Round 1
Sea Eagles 14 l. Raiders 27

2006 NRL Telstra Premiership Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: Aus_NZ > National > First Grade Competition: NRL Telstra Premiership

Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Steven Bell [CT] 8 Pts; 2t
Brett Stewart [FB] 4 Pts; 1t
Matt Orford [HB] 2 Pts; 1/3g

Canberra Raiders
Clinton Schifcofske [FB] 10 Pts; 5/5g
Todd Carney [BE] 5 Pts; 1t, 1fg
Phil Graham [CT] 4 Pts; 1t
Adam Mogg [WG] 4 Pts; 1t
Simon Woolford [BE] 4 Pts; 1t



Raiders upset Silvertails
Sun March 12, 2006
Canberra were the team many predicted would take out the wooden spoon and Manly was one of a handful of sides who spent big in the off-season with a few imports and tipped to make the biggest improvement.

Manly have an imposing record at Brookvale Oval - sometimes known as 'The Fortress' but the Raiders who generally don't travel well on the road were impressive defeating the Sea Eagles 27-14 in front of over 17,000 supporters.

Phil Graham got the Green Machine off to a great start with a try in the 4th minute, which was converted by new captain Clinton Schifcofske and he also added a penalty goal five minutes later for an 8-0 lead.

New Sea Eagles recruit Steven Bell scored his first try for the club in the 27th minute to get Manly on the board but Canberra struck back with a try to Adam Mogg in the 32nd minute.

Canberra led 14-4 heading into the halftime break but a try to exciting young fullback Brett Stewart brought Manly within a converted try.

Todd Carney scored 15 minutes into the second half to push Canberra's lead out to 12 points but Bell's second try four minutes later kept Manly within striking distance.

A fine individual try to former skipper Simon Woolford saw the Raiders back out to a lead of two converted tries following Schifcofske's conversion and a drop-goal moments later to Carney saw the scoreline of 27-14, which remained that way until fulltime.

Captain Schifcofske after the match said, "I thought we played good in patches, we've still got plenty of room for improvement and just really proud of the effort, it was great.

"If we keep continually improving, it will be a very promising season."

It wasn't all good news for the Raiders with prop Josh Miller likely to miss the remainder of the season after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament knee injury. Canberra coach Matthew Elliott was upset at fulltime after Miller had only just fought his way back from a shoulder reconstruction.

Elliott said, "He moved heaven and earth to make himself available for his game, and I feel really deeply for him, I really do. His first response to me when I came him into the dressing sheds was 'I'll be back before the end of the season,' and you doubt him at your own peril."

The victory was a good start for Canberra's season and they will be hoping to build from the impressive start.

Manly are adapting to a new halfback and ultimately a new style of football. A few more losses though and people will start to question both Orford and coach Des Hasler.

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