Welcome to the Australian Rugby League Grand Final. In the case of the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles, it's welcome back. The Premiers, playing in their third successive decider, seek to become the second team in the 1990's to win back-to-back premierships. For the Newcastle Knights, this is their Grand Final debut. Playing in their tenth season in the ARL, the Knights have defeated Parramatta and North Sydney en route to the much anticipated clash with Manly. The two sides have proven throughout the season and the final series that they are the best two teams in the ARL, and it is only fitting that they should face-off against each other for the Optus Cup.
Manly's game revolves around its forwards. The Sea Eagles have a terri= fic mixture of players in their pack, ranging from the ``hard yards'' men to the skilful backrowers. Bob Fulton also uses his bench players very effectively under the unlimited interchange rule. Mark Carroll is the hardest working of all the forwards in offence. Often taking the ball up two times in a set of six, Carroll never seems to tire and certainly never backs down. Carroll is supported by Neil Tierney and David Gillespie in the front row. The selection of Cliff Lyons at hooker should not be paid too much attention. Geoff Toovey will assume the dummy half role - Lyons will simply be wearing number 9 on his back and will pack into the scrums. Obviously, the loss of Jim Sedaris is a blow to the Premiers, but Toovey's dummy half running will be a feature, particularly late in the game when the defence begins to tire. The Manly backrow is considered to be the best in the world. Steven Menzies, Daniel Gartner, and Nik Kosef are all terrific ball handlers and are very agile for their size and position. Menzies and Gartner are both extremely solid in defence and are the two players in the Sea Eagles line-up who are most likely to break a defensive line. Kosef's defence is suspect, but he is an unique lock-forward in the way he plays with the ball in his hands. He can take the ball up like Bradley Clyde, but can also handle the football like Brad Fittler (well, almost!).
The halves problem at Manly has seemingly been solved for this match because of the Sedaris suspension. Craig Field played his best game for Manly last weekend, making numerous breaks and booting the game winning drop-goal. He is a player who plays on confidence, and he will have gained plenty from the match against Sydney City, which can only spell danger for the opposition. Cliff Lyons played limited minutes against the Roosters, but had been in great form leading up to the game, and will no doubt rise to the Grand Final occasion as he has done in the past. He is the key to Manly's game. As has been the case for the past 12 seasons, if he fires, Manly will play well.
Terry Hill and Craig Innes have proven to be the best centre combination in the ARL this season. They have both shed weight, and are running more freely as a result. They have both maintained their strength, however, as indicated by an Innes run down the left hand side of the ground last Sunday while carrying three defenders with him. Danny Moore's confidence will be shattered after he directly and indirectly caused two Sydney City tries. He has shown that he is suspect under the high ball, and will most likely be tested a great amount of time by the Newcastle kicking game.
Finally, at the back, Shannon Nevin has been a great find for Manly. Since his insertion into the fullback role some two months ago, Nevin has performed with confidence and skill and has been very safe under any circumstances. His goal-kicking may prove crucial if the game is tight.
The Newcastle side also have a marvellous pack of forwards, very similar to the Manly side. Paul Harragon has become a much better player since he has looked to off-load the football, which makes him the most dangerous prop in the game. Tony Butterfield will lend a supporting role up front, and is sure to be fired up after spitting accusations were thrown at him after the last Manly-Newcastle match. Brett Clements remains doubtful through injury, but if he is unable to play, British hooker Lee Jackson will fill in more than capably. The Knights backrow is also full of class: Adam Muir, who is heading to North Sydney next year, played very well last weekend and his ability to off-load in tackles will be a key to the Knights game on Sunday. Bill Peden has stepped up into a starting role admirably this season, and is one of the real workhorses of the game, while Marc Glanville, playing his last game for the club, will make plenty of tackles and to tackle the ball up strongly for the entire game.
The key to the match lies in the Newcastle halves. Andrew Johns was released from hospital today and was given the all-clear for the match on Sunday. Matthew Johns has been playing sensationally in the finals, while Andrew has been great when on the paddock. In 1995, the Johns brothers were selected for State of Origin I, their first major senior representative honours. They played poorly in a NSW loss, and Andrew was dropped from the team. It will be interesting to see how they play in their first Grand Final - whether they go out and play their natural game or play conservatively. Both of them play on risk and unpredictability, and it will be a shame to see them move away from this tactic. Andrew will be given the long kicking and goal kicking duties, while Matthew will be more likely to control the short kicking game. His ability to perfectly weight grubber kicks into the in-goal area is astounding, and the Manly backs will have to on their toes on any tackle to combat this, particularly considering Darren Albert's speed out wide for Newcastle. Both players' long passing game will test Manly's sliding defence.
The Newcastle three-quarter line is a combination of youth, strength and speed. Darren Albert's amazing cover-defending tackle on Matt Seers last weekend probably got the Knights into the Grand Final, while Owen Craigie has already shown in the finals that he is not daunted by the tasks of marking more recognised and experienced centres.
Robbie O'Davis has been the Knights most consistent player all season, and is the safest fullback in the game. He rarely misses a tackle one on one, and always chimes into the backline at precisely the right time. His performance will be a major factor in determining the outcome of the game.
Manly did defeat Newcastle 27-12 just two weeks ago. However, not much can be taken out of that game, since O'Davis and Andrew Johns were not playing.
While the forward battle will be intriguing, it will be in the halves where the game will be won and lost for each team. Will the Johns brothers be able to weave enough magic to see the Knights get home. In the opinion of this reporter, no. Manly have simply too much experience and will rise to the occasion for such a big game, winning their second consecutive premiership and cementing their position as one of the greatest teams of the past ten years.
This preview ©1997 by Nick Leonard
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