Just won 2 tickets a Rugby Ball and 3 cups from a Heinz Big Soup promo stand in my local Asda, buzzing with them really looking forward to it. The tickets are for the North stand.

I reckon that at least 3 of Wire, Wigan, Saints and Leeds would all make the NRL playoffs its the bottom half our league that makes our league look poor in comparison to the NRL. They are all easily capable of winning more than they lose.

Over the last couple of weeks, I have heard on these boards that the Manly side lacked motivation, didn’t care about the game etc etc

Last night I decided to watch the game again and I cannot see any of Manly players not committing to the tackle or running in hard or trying to scramble in defence

Were Manly underprepared? Well, I suppose it was before their first NRL game so I can buy into that argument somewhat – but I’m pretty sure that Manly would be close to being fully prepared two weeks before their league season started. What I cannot buy into is the concept that they weren’t motivated or weren’t trying, that’s just a lazy argument that does a disservice to a proud rugby league club

The fact that it was their first "hit out" tells you that they could not possibly be fully prepared, the rest is just par for the course.
All professional rugby players will run hard, tackle hard, scramble in defence. Equally they will be rusty for the first 3 or 4 games of the season.

and it was Leeds 3rd game of the season so both sides were rusty?

It didn't stop St George beating Wigan.