish the season but it was still a great year and we probably over-achieved anyway in the eyes of many people," Mayer said. "It was one bad game. It just happened to be the grand final. "It's not just a fly-by-night or one-hit wonder. "This is a plan that (coach) Des (Hasler) has put in place and I think our fans can expect a top-four team for the next three or four years. "Coming one game short this year obviously hurts now but I think it's part of an overall picture and we'll see it next year. "A lot of these guys are still very young and they've experienced a grand final and I would like to think we would run out as one of the favourites next year." Mayer can see similarities in the Storm and Sea Eagles, particularly after Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy commented on the five years of hard work it took for the club to claim the premiership. Manly too have embarked on a five-year plan under Hasler, and this year was just the fourth in the master scheme. "They (Storm) have obviously peaked (in the fifth year). They've made two grand finals in a row and won one and lost one now but they're still well and truly the benchmark of the NRL teams now," Mayer said. "They're such a fantastic team with great depth and you have to respect that and if we can come back and do what they've done next year that would be a great result but there's a lot to happen between now and then." Manly may have been the second-best side all season, but Sunday night's heavy defeat cost them dearly at the Australian selection table with only incumbent prop Brent Kite and fullback Brett Stewart earning Kangaroos' jumpers for the one-off Test with New Zealand in two weeks. Jamie Lyon was omitted from the previous Test side while halfback Matt Orford and second rower Anthony Watmough paid the price for losing to the Storm with Melbourne's Cooper Cronk and Ryan Hoffman winning the race to their positions. Steve Matai was named in the Kiwis' side, but may miss the Test match and tour of Britain with surgery likely to be required for bulging discs in his neck. Stewart, pole-axed early in the second half of the grand final, has no recollection of the bitter defeat but says winning his debut Test selection helps overcome the pain. "It's a great honour. It's something when you start playing football that you strive for," Stewart said. "Whilst it certainly does not fully overcome the disappointment of losing a grand final, it's certainly eased the pain." AAP Source: http://www.nrl.com/News/Latest/Ne...tabid/76/NewsId/7281/Default.aspx |
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The boys would have learned a lot from this years let down bring on 2008. |