Match
Report Grand Final 2008
Sea Eagles 40 (8 tries, 4 goals) v Storm 0
Players: 1. Brett
Stewart
2. Michael Robertson 3. Steve Bell 4. Steve Matai 5. David Williams 6. Jamie Lyon 7. Matt Orford 8. Brent Kite 9. Matt Ballin 10. Josh Perry 11. Anthony Watmough 12. Glenn Hall 13. Glenn Stewart 14. Heath L'Strange 15. Mark Bryant 16. Jason King 17. Steve Menzies Tries: Michael Robertson (3), Matt Ballin, Brent Kite, David Williams, Steve Menzies, Steve Bell. Goals: Steve Matai (2/4), Jamie Lyon (2/2) |
 Venue: ANZ (Olympic) Stadium |
Match Summary: In a sea of maroon and white passion the Sea Eagles never looked like losing the grand final against their previous nemesis the Melbourne Storm. The scores were locked at nil all after 20 minutes but Manly's persistant pressure eventually bore fruit with unconverted tries in the 24th and 34th minutes to Matt Ballin and Michael Robertson for an 8-0 half time lead. Everyone was expecting the Storm to come out firing in the second half, but the comeback never came. In a Manly magical half hour from the 46th to the 76th minute the Sea Eagles put on 32 points to blast the Storm off the paddock and run out winners by a Grand Final record margin of 40 nil. Michael Robertson secured his hat-trick with tries in the 47th and 51st minutes for Manly to go to an 18-0 lead. The win was secured when Churchill Medal winner prop Brent Kite scored a brilliant try under the posts in the 58th minute for a 24-0 lead. The celebrations really began when the "Wolfman" David Williams scored in the 67th minute. But even better was to come. In the 71st minute the crowd roared when Manly's favourite son Steve "the Beaver" Menzies donned his headgear and returned to the field. He produced a fairytale end to his long career with Manly by immediately scoring a try that sent the huge Manly crowd into raptures. To wrap up a great afternoon for the Manly faithful Steve Bell, also playing his last match for Manly, scored off another miracle pass from Brett Stewart in the 76th minute for an unbelievable 40-0 scoreline. The Sea Eagles were awsome and there is no doubt that the memory of this game will be treasured by all Manly fans for the rest of their lives. It was a stunningly successful conclusion to a five year plan devised in 2003 to take the Sea Eagles from oblivion to Grand Final glory. |
