Leeds V Manly. World Club Challenge. Sun 1 March. Eland Road. 6PM

toomevara

Nearly time for the big one as kick-off approaches. Really looking forward to this game, though from a Leeds perspective, I worry. Alot of injury hit players unfortunately and Manly seem well up for it...

Leeds Rhinos*

Leeds: Donald, Smith, Senior, Hall, McGuire, Burrow, Leuluai, Peacock, Jones-Buchanan, Lauitiiti, Sinfield (capt), Diskin, Bailey, Kirke, Ablett, Burgess, Gibson, Watkins, McShane.

*final team TBA just before kick off

Manly

Manly: B Stewart; Robertson, Lyon, Matai, Williams; Bailey, Orford (capt); King, Ballin, Perry, Watmough, Hall, G Stewart.
Replacements: L'Estrange, Cuthbertson, Rose, Rodney, Waerea-Hargreaves.

Stev_o

Decided to watch this match, hope it restores my faith in rugby in general! How good are Manly? They seem favorites to win. Think Helens would of posed more of a threat against them if they had won against Leeds in the final.

amacachi

Manly are excellent. Not been a great game so far unfortunately.

If Saints were playing they'd either win or get slapped.

toomevara

Stev_o wrote: »

Decided to watch this match, hope it restores my faith in rugby in general! How good are Manly? They seem favorites to win. Think Helens would of posed more of a threat against them if they had won against Leeds in the final.

Good to see you here in Stev_o, well at least I can guarantee you no senseless kicking duels and negative game-killing rugby a-la Croker yesterday. One thing about RL, you've got to play!

As for the game, Manly are immense..brilliant defence and some sublime running in the 3/4's...We seem to be all at sea,especially since Burrow was lamped..and McGuire seems to be carrying some sort of injury which essentially means our key-decision making axis is buggered.

Good last 10 in the fist half, and signs of Leeds fighting back...Can't see a win for us, especially given the bloody tackle count running at two to one. Manly get the next score and they're away I reckon...we shouldn't even be in it!

As for Saints making a better game of it, I disagree (well I would), KR beat them yesterday and with no disrespect to Hull's finest they're about half the team Manly are....

toomevara

Brilliant stuff from the Sea Eagles, just got to take your hat off to them. Looking increasingly like damage limitation for the Rhinos...sigh....

Stev_o

Looking like a rout at this stage

amacachi

40 or 50?

Stev_o

Sublime doesn't go far enough for that try lovely stuff.

amacachi

Christ the Leeds lads need a kick up the arse. They may be the second best team out there but they need to wake up.

toomevara

Sublime rugby league. Just got to sit back and admire it...thats how you play the 13 man game. beautiful

Stev_o

Ha what a pass for the try.

toomevara

All together now... "we love you Senior because your everywhere, we love you Senior because you've got no hair!!"

toomevara

Get in Hall!!!

Stev_o

Lovely conversion, now things get interesting.

Stev_o

Great consolation try

toomevara

Lovely try, fair play Leeds, thought we were looking at a fifty point pasting..had we started playing 10 minutes earlier...who knows? Big Ali had a stormer as did Sinfield. Manly deserved winners...no complaints

amacachi

Ah so close

Quality from both teams in the second half more than made up for the first half. Some amazing tries and brilliant effort from Senior for his try and the one at the end. Was better to watch than England and Ireland arguing over who wanted the ball least yesterday :P

toomevara

amacachi wrote: »

Ah so close

Quality from both teams in the second half more than made up for the first half. Some amazing tries and brilliant effort from Senior for his try and the one at the end. Was better to watch than England and Ireland arguing over who wanted the ball least yesterday :P

I'll second the motion. Think Leeds will feel they missed an opportunity there...having said that Manly's skill levels are stunning

amacachi

I was expecting more from Manly in the first half but the start of the second half was reminiscent of last year's NRL final.

Leeds had some flashes of brilliance too in fairness. It's rare I've seen as many bursts of skill from a SL team. Fair enough they weren't there for the start of the second half, but after that some of the handling and running was awesome.