MANLY TO BRING FULL STRENGTH SQUAD
By leedsrhinos.biz
January 9 2009
Super League champions Leeds Rhinos will face a full-on Manly Sea Eagles side in this year's Carnegie World Club Challenge. Manly coach Des Hasler today confirmed he will bring a full strength squad to England for the clash of the champions at Elland Road on Sunday, March 1. The Australian Grand Final winners will fly over early next month and take on Harlequins in a warm-up game at the Stoop
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repeated...Super League champions Leeds Rhinos will face a full-on Manly Sea Eagles side in this year's Carnegie World Club Challenge.
Manly coach Des Hasler today confirmed he will bring a full strength squad to England for the clash of the champions at Elland Road on Sunday, March 1.
The Australian Grand Final winners will fly over early next month and take on Harlequins in a warm-up game at the Stoop on Sunday, February 22.
"We will bring all our World Cup stars, new buys and the players still with us who played in the Grand Final win against Melbourne Storm last October," Hasler said today.
"The London match is vitally important for players to get an opportunity to play a game in English conditions prior to the match against Leeds.
"I will field as many players as possible against Quins."
Hasler had a stint as a player at Hull FC and toured England twice with the Kangaroos.
He added: "We will be up against it weather-wise, but we are arriving early and the players will have two weeks to get used to the English winter.
"Having said that we will have no excuses if we are beaten. Manly are coming to play.
"We will be keen to have Brett Stewart, Jamie Lyon, Matt Orford and Matt Ballin get as much playing time as possible in the London match. They are the key combinations for a good performance."
Stewart, a try-scoring full-back, can't wait to play in both London and Leeds.
He said: "In both games we will be playing former team mates and I am looking forward to the experience."
Stewart has scored 91 tries in just 112 games and will test out an injured knee on the English tour.
Stewart outplayed Melbourne Storm full-back Billy Slater in the Grand Final and was chosen with Slater in the Australian World Cup squad.
However, an injury sustained in the Grand Final led to an off-season knee clean up and Stewart has been training for the past two months to ensure he is right for the two games in England.
Stewart's brother - back-rower Glenn - is another Manly international eager to make his debut in England.
"To play in England with Manly is something special and we have prepared well for the experience," he said.
Tickets for the world title clash start from £20 for adults and £10 for concessions and are available from the RFL Ticket Office by visiting www.rugbyleaguetickets.co.uk or calling 0871 226 13 13. Tickets are still available, but fans are being urged by the RFL to get them as soon as possible.
Tickets are also available from the Leeds Rhinos Ticket Office in person at the Headingley Carnegie Stadium or by calling 0871 423 13 15. For more, official information, please visit leedsrugby.com.
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