StephenP
ArnoldRound 5 Preview - Bulldogs VS Sea-Eagles
April 14th 2007 06:58
Canterbury Bulldogs VS Manly Sea-Eagles @ Telstra Stadium, Saturday 14/04/07 7.30pm
In what promises to be an exciting clash, the undefeated and undermanned Manly Sea-Eagles face their first real test against a Bulldogs side that is just starting to run into form.
Manly have one their first four matches without the services of half Matt Orford, lock Steve Menzies and centre Steve Matai, with coach Des Hasler tailoring a game plan built around a grinding, forward dominated ruck battle. The Sea-Eagles have hardly allowed the class of flashy centres Jamie Lyon and Steve Bell to torment their opposition, preferring to let Watmough, Glenn Stewart, Kite and Williamson to gain the ascendancy in the middle.
The toiling Sea-Eagles pack will this week face their toughest test against probably the classiest forward pack in the premiership, with Canterbury coach Steve Folkes finally being able to name his strongest starting pack this year. O’Meley. Mason, Ryan, Armit and Cleal will provide the much needed go forward fro the Belmore based club, while Maitua, Williams and Hughes add the flair to an imposing looking forward unit.
With both backlines fairly evenly matched in terms of skill, size and pace, I think that this match will be won in the forwards. For that reason, you can’t go past the Bulldogs in what should be a tight encounter, with the super boot of Hazem El Masri to ensure the home side get the points in this one.
Prediction – Bulldogs by 8
Canterbury Bulldogs –
Luke Patten, Hazem El Masri, Daryl Millard, Willie Tonga, Trent Cutler, Daniel Holdsworth, Ben Roberts, Mark O’Meley, Corey Hughes, Willie Mason, Sonny Bill Williams, Andrew Ryan ©, Reni Maitua
Bench - Dallas McIlwain, Nick Kouparitsas, Kane Cleal, Chris Armit
Manly Sea-Eagles –
Brett Stewart, Michael Robertson, Steven Bell, Jamie Lyon, Chris Hicks, Travis Burns, Michael Monaghan, Jason King, Matt Ballin, Brent Kite ©, Anthony Watmough, Glenn Stewart, Luke Williamson
Bench - George Rose, Mark Bryant, Glenn Hall, Clint Halden
Referee – Paul Simpkins
In what promises to be an exciting clash, the undefeated and undermanned Manly Sea-Eagles face their first real test against a Bulldogs side that is just starting to run into form.
Manly have one their first four matches without the services of half Matt Orford, lock Steve Menzies and centre Steve Matai, with coach Des Hasler tailoring a game plan built around a grinding, forward dominated ruck battle. The Sea-Eagles have hardly allowed the class of flashy centres Jamie Lyon and Steve Bell to torment their opposition, preferring to let Watmough, Glenn Stewart, Kite and Williamson to gain the ascendancy in the middle.
The toiling Sea-Eagles pack will this week face their toughest test against probably the classiest forward pack in the premiership, with Canterbury coach Steve Folkes finally being able to name his strongest starting pack this year. O’Meley. Mason, Ryan, Armit and Cleal will provide the much needed go forward fro the Belmore based club, while Maitua, Williams and Hughes add the flair to an imposing looking forward unit.
With both backlines fairly evenly matched in terms of skill, size and pace, I think that this match will be won in the forwards. For that reason, you can’t go past the Bulldogs in what should be a tight encounter, with the super boot of Hazem El Masri to ensure the home side get the points in this one.
Prediction – Bulldogs by 8
Canterbury Bulldogs –
Luke Patten, Hazem El Masri, Daryl Millard, Willie Tonga, Trent Cutler, Daniel Holdsworth, Ben Roberts, Mark O’Meley, Corey Hughes, Willie Mason, Sonny Bill Williams, Andrew Ryan ©, Reni Maitua
Manly Sea-Eagles –
Brett Stewart, Michael Robertson, Steven Bell, Jamie Lyon, Chris Hicks, Travis Burns, Michael Monaghan, Jason King, Matt Ballin, Brent Kite ©, Anthony Watmough, Glenn Stewart, Luke Williamson
Bench - George Rose, Mark Bryant, Glenn Hall, Clint Halden
Referee – Paul Simpkins
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