Hardly a 'magic cure all', but a second pre-season game that will get them nearer to being ready for competition.

There could be any number of reasons why they didn't/couldn't play a game before the WCC.

What they'll do over the next two weeks is arrive back in Australia spending 2 weeks to acclimatise, get over jetlag and prepare a lot better for their opening Round 1 NRL fixture. Such preparation will be more conducive to the raising of their level of performance. This would be not dissimilar to them spending 2 weeks to acclimatise, get over jetlag and preparing a lot better for their WCC fixture against Leeds back in 2009. Such preparation was more conducive to the raising of their level of performance on that occasion. What they won't do is arrive back in Australia from the UK only 6 days prior to their opening NRL Round 1 fixture because that kind of preparation would not be conducive to raising their level of performance to the standard required.

Preparing properly is essential to a champion sides.

But they were in control of that. There wasnt an external reason they couldnt play a game before the WCC. They did choose not to. Thats a failing on their part.

Couldn't agree more. That's why the WCC should always be played in the UK during the NRL off season. It's the ideal preparation and conditions for champion SL sides to win. Well, most of the time.

Im not sure the date came as a surprise to Manly. I see no reason they couldnt have prepared properly.

It’s impossible to compare Newcastle’s performances to the top clubs in SL, the two competitions are a parody of the Premiership & the Championship in Football, so either way, Leeds R.L & Leeds Utd are inexorably linked

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It may have done when it was switched from it's original Sat 18th Feb slot to Fri 17th Feb.


Perhaps the WCC is not always as important to NRL clubs? Turning up in the UK only 6 days before the game certainly indicates this to be so.

im sure that day made all the difference.
Motivation is an important facet to champion sides. If Manly lack motivation then that is a failing of manly.

So maybe the Ausies need to stop bitching, whining, moaning & making excuses then!

[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVyyyGxWYD8Dinah Washington thinks so[/url.


Motivation corresponds to the level of importance attached to any competition. For NRL clubs, the WCC is a pre-season warm-up game. For SL clubs, it's their champions league, their only achievable holy grail.

And to be fair, she was on the cutting edge of RL preparation techniques.

As i said, that is a weakness for Manly. I would have thought they were professional enough to have some kind of pride in their club, and not step on to the field and go halfd. It seems Manly dont posses that level of professionalism.