Manly coach Geoff Toovey has welcomed the bounce of the ball favouring his side in their last-gasp 22-18 win over Parramatta at Brookvale on Sunday, in a reversal of the side's golden point loss to the Storm in Round 1.
"It is pleasing [to get some luck], it would have been heartbreaking two lose two games in a row here at Brookvale by tight margins so I thought the football gods were a bit on our side today," he said.
Toovey clarified he was referring to the bounce of the ball, particularly with the 80th minute try to Steve Matai following a bat-back from Cheyse Blair, rather than winning a lopsided 10-4 penalty count.
"A few [penalties] did go our way, I was talking more about the bounce of the ball, particularly that last play," he said.
"But you need the skill to perform those sort of things, we were in the match up to our eyeballs. But we needed to do better and fortunately for us we had a bit of football luck with that last try."
With the side down on troops – still missing first choice fullback Brett Stewart and winger Jorge Taufua, with five-eighth Kieran Foran being a late withdrawal with a calf injury – Toovey said it was important to be able to win the close games.
"I think you've seen that over a few rounds, the more fancied teams have just snuck home. It was nice to be on that end of the tally today," he said.
"But the players know it wasn't our greatest performance, we need to improve, particularly for next week which we spoke about against the Roosters.
"It is important to perform well but [injuries are] going to happen to every side through the year, it is a tough game.
"Twenty-six rounds, you're always going to be without one or two players here and there, particularly key players, if we can minimise that it's great but I think all clubs are in the same position so when you can sneak those wins home, those close ones, it goes a long way when you're battling it out for those positions come semi-final time."
Having said earlier in the week he expected a big improvement and a firing start from a humiliated Parramatta side, he described their early play as flat but credited some of their attack.
"I thought they came out probably a bit flat, they probably should have put a few more points on," he said.
"In saying that they showed some grit and determination and all of a sudden, if you're close enough you're good enough and they were. They put some good points on us and great individual tries I thought, and all of a sudden they're in front with only a couple of minutes to go."
Manly skipper Jamie Lyon also credited his opponents' attacking flair.
"The second half in particular they were playing some good footy and really took it to us," he said.
"We had a nice play at the end there, a nice kick, Cheyse Blair did some good work to tap it back and Steve Matai was on hand for the try. We put a good play on, I feel a little bit sorry for Brad [Arthur] and the boys but it was good for us to get the win."
Toovey said he expected Foran to line up in Round 4 against the Roosters at Allianz Stadium, but Brett Stewart and Taufua are likely at least another week away.
"It is pleasing [to get some luck], it would have been heartbreaking two lose two games in a row here at Brookvale by tight margins so I thought the football gods were a bit on our side today," he said.
Toovey clarified he was referring to the bounce of the ball, particularly with the 80th minute try to Steve Matai following a bat-back from Cheyse Blair, rather than winning a lopsided 10-4 penalty count.
"A few [penalties] did go our way, I was talking more about the bounce of the ball, particularly that last play," he said.
"But you need the skill to perform those sort of things, we were in the match up to our eyeballs. But we needed to do better and fortunately for us we had a bit of football luck with that last try."
With the side down on troops – still missing first choice fullback Brett Stewart and winger Jorge Taufua, with five-eighth Kieran Foran being a late withdrawal with a calf injury – Toovey said it was important to be able to win the close games.
"I think you've seen that over a few rounds, the more fancied teams have just snuck home. It was nice to be on that end of the tally today," he said.
"But the players know it wasn't our greatest performance, we need to improve, particularly for next week which we spoke about against the Roosters.
"It is important to perform well but [injuries are] going to happen to every side through the year, it is a tough game.
"Twenty-six rounds, you're always going to be without one or two players here and there, particularly key players, if we can minimise that it's great but I think all clubs are in the same position so when you can sneak those wins home, those close ones, it goes a long way when you're battling it out for those positions come semi-final time."
Having said earlier in the week he expected a big improvement and a firing start from a humiliated Parramatta side, he described their early play as flat but credited some of their attack.
"I thought they came out probably a bit flat, they probably should have put a few more points on," he said.
"In saying that they showed some grit and determination and all of a sudden, if you're close enough you're good enough and they were. They put some good points on us and great individual tries I thought, and all of a sudden they're in front with only a couple of minutes to go."
Manly skipper Jamie Lyon also credited his opponents' attacking flair.
"The second half in particular they were playing some good footy and really took it to us," he said.
"We had a nice play at the end there, a nice kick, Cheyse Blair did some good work to tap it back and Steve Matai was on hand for the try. We put a good play on, I feel a little bit sorry for Brad [Arthur] and the boys but it was good for us to get the win."
Toovey said he expected Foran to line up in Round 4 against the Roosters at Allianz Stadium, but Brett Stewart and Taufua are likely at least another week away.
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