2011 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles season

2012-06-14T11:46:39Z

Python81: /* Grand final */

{{NRL Team Season
|Season= 2011
|Team=Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
|League=NRL
|LeagueRank=2nd
|PlayOffs=
|Record=27-21-6
|HomeRecord=
|AwayRecord=
|PointsFor=
|PointsAgainst=
|CEO={{flagicon|AUS}} David Perry
|Coach={{flagicon|AUS}} [[Des Hasler]]
|AssistantCoach=
|Captain={{flagicon|AUS}} [[Jamie Lyon]] and [[Jason King (rugby league)|Jason King]]
|Ground=[[Brookvale Oval]]
|Attendance=
|TriesLeader=[[Brett Stewart]] (15)
|GoalsLeader=[[Jamie Lyon]] (59)
|PointsLeader=[[Jamie Lyon]] (154)
|Championship=[[NRL]]
|prev_season=
|next_season=
}}
The '''2011 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles season''' was the 62nd in the [[Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles|club]]'s history. Coached by [[Des Hasler]] and co-captained by [[Jamie Lyon]] and [[Jason King (rugby league)|Jason King]], they competed in the [[National Rugby League]] (NRL) [[2011 Telstra Premiership|Telstra Premiership]], and finished the regular season in second place (out of 16 teams). The Sea Eagles then qualified for the [[2011 NRL grand final|NRL grand final]], in which they defeated the [[New Zealand Warriors]], claiming the club's eighth first-grade premiership.

==Background==

Manly had finished eighth in the [[2010 NRL season]], barely qualifying for the finals series. They were defeated by the [[St George Illawarra Dragons]] in a qualifying final; the Dragons subsequently won the premiership. Manly lost four first-team players at the end of the season: first-choice halfback [[Trent Hodkinson]], forwards [[Chris Bailey (rugby league)|Chris Bailey]] and [[Josh Perry]], and utility back [[Ben Farrar]]. Joining the club were the unheralded [[Tim Robinson (rugby league)|Tim Robinson]], [[Liam Foran]] and [[Daniel Harrison (rugby league)|Daniel Harrison]]. Between them, only Foran had first-grade experience.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/league/des-hasler-isnt-saying-whether-brett-stewart-will-get-game-time-for-manly-against-the-warriors/story-e6frf3ou-1226012413933|title=Des Hasler isn't saying whether Brett Stewart will get game time for Manly against the Warriors|last=Otto|first=Tyson|date=26 February 2011|work=[[Fox Sports (Australia)|Fox Sports]]|accessdate=11 November 2011}}</ref>

However, Manly's squad was boosted by the return of fullback [[Brett Stewart]]. After Manly had won the NRL premiership in 2008, Stewart missed all but six matches of the following two seasons with knee injuries.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/its-been-a-long-road-but-stewart-is-back-where-he-belongs-20110320-1c2bw.html?skin=text-only|title=It's been a long road, but Stewart is back where he belongs|last=Walter|first=Brad|date=21 March 2011|work=[[Sydney Morning Herald]]|accessdate=24 September 2011}}</ref> Manly's season would also see the emergence of key youngsters such as halfback [[Daly Cherry-Evans]], who would win the NRL's [[2011 Dally M Awards|Dally M Rookie of the Year]] award,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/rookie-revs-up-with-another-daly-m-performance/story-e6frfgbo-1226144990261|title=Rookie revs up with another Daly M performance|last=Phelps|first=James|date=23 September 2011|work=[[Herald Sun]]|accessdate=24 September 2011}}</ref> and winger [[Will Hopoate]], son of Manly's 1996 premiership-winner [[John Hopoate|John]], who would debut for [[New South Wales rugby league team|New South Wales]] in the [[2011 State of Origin series]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/hopoate-dreams-of-finals-glory-as-sabbatical-looms-20110911-1k4ct.html|title=Hopoate dreams of finals glory as sabbatical looms|last=Chammas|first=Michael|date=12 September 2011|work=[[Sydney Morning Herald]]|accessdate=24 September 2011}}</ref>

==Season==
===Regular season===

In New Zealand, each of the Sea Eagles matches of the 2011 season were televised [[free-to-air]] by [[Māori Television]] on Monday nights, dubbed "Manly Night Football".
Manly opened their season with an 18–6 loss to the Melbourne Storm, their grand final opponents from 2007 and 2008. [[Daly Cherry-Evans]] made his first-grade debut as Manly's starting halfback, but was penalised for a "foot fault" when kicking a [[Rugby_league_gameplay#Goal-line_drop-outs|line dropout]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-match-report/storms-new-start-ends-well-20110312-1bsdb.html?skin=text-only|title=Storm's new start ends well|last=Hinds|first=Richard|date=13 March 2011|work=[[Sydney Morning Herald]]|accessdate=11 November 2011}}</ref> The following week, Manly played the grand finalists from the previous season, the [[Sydney Roosters]], without co-captains [[Jamie Lyon]] and [[Jason King (rugby league)|Jason King]], and [[Glenn Stewart]] and [[Steve Matai]]. Despite the losses of key players, the Sea Eagles scored their first win of the season, 27–16, thanks to performances from Cherry-Evans and his halves partner [[Kieran Foran]] that the [[ABC (Australia)|ABC]] described as "outstanding".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-03-20/gutsy-sea-eagles-shock-roosters/2651540|title=Gutsy Sea Eagles shock Roosters|date=20 March 2011|work=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]]|accessdate=11 November 2011}}</ref> Manly won again the following weekend, defeating the [[Newcastle Knights]] 26–12. It was Manly's first match of the season at their home ground, [[Brookvale Oval]]. An aggressive physical performance from the Sea Eagles saw the Knights reduced to just 13 fit players by the second half, enough to put a full team on the field but with an empty substitutes bench.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-03-27/manly-beats-up-depleted-knights/2642548|title=Manly beats up depleted Knights|date=27 March 2011|work=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]]|accessdate=11 November 2011}}</ref>

April started badly for the Sea Eagles, losing 32–30 to the [[South Sydney Rabbitohs]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/south-sydney-almost-blows-it-against-manly/story-e6frg7mf-1226032317092|title=South Sydney almost blows it against Manly|last=Read|first=Brent|date=2 April 2011|work=[[The Australian]]|accessdate=11 November 2011}}</ref> and suspending two players—long-serving club veteran [[Anthony Watmough]] and squad player [[Terence Seu Seu]]—after they were arrested by police and fined for public urination.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/sea-eagles-anthony-watmough-and-terence-seu-seu-suspended-fined/story-e6frg7mf-1226033401266|title=Sea Eagles Anthony Watmough and Terence Seu Seu suspended, fined|date=4 April 2011|work=[[The Australian]]|accessdate=11 November 2011}}</ref> The following weekend, Manly bounced back with a victory over the [[Cronulla Sharks]] in Cronulla, the win being sealed with a try to rookie winger [[Michael Oldfield (rugby league)|Michael Oldfield]] in the final seconds of the match.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/sharks-lead-manly-7-0-at-halftime/story-e6frfgbo-1226036592747|title=NRL Sea Eagles on a wing and a prayer|last=Hooper|first=James|date=9 April 2011|work=[[Herald Sun]]|accessdate=11 November 2011}}</ref> The team then took their record to five wins from seven matches, defeating the [[New Zealand Warriors]] at Brookvale,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://tvnz.co.nz/rugby-league-news/warriors-dazzled-sea-eagles-4126102|title=Warriors dazzled by Sea Eagles|date=16 April 2011|work=[[TVNZ]]|accessdate=11 November 2011}}</ref> then the [[Penrith Panthers]] in Penrith,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/04/22/3198888.htm?site=sport&section=all|title=Sea Eagles ease past Panthers|date=22 April 2011|work=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]]|accessdate=11 November 2011}}</ref> before their winning streak came to an end with a narrow loss to the [[North Queensland Cowboys]] in Townsville.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/4947274/Cowboys-hold-off-fast-finishing-Sea-Eagles|title=Cowboys hold off fast-finishing Sea Eagles|last=Butterworth|first=Liam|date=30 April 2011|work=[[Stuff.co.nz]]|accessdate=11 November 2011}}</ref> The defeat to the Cowboys came in controversial circumstances. [[Jamie Lyon]] was denied a try by the video referee that may have won Manly the match; later, the video referee was removed from duties for the following round after officials considered his decision to have been in error.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/05/02/3205754.htm?site=sydney|title=Video ref dumped after Manly blunder|date=2 May 2011|work=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]]|accessdate=11 November 2011}}</ref>

Manly started the month of May with a home win over the lowly [[Canberra Raiders]] in which [[Brett Stewart]] scored his 99th, 100th and 101st tries for the Sea Eagles.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-05-09/stewart-101-teaches-raiders-a-lesson/2706100?section=justin|title=Stewart 101 teaches Raiders a lesson|last=Maasdorp|first=James|date=10 May 2011|work=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]]|accessdate=11 November 2011}}</ref> It was the first in a six-match winning streak, as Manly then defeated the [[Gold Coast Titans|Gold Coast]], [[Brisbane Broncos|Brisbane]], [[Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs|Canterbury]], [[North Queensland Cowboys|North Queensland]] and arch-rivals [[Parramatta Eels|Parramatta]]. The run of wins took the team to second on the NRL ladder.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/5169124/Sea-Eagles-down-Eels-in-thriller|title=Sea Eagles down Parramatta Eels in thriller|date=20 June 2011|work=[[Stuff.co.nz]]|accessdate=11 November 2011}}</ref> It also helped Manly's players with representative ambitions. Four Sea Eagles featured in the mid-season [[2011 State of Origin series|State of Origin series]]: [[Jason King (rugby league)|Jason King]], [[Anthony Watmough]], [[Glenn Stewart]], and, at the age of 19, [[William Hopoate]], who scored a try in his first match for [[New South Wales rugby league team|New South Wales]] and followed his father [[John Hopoate|John]] in played for both Manly and his state.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/will-hopoate-to-miss-state-of-origin-decider/story-e6frg7mf-1226076328461|title=Will Hopoate to miss State of Origin decider|last=Read|first=Brent|coauthors=McDonald, Margie|date=16 June 2011|work=[[The Australian]]|accessdate=11 November 2011}}</ref> At the time, Hopoate announced that he would be leaving professional football at the end of the season to embark on a two-year [[mormon mission]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/5107280/No-regrets-for-mormon-to-be-Hopoate|title=No regrets for mormon-to-be Will Hopoate|last=Jackson|first=Glenn|date=7 June 2011|work=[[Stuff.co.nz]]|accessdate=11 November 2011}}</ref>

Manly's winning streak came to an end in late June, when the team was defeated by the reigning premiers [[St George Illawarra]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/jamie-soward-limping-after-dragons-thump-manly-in-wollongong/story-e6frg7mf-1226083047303|title=Jamie Soward limping after Dragons thump Manly in Wollongong|date=27 June 2011|work=[[The Australian]]|accessdate=11 November 2011}}</ref> The match was played a week after the death of the well-known former Manly player turned commentator [[Rex Mossop]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://manly-daily.whereilive.com.au/news/story/sea-eagles-legend-rex-mossop-dies/|title=Sea Eagles legend Rex Mossop dies|date=20 June 2011|work=[[Manly Daily]]|accessdate=11 November 2011}}</ref> Manly returned to winning form quickly, defeating [[South Sydney Rabbitohs|South Sydney]] in their next match,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-sport/foran-inspires-manly-to-win-over-souths-20110710-1h8mg.html|title=Foran inspires Manly to win over Souths|last=Horne|first=Ben|date=10 July 2011|work=[[Sydney Morning Herald]]|accessdate=11 November 2011}}</ref> before thrashing [[Newcastle Knights|Newcastle]], 32–10,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/5298726/Manly-romp-home-over-Knights|title=Manly Sea Eagles romp home over Knights|last=Horne|first=Ben|date=17 July 2011|work=[[Stuff.co.nz]]|accessdate=11 November 2011}}</ref> and defeating [[Penrith Panthers|Penrith]], 12–8.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://tvnz.co.nz/rugby-league-news/manly-edge-panthers-4321597|title=Manly edge out Panthers|date=24 July 2011|work=[[TVNZ]]|accessdate=11 November 2011}}</ref> A defeat to the [[Wests Tigers]] followed, in a home game that Manly decided to play at Gosford's [[Central Coast Stadium]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/benji-marshall-brilliance-helps-give-sea-eagles-the-flick/story-e6frg7mf-1226104643695|title=Benji Marshall brilliance helps give Sea Eagles the flick|last=Read|first=Brent|date=30 July 2011|work=[[The Australian]]|accessdate=11 November 2011}}</ref> Manly responded to the defeat to the Tigers with another winning streak, beating the [[Sydney Roosters]], the [[Parramatta Eels]] and the [[Canterbury Bulldogs]] in successive weeks. The cost to Manly was an injury to their co-captain [[Jason King (rugby league)|Jason King]] in the Roosters match. He would miss the remainder of the season with a torn pectoral muscle.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-08-08/sea-eagles-lose-king-for-season/2829614|title=Sea Eagles lose King for season|date=8 August 2011|work=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]]|accessdate=11 November 2011}}</ref>

King's loss was only the start of things to come for Manly. On Friday, 26 August 2011, Manly hosted the [[Melbourne Storm]] at [[Brookvale Oval]] for the penultimate match of the regular season. Melbourne was then on top of the NRL ladder and looking to secure the [[minor premiership]]; Manly was in second place. The two clubs had been rivals since they played 2007 and 2008 grand finals, winning one apiece. The one thing that united the club's fans was a mutual dislike for the NRL's chief executive [[David Gallop]]. Gallop had decided to strip Melbourne of its 2007 and 2009 premierships for salary cap breaches. He had also angered Manly by suspending [[Brett Stewart]] in 2009 for his behaviour at an official event; Stewart was charged with, and subsequently acquitted of, committing rape after the event. Gallop decided to attend the Friday night match, in front of a packed Brookvale Oval crowd of 20,059, leaving Manly to consider hiring security guards to protect him.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/security-for-david-gallop-at-brookvale/story-e6frg7mf-1226120765776|title=Security for David Gallop at Brookvale|last=Honeysett|first=Stuart|date=24 August 2011|work=[[The Australian]]|accessdate=11 November 2011}}</ref> The match that ensued earnt the name "The Battle of Brookvale". In the first half of the match, a skirmish broke out between Manly's [[Darcy Lussick]] and Melbourne's [[Ryan Hinchcliffe]]. A number of players joined the brawl, including Manly's [[Glenn Stewart]] and Melbourne's [[Adam Blair]], who the referee decided to send to the [[Sin_bin#Rugby_football|sin bin]]. As Stewart and Blair left the field for their ten minutes on the sidelines, a fight broke out between them. A series of Manly and Melbourne players ran from the field and the sideline benches to join the fight, giving rise to a large brawl in front of Brookvale Oval's main stand. Stewart and Blair were both sent off for the remainder of the match, which Manly went on to win.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/battle-of-brookie-set-to-take-toll-on-big-guns-title-assault-20110826-1jeto.html|title=Battle of Brookie set to take toll on big guns' title assault|last=Jackson|first=Glenn|date=27 August 2011|work=[[Sydney Morning Herald]]|accessdate=11 November 2011}}</ref> Manly suffered four suspensions arising from the match: Stewart and Lussick were suspended for three weeks each as the brawls' principal protagonists, while Foran and Stewart's brother Brett received lesser suspensions for their parts in the melee. Each club was fined $50,000 by the NRL. Gallop said after the match: "The sight of so many players from both teams fighting, of people running in and leaving the bench area, was an horrendous look for the game."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/live-stream-nrl-boss-david-gallop-delivers-his-verdict-on-friday-nights-battle-of-brookvale-between-manly-and-storm/story-e6frexnr-1226124470466|title=Manly Sea Eagles and Melbourne Storm fined $50,000 each and 10 players charged by NRL judiciary after 'Battle of Brookie'|last=Ritchie|first=Dean|date=29 August 2011|work=[[The Daily Telegraph (Australia)]]|accessdate=11 November 2011}}</ref> The fallout from the match also claimed the scalp of Manly's long-serving media manager and former player [[Peter Peters]], who was stood down and then sacked for making a sexist comment to a female reporter when leaving an NRL judiciary hearing for Glenn Stewart.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theherald.com.au/news/national/national/sport/after-sexist-comment-peters-to-leave-manly/2281491.aspx|title=After sexist comment, Peters to leave Manly|last=Walter|first=Brad|date=5 September 2011|work=[[Newcastle Herald]]|accessdate=11 November 2011}}</ref> Meanwhile, Manly winger [[David Williams (rugby league)|David Williams]] suffered a neck injury in the match that would end his season.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10747888|title=NRL: Neck injury ends Williams' season|date=29 August 2011|work=[[New Zealand Herald]]|accessdate=11 November 2011}}</ref>

Manly thus fielded a depleted side for their final regular season match against the [[Brisbane Broncos]] at [[Suncorp Stadium]]. Even though the Broncos won 18–10, Manly had already secured second place on the NRL ladder behind Melbourne; the Broncos finished third.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-09-04/lockyers-troops-hold-off-manly/2869950|title=Lockyer's troops hold off Manly|date=4 September 2011|work=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]]|accessdate=12 November 2011}}</ref>

===Finals series===
[[File:Manly-Broncos2011.jpg|left|thumb|Manly forward [[Tony Williams (rugby league)|Tony Williams]] catches the ball in the preliminary final against the [[Brisbane Broncos]].]]
Finishing second on the ladder gave Manly the comfort of knowing that they would not be eliminated from the finals series if they lost their opening match, and that if they won, they would move straight into the series' third and final week. Their opponents in the qualifying final were the [[North Queensland Cowboys]]. Manly were disappointed that their right to a "home final" could not be exercised at [[Brookvale Oval]], where they had been undefeated during the regular season. The NRL forced Manly to play the match at the [[Sydney Football Stadium]], in front of a crowd of only 13,972. Nonetheless, despite trailing the Cowboys at half-time, Manly scored 42 points in the second half to win 42–8.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-09-10/slick-sea-eagles-dump-cowboys/2880016|title=Slick Sea Eagles dump Cowboys|date=11 September 2011|work=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]]|accessdate=12 November 2011}}</ref>

Defeating the Cowboys put Manly one win away from the NRL grand final. Their opponents in the preliminary final would be the [[Brisbane Broncos]], who had defeated them three weeks earlier. Much of the focus in the week leading up to the match was on whether Brisbane's retiring captain and 355-game veteran would play after fracturing his cheekbone in the second week of the finals. Lockyer was initially named in the Brisbane team, but late in the week withdrew from the match. Lockyer's withdrawal made Manly the firm favourites,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/5666106/Extra-week-won-t-make-difference-for-Lockyer|title=Extra week won't make difference for Lockyer|last=Prichard|first=Greg|date=22 September 2011|work=[[TVNZ]]|accessdate=12 November 2011}}</ref> and they won 26–14.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://tvnz.co.nz/rugby-league-news/manly-into-grand-final-4417762|title=Manly into grand final|date=24 September 2011|work=[[TVNZ]]|accessdate=12 November 2011}}</ref>

===Grand final===
{{main|2011 NRL grand final}}
{| align="right" class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%; text-align:center; margin-left:1em"
|- bgcolor="#FF0033"
! width="130"|Manly-Warringah<br />Sea Eagles
! width="40"|Position
! width="130"|New Zealand<br />Warriors
|-
| [[Brett Stewart]] || [[Rugby League positions#Fullback|FB]] || [[Kevin Locke (rugby league)|Kevin Locke]]
|-
| [[Michael Robertson (rugby league)|Michael Robertson]] || [[Rugby League positions#Wing|WG]]|| [[Bill Tupou]]
|-
| [[Jamie Lyon]] (c) || [[Rugby League positions#Centre|CE]] || [[Lewis Brown (rugby league)|Lewis Brown]]
|-
| [[Steve Matai]] || [[Rugby League positions#Centre|CE]]|| [[Krisnan Inu]]
|-
| [[Will Hopoate]] || [[Rugby League positions#Wing|WG]] || [[Manu Vatuvei]]
|-
| [[Kieran Foran]] ||[[Rugby League positions#Stand-off|FE]] || [[James Maloney]]
|-
| [[Daly Cherry-Evans]] || [[Rugby League positions#Scrum half|HB]]|| [[Shaun Johnson]]
|-
| [[Joe Galuvao]] || [[Rugby League positions#Prop forward|PR]] || [[Russell Packer]]
|-
| [[Matt Ballin]] || [[Rugby League positions#Hooker|HK]] || [[Lance Hohaia]]
|-
| [[Brent Kite]] || [[Rugby League positions#Prop forward|PR]] || [[Jacob Lillyman]]
|-
| [[Anthony Watmough]] || [[Rugby League positions#Second-row forward|SR]]|| [[Elijah Taylor]]
|-
| [[Tony Williams (rugby league)|Tony Williams]] ||[[Rugby League positions#Second-row forward|SR]] || [[Simon Mannering]] (c)
|-
| [[Glenn Stewart]] || [[Rugby league positions#Loose forward / Lock forward|LK]] || [[Michael Luck (rugby league)|Michael Luck]]
|-
| [[Shane Rodney]] || Reserve || [[Sam Rapira]]
|-
| [[Jamie Buhrer]] || Reserve || [[Aaron Heremaia]]
|-
| [[Vic Mauro]] || Reserve || [[Feleti Mateo]]
|-
| [[George Rose (rugby league)|George Rose]] || Reserve || [[Ben Matulino]]
|-
| [[Des Hasler]] || Coach || [[Ivan Cleary]]
|-
|}
Manly's opponents for the grand final, held at [[Stadium Australia]] on 2 October, were the [[New Zealand Warriors]], who had finished sixth on the NRL ladder. The Warriors had defeated the [[Melbourne Storm]] in the second qualifying final, ruining the chances of a "Battle of Brookvale" grand final re-match.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/5679278/Warriors-into-second-NRL-grand-final|title=Warriors into second NRL grand final|last=Lawton|first=Aaron|date=24 September 2011|work=[[Stuff.co.nz]]|accessdate=12 November 2011}}</ref> The Warriors were playing in their second first-grade grand final; it was Manly's 18th. Manly would also become the first club to play in grand finals in seven consecutive decades. Reflecting on this record, rugby league historian David Middleton said leading up to the match: "No other club has done what they have, it's a unique achievement."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/secret-to-manlys-decades-of-success/story-e6frg7mf-1226154450307|title=Secret to Manly's decades of success|last=Honeysett|first=Stuart|date=1 October 2011|work=[[The Australian]]|accessdate=12 November 2011}}</ref>

Manly fielded a near full strength team for the grand final. Ten of its 17-man squad had previous grand final experience. [[Glenn Stewart]] returned from his "Battle of Brookvale" suspension, while [[Jason King (rugby league)|Jason King]] and [[David Williams (rugby league)|David Williams]] were the only players missing through injury. While the grand final was held in Sydney, Manly received little support from Sydneysiders other than their own fans. Reflecting what the ''[[Irish Times]]'' observed from abroad was a long-standing "inherent hatred" for Manly, many Australians supported the foreign Warriors to win the match.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2011/0930/1224304998326.html|title=Curiously, Aussies will be rooting for the New Zealand Warriors|last=Thornley|first=Gerry|date=30 September 2011|work=[[Irish Times]]|accessdate=12 November 2011}}</ref>

The match was played in front of 81,988 spectators and, for the third year in a row, in the rain. After a tight opening 30 minutes, the Warriors led 2–0. However, Manly broke clear with two tries before half-time, the first to [[Brett Stewart]] and the second to [[Daly Cherry-Evans]], one play after an audacious kick from forward [[Glenn Stewart]] in his own half allowed winger [[Michael Robertson (rugby league)|Michael Robertson]] to break free. Manly stretched its lead to 16 points after half-time following a try to Glenn Stewart, setup by a blind flick pass from [[William Hopoate]] as he was pushed out of play. The Warriors scored two unconverted tries in the final fifteen minutes to narrow the deficit to eight points; however, Manly held onto its lead and celebrated victory with a try to captain [[Jamie Lyon]] in the final minute of play. The final score was 24–10. Glenn Stewart was awarded the [[Clive Churchill Medal]] as the player of the match.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-10-02/hasler-praises-churchill-winner-stewart/3206062/?site=sport&section=all?site=sport&section=rugbyleague|title=Hasler praises Churchill winner Stewart|date=2 October 2011|work=[[ABC Sport]]|accessdate=3 October 2011}}</ref>

===Season statistics===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:left; font-size:90%"
|-
!width=200 |Player
!width=75 |Appearances: Starting (interchange)
!width=50 |Tries
!width=50|Goals
!width=50|Field Goals
!width=50|Points
|-
![[Matt Ballin]]
|align=center|27
|align=center|3
|align=center|0
|align=center|0
|align=center|12
|-
![[Daly Cherry-Evans]]
|align=center|27
|align=center|7
|align=center|25
|align=center|3
|align=center|81
|-
![[Kieran Foran]]
|align=center|26
|align=center|8
|align=center|0
|align=center|0
|align=center|32
|-
![[Jamie Lyon]]
|align=center|25
|align=center|9
|align=center|59
|align=center|0
|align=center|154
|-
![[Anthony Watmough]]
|align=center|24
|align=center|5
|align=center|0
|align=center|0
|align=center|20
|-
![[Glenn Stewart]]
|align=center|23
|align=center|4
|align=center|0
|align=center|0
|align=center|16
|-
![[Brent Kite]]
|align=center|23
|align=center|0
|align=center|0
|align=center|0
|align=center|0
|-
![[Steve Matai]]
|align=center|22
|align=center|9
|align=center|0
|align=center|0
|align=center|36
|-
![[Michael Robertson (rugby league)|Michael Robertson]]
|align=center|21
|align=center|11
|align=center|2
|align=center|0
|align=center|48
|-
![[Brett Stewart]]
|align=center|20
|align=center|15
|align=center|0
|align=center|0
|align=center|60
|-
![[William Hopoate]]
|align=center|19
|align=center|14
|align=center|0
|align=center|0
|align=center|56
|-
![[Joe Galuvao]]
|align=center|16 (11)
|align=center|1
|align=center|0
|align=center|0
|align=center|4
|-
![[Jason King (rugby league)|Jason King]]
|align=center|16
|align=center|0
|align=center|0
|align=center|0
|align=center|0
|-
![[Michael Oldfield (rugby league)|Michael Oldfield]]
|align=center|12
|align=center|6
|align=center|0
|align=center|0
|align=center|24
|-
![[David Williams (rugby league)|David Williams]]
|align=center|12
|align=center|8
|align=center|0
|align=center|0
|align=center|32
|-
![[George Rose (rugby league)|George Rose]]
|align=center|10 (16)
|align=center|3
|align=center|0
|align=center|0
|align=center|12
|-
![[Tony Williams (rugby league)|Tony Williams]]
|align=center|8 (12)
|align=center|6
|align=center|0
|align=center|0
|align=center|24
|-
![[Shane Rodney]]
|align=center|8 (4)
|align=center|0
|align=center|0
|align=center|0
|align=center|0
|-
![[Jamie Buhrer]]
|align=center|7 (19)
|align=center|4
|align=center|0
|align=center|0
|align=center|16
|-
![[Vic Mauro]]
|align=center|4 (17)
|align=center|0
|align=center|0
|align=center|0
|align=center|0
|-
![[Dean Whare]]
|align=center|1
|align=center|0
|align=center|0
|align=center|0
|align=center|0
|-
![[Tim Robinson (rugby league)|Tim Robinson]]
|align=center|0 (13)
|align=center|0
|align=center|0
|align=center|0
|align=center|0
|-
![[Darcy Lussick]]
|align=center|0 (8)
|align=center|0
|align=center|0
|align=center|0
|align=center|0
|-
![[Terence Seu Seu]]
|align=center|0 (5)
|align=center|0
|align=center|0
|align=center|0
|align=center|0
|-
![[Daniel Harrison (rugby league)|Daniel Harrison]]
|align=center|0 (3)
|align=center|0
|align=center|1
|align=center|0
|align=center|4
|}
''Source: [http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/ Rugby League Project]''

==Awards and honours==
Two Manly players were recognised in the official [[2011 Dally M Awards|Dally M Awards]] for the NRL season. [[Daly Cherry-Evans]] was named the best rookie in the league, for a season in which he started at half-back in every single match. [[Steve Menzies]] was the last Manly player to have won the award, in 1994. [[Jamie Lyon]] was named in the NRL's team of the season, as the league's best centre.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-09-06/slater-claims-dally-m-medal/2874032|title=Slater claims Dally M Medal|date=7 September 2011|work=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]]|accessdate=12 November 2011}}</ref>

On 3 November 2011 the annual [[RLIF Awards]] dinner was held at the [[Tower of London]]. Manly coach [[Des Hasler]] was named the world's top coach of the year, while Cherry-Evans and Lyon added to their Dally M awards by being named the best players in their positions.<ref>{{cite news|title=Slater scoops player award|url=http://www1.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/15313/7289077/Slater-scoops-player-award|accessdate=5 November 2011|newspaper=[[Sky Sports]]|date=3 November 2011}}</ref> In the [[Rugby League World Golden Boot Award|Golden Boot Awards]] decided by ''[[Rugby League World]]'', Lyon and [[Anthony Watmough]] were named in the international team of the season.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www1.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/15313/7345772/Thurston-scoops-Golden-Boot|title=Thurston scoops Golden Boot|date=2 December 2011|work=[[Sky Sports]]|accessdate=2 December 2011}}</ref>

At Manly's club awards, [[Glenn Stewart]] was named the best and fairest player for the season, [[Steve Matai]] the "players' player", and [[Daly Cherry-Evans]] the best rookie.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mwse.com.au/?s=article-display&id=44361|title=2011 Awards Night Winners|date=7 October 2011|work=www.mwse.com.au|publisher=[[Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles]]|accessdate=12 November 2011|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/639Apqdz0|archivedate=12 November 2011}}</ref> Five Manly players were selected in the [[Australian Kangaroos]] squad for the post-season [[2011 Four Nations|Four Nations]]: Glenn and [[Brett Stewart]], [[Anthony Watmough]], [[Tony Williams (rugby league)|Tony Williams]] and Cherry-Evans, although the Stewart brothers subsequently withdrew from the squad before the tournament.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/no-issue-with-watmough-insists-sheens-20111003-1l4m5.html|title=No issue with Watmough, insists Sheens|date=3 October 2011|work=[[Sydney Morning Herald]]|accessdate=12 November 2011}}</ref>

==Post-season turmoil and sacking of Des Hasler==
Even as Manly was still celebrating its grand final victory, it was struggling to hold on to some of its key people. One winger, [[Michael Robertson (rugby league)|Michael Robertson]] had already decided to leave the club to play in England in 2012. Barely days after the grand final, the other grand final winger, star rookie [[Will Hopoate]], signed to play for the [[Parramatta Eels]] upon his return from a two-year [[Missionary (LDS Church)|Mormon mission]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/parramatta-eels-to-gain-manly-sea-eagles-prodigy-will-hopoate-but-could-lose-up-to-seven-stars/story-e6frexnr-1226160756115|title=Parramatta Eels to gain Manly Sea Eagles prodigy Will Hopoate but could lose up to seven stars|last=Nicolussi|first=Christian|date=7 October 2011|work=[[The Daily Telegraph (Australia)|The Daily Telegraph]]|accessdate=12 November 2011}}</ref>

Hopoate's loss was shortly followed by that of the club's head coach, [[Des Hasler]]. Hasler had won two premierships with the club in a long playing career (in 1987 and 1996), and two as the club's coach (in 2008 and 2011). Speculation about Hasler's future had been building in the weeks leading up to the grand final, but he appeared to quash the rumours by announcing after the match that he would be at Manly for 2012, the last year of his contract. However, within days, Hasler signed an agreement to coach the [[Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs]] from 2013. He agreed with Manly's board to remain as Manly's head coach for 2012, while the club would appoint Hasler's assistant [[Geoff Toovey]] from 2013.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/league/nrl-premiership/des-hasler-deserts-manly-sea-eagles-signs-with-canterbury-bankstown-bulldogs/story-fn2mcuj6-1226161000250|title=Des Hasler deserts Manly Sea Eagles, signs with rival NRL club Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs|date=7 October 2011|work=[[Fox Sports (Australia)|Fox Sports]]|accessdate=12 November 2011}}</ref>

Within the following weeks, a series of Manly staff followed Hasler in signing for the Bulldogs, including the club's recuitment manager and former premiership-winner [[Noel Cleal]], who cited "factional infighting" as his reason for leaving.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/i-was-driven-out-by-infighting-and-backstabbing-says-cleal/story-e6frg7mf-1226191885686|title=I was driven out by infighting and backstabbing, says Cleal|last=Kogoy|first=Peter|date=11 November 2011|work=[[The Australian]]|accessdate=12 November 2011}}</ref> In early November, the Manly board suspended Hasler from his duties, alleging that he had been trying to entice fellow Manly staff to defect to the Bulldogs, which the board considered amounted to "serious breaches" of Hasler's employment contract. Ultimately, on 11 November, less than six weeks after winning the premiership, the board terminated Hasler's contract and immediately appointed Toovey as his successor.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-11-11/manly-cuts-ties-with-hasler/3660488/?site=melbourne|title=Manly cuts ties with Hasler|date=11 November 2011|work=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]]|accessdate=12 November 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sportal.com.au/league-news-display/hasler-sacked-147137|title=Hasler sacked|last=Buttigieg|first=Luke|date=11 November 2011|work=[[Sportal]]|accessdate=12 November 2011}}</ref> Hasler initially threatened to sue Manly for the termination of his contract; Manly's chairman Scott Penn claimed in response that the club had "verbal and email evidence that he was involved in coercing staff to leave".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/its-on-hasler-penn-take-the-gloves-off-20111111-1nbjw.html|title=It's on: Hasler, Penn take the gloves off|last=Prichard|first=Greg|date=12 November 2011|work=[[Sydney Morning Herald]]|accessdate=12 November 2011}}</ref> The 82-year-old former Manly player, coach and club secretary [[Ken Arthurson]] said: "To do what [Hasler] has done is beyond the pale". The club's 1978 premiership-winning captain [[Max Krilich]] called Hasler a "mercenary",<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/mercenary-des-hasler-pillaging-manly-ken-arthurson/story-e6frg7mf-1226190652646|title='Mercenary' Des Hasler pillaging Manly: Ken Arthurson|last=Read|first=Brent|date=10 November 2011|work=[[The Australian]]|accessdate=12 November 2011}}</ref> while another former premiership-winning captain [[Fred Jones (rugby league)|Fred Jones]] called his defection to Canterbury "disgraceful".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://origin.manly-daily.whereilive.com.au/sport/story/on-your-bike-hasler/|title='On your bike, Hasler'|last=Prentice|first=Andrew|date=9 November 2011|work=[[The Manly Daily]]|accessdate=12 November 2011}}</ref> After reaching an agreement to commence as the Bulldogs' head coach from 2012, a year earlier than first agreed, Hasler dropped his threat of legal action against Manly.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/des-to-coach-dogs-next-year-wont-pursue-legal-action-against-manly-20111112-1ncwf.html|title=Des to coach Dogs next year, won't pursue legal action against Manly|last=Proszenko|first=Adrian|date=13 November 2011|work=[[Sydney Morning Herald]]|accessdate=12 November 2011}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

{{NRL 2011}}
{{Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles}}

[[Category:Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles seasons]]
[[Category:2011 NRL season by club|Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles season]]

Wikipedia - User contributions [en]

2011 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles season