Storm v Manly round 26 game thread

[Stormwarning[c]]

This from News Ltd today to start the thread

Storm will meet third-placed Manly on Saturday night in an ideal final tune-up before the playoffs.

Manly is sweating on the fitness of halfback Matt Orford after the former Storm playmaker strained a medial ligament in his knee during the Sea Eagles' 21-20 win over the Bulldogs on Friday night.

Orford kicked the winning field goal in the match, but early indications are he may struggle to be fit for the Melbourne match.

Orford and his replacement at Storm this season, Cooper Cronk, have been tipped as the frontrunners to fill the Australian No. 7 jersey for the end-of-year Tri Nations tournament.

Champion halfback Andrew Johns yesterday used his Sydney newspaper column to back Orford.

"If they were handing out Kangaroo jumpers right now, it would be hard to go past the No. 7 from Manly," Johns wrote. "He was sensational against the Bulldogs on Friday night in a game of semi-final quality.

"His kicking and running game were right up there and he showed enormous composure when it mattered at the death to land the match-winning field goal."

[lotti]

bad Joey and Matt will be there if he's needed.  I might not be watching the game, since I'm pretty sure it will be a nail biter.

[bula]

Who does Bellamy leave out? One week from the finals surely he'll put his best out there, Manly are desperate to stay in the four. Hope Inglis' form continues

[lotti]

I wish I didn't know so much about the Storm and how they react to a loss at home at their next home game.

[Tigger]

I wish I didn't know so much about the Storm and how they react to a loss at home at their next home game.

Sif we're gunna lose to Manly anyway 
Seriously lotti, I doubt you know much about Storm at all 

[lotti]

they normaly go out hard Tigger, they're the minor premiers and there's the home ground advantage factor to consider.

[Christabella]

It appears to me that your really want Manly to win, if you truly supported both sides then you wouldn't care who won and thus be able to enjoy the game all the more.
Only a Manly fans would select not to watch the game because on the form you showed on Friday night there is no way you will beat the Storm.

[lotti]

Bella I keep telling my fellow Manly fans that there are factors that will keep Manly from winning, I'm not looking at this game through Manly or Melbourne coloured glasses I know they've got a tough task against Melbourne but I also know that Manly have a home final to play for on Saturday night while we've already got one.  I don't care who wins considering I'll have at least 1 team with 2 points this week.

[DEvislish]

[

Storm will meet third-placed Manly on Saturday night in an ideal final tune-up before the playoffs.

Manly is sweating on the fitness of halfback Matt Orford after the former Storm playmaker strained a medial ligament in his knee during the Sea Eagles' 21-20 win over the Bulldogs on Friday night.

Orford kicked the winning field goal in the match, but early indications are he may struggle to be fit for the Melbourne match.

scared more like it!!
nah, i want orford to play, so he can see first hand what he's missing out on.

[Bourbon Rat]

How does it go "A picture paints a thousand words"

These players trust each other & know that they can depend on each other to get the job done,even if it's a struggle.This was NEVER the case with Orford !Wonder if anything has changed now that he's a Sea Eagle  When push comes to shove next week at OP will he attempt to 'soar like an eagle' or become the ostritch we know from days of yore ?

[Tigger]

they normaly go out hard Tigger, they're the minor premiers and there's the home ground advantage factor to consider.

You know lotti, I never would have known that if you hadn't pointed it out to me.......

I thank the good lord every day for people like you who keep me up to date & on the straight & narrow 

[grey sub]

It appears to me that your really want Manly to win, if you truly supported both sides then you wouldn't care who won and thus be able to enjoy the game all the more.
Only a Manly fans would select not to watch the game because on the form you showed on Friday night there is no way you will beat the Storm.

I am with you on this one Bella, I think you are right, Me I just want the Storm to win and to win by heaps

[bula]

I keep thinkin of why Melbourne can lose becasue of whats happened in the past! But i forgot that this teams different
They'l smash up Manly, if they lose i seriously doubt we can win this yrs comp

[grey sub]

I keep thinkin of why Melbourne can lose becasue of whats happened in the past! But i forgot that this teams different
They'l smash up Manly, if they lose i seriously doubt we can win this yrs comp

It can not be good for us if we do lose

[Bourbon Rat]

Manly's nightmare weekend

Friday 1st Sept - The nightmare begins
Newcastle Knights by dint of a bye & better for/against leapfrog into third spot and consign Manly to fourth.

Saturday 2nd Sept - The nightmare on Elm Swan St
In the face of a hostile home crowd Manly succumb to the raging Storm & slip further in the for/against battle.

Sunday 3rd Sept - The nightmare continues
A fast finishing Broncos,(aided by the rabid crowd at Suncorp), crush a Warriors team intent on starting Mad Monday a day early. This results in the Broncos,who already had a better for/against leaping into third spot,consigning the Knights to fourth & consigning the hapless Sea Eagles to fifth.

And if you dear reader consider this moment of imagination far fetched or harsh - Mayhaps you're on the wrong forum