Lawrence embraces all the Manly hate

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

THIS is the hand-written sign on the Brookvale hill Brenton Lawrence looks for when talk starts about how rugby league hates Manly.

In just his second season at Brookvale, Lawrence is shocked and bemused at how rivals clubs, and their fans, dislike Manly - and have done so for the past fifty years.

And no rival NRL side has a healthier rivalry than Parramatta, Manly's opponents this Sunday afternoon at Brookvale Oval.

Manly fans hold up banner titled 'Guess What? Manly Hates You Too !!!' . Source: News Limited

The Sea Eagles and Eels have a passionate history going back to the 1970s. Manly beat Parramatta in 1976 grand final but the Eels extracted revenge winning the deciders over Manly in 1982 and 1983.

It seems, generally, every fan cheers for their side - and the team playing Manly. And the Sea Eagles love it.

''There is a bit of a rivalry with every club - everyone seems to want to beat Manly," Lawrence said. "There's something weird about it.

"It's uplifting and something that you want to disprove I guess. Everyone seems have that gripe against Manly.

"One of the best signs in the crowd is 'Guess What? Manly hates you too!!!'.

"It's good to be apart of that and we always want to beat Parramatta. This week is no exception."

Brenton Lawrence during Manly training at NSW Academy of Sport at Narabeen. pic. Phil Hilyard Source: News Corp Australia

Even Lawrence admitted he wasn't a Manly fan before arriving at Brookvale.

"It's through and through. Everyone seems to have that northern beaches passion, or they don't," he said.

"It actually proves to be beneficial to us because the boys love it.

"Before I came here I knew Manly was the club everyone loves to hate.

"That's the nature of sporting clubs. As soon as you are part of something, then you belong, it's like family. But when you're not, you're the opposition.

"It's a good rivalry to have - it's a bit of fun."

Manly was accused of attempting to buy premierships as far back as the 1970s.

In that same era, the Sea Eagles were also labelled the game's Silvertails.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

"I am only here in my second year but it's funny how you look at the Silvertails having all the money," Lawrence told The Daily Telegraph.

"I can see there is money on the northern beaches but Manly isn't exactly the richest club in the league. It's a stereotype of yesterday. The legend of the Manly Silvertails.

"That is what's so great about rugby league - these things are always going to stay."

There is something special about Manly and Parramatta at Brookvale on a sunny Sunday afternoon.

Brenton Lawrence warms up. Source: Getty Images

Something newsworthy always happens; you can feel it walking into the old ground.

One player sure to be nervous walking into Brookie on Sunday will be Will Hopoate, the ex-Manly grand final winger.

Asked what reception he will cop, Lawrence said: "Hopefully a good one - they are quite loyal the Brookie fans."

Manly halves Kieran Foran and Cherry Evans didn't train yesterday but will fit for the match.

Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang

Lawrence embraces all the Manly hate

Dengan url

http://sportlivestyle.blogspot.com/2014/03/lawrence-embraces-all-manly-hate.html

Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya

Lawrence embraces all the Manly hate

namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link

Lawrence embraces all the Manly hate

sebagai sumbernya