ID :
210487
Fri, 09/30/2011 - 15:49
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/210487
The shortlink copeid
El Masri likes Manly's family spirit
SYDNEY (AAP) - 30 SEPT - If it seems Manly have adopted a siege mentality through their latest era of NRL success, it's probably more a case of a family sticking together.
That's the view of former Canterbury winger and point-scoring great Hazem El Masri, whose 2004 premiership-winning Bulldogs side was widely perceived as making wagon-circling an artform.
El Masri says it's a different kind of togetherness that's helped the Sea Eagles to a third grand final in five years, against the Warriors on Sunday.
"I think the important thing is they've had the same team that they've kept together for a while and with that you've built camaraderie, you've built some good mateship and you do things for each other," he told AAP.
"We had for a long time been the family club and had a lot of guys come through and stay together and be loyal in one team.
"It's very important because it just builds that atmosphere, that spirit and you know what all the games are about and you do it for one another.
"That's what I can see at the moment with the Manly team."
El Masri's Canterbury outfit put a salary cap scandal, which robbed the club of a potential title two years earlier, and a pre-season sex scandal behind them to down the Sydney Roosters in the 2004 decider.
Reports of minor off-field incidents involving Willie Mason and Sonny Bill Williams only heightened their sensitivities.
The Steve Folkes-coached side was widely perceived as using an us-against-them mentality that's not a million miles from the Sea Eagles' approach after their infamous season launch of 2009.
Fullback Brett Stewart was suspended by the NRL for abusing alcohol and charged over an alleged sexual assault before being cleared in court.
Coach Des Hasler says little at his media appearances but did make the point this year that Stewart's soul would not be cleansed until league boss David Gallop apologised to him.
Representative forward Anthony Watmough has rarely spoken all season following reports about his off-field activities.
And a perceived feud with the NRL was inflamed by the Sea Eagles having to play their "home" final at the Sydney Football Stadium rather than at Brookvale Oval.
Long-serving Manly media manager Peter Peters said this week Hasler had learned from the loss to Melbourne in the 2007 decider that a side needed to pull up the shutters at the back end of grand final week.
The phrase "flying under the radar" has become synonymous with the coach.
That they're traditionally the competition's most disliked team will have some thinking it could be good for rugby league if the Warriors won at ANZ Stadium.
"Manly at the moment are well-drilled, they've been playing really well, have good momentum coming in," El Masri said.
"It's hard to go past them but obviously I would like to see the Warriors probably get up for the first time (in a grand final).
"It would be good for rugby league in New Zealand and it would be good for the New Zealand people in general, all the dramas they've been having."
That's the view of former Canterbury winger and point-scoring great Hazem El Masri, whose 2004 premiership-winning Bulldogs side was widely perceived as making wagon-circling an artform.
El Masri says it's a different kind of togetherness that's helped the Sea Eagles to a third grand final in five years, against the Warriors on Sunday.
"I think the important thing is they've had the same team that they've kept together for a while and with that you've built camaraderie, you've built some good mateship and you do things for each other," he told AAP.
"We had for a long time been the family club and had a lot of guys come through and stay together and be loyal in one team.
"It's very important because it just builds that atmosphere, that spirit and you know what all the games are about and you do it for one another.
"That's what I can see at the moment with the Manly team."
El Masri's Canterbury outfit put a salary cap scandal, which robbed the club of a potential title two years earlier, and a pre-season sex scandal behind them to down the Sydney Roosters in the 2004 decider.
Reports of minor off-field incidents involving Willie Mason and Sonny Bill Williams only heightened their sensitivities.
The Steve Folkes-coached side was widely perceived as using an us-against-them mentality that's not a million miles from the Sea Eagles' approach after their infamous season launch of 2009.
Fullback Brett Stewart was suspended by the NRL for abusing alcohol and charged over an alleged sexual assault before being cleared in court.
Coach Des Hasler says little at his media appearances but did make the point this year that Stewart's soul would not be cleansed until league boss David Gallop apologised to him.
Representative forward Anthony Watmough has rarely spoken all season following reports about his off-field activities.
And a perceived feud with the NRL was inflamed by the Sea Eagles having to play their "home" final at the Sydney Football Stadium rather than at Brookvale Oval.
Long-serving Manly media manager Peter Peters said this week Hasler had learned from the loss to Melbourne in the 2007 decider that a side needed to pull up the shutters at the back end of grand final week.
The phrase "flying under the radar" has become synonymous with the coach.
That they're traditionally the competition's most disliked team will have some thinking it could be good for rugby league if the Warriors won at ANZ Stadium.
"Manly at the moment are well-drilled, they've been playing really well, have good momentum coming in," El Masri said.
"It's hard to go past them but obviously I would like to see the Warriors probably get up for the first time (in a grand final).
"It would be good for rugby league in New Zealand and it would be good for the New Zealand people in general, all the dramas they've been having."
