Barrett elated with shut-out of Eels
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Usually when a team racks up 54 points the coach is doing cartwheels and raving about the attack.
But the number which excited Manly Warringah Sea Eagles mentor Trent Barrett was a big fat zero.
Pleased as he was that the Sea Eagles cracked a half century, Barrett was more satisfied with the defensive discipline to keep the Parramatta Eels scoreless at Lottoland on a stiflingly hot Sunday afternoon.
The 54-0 drubbing was Manly's all-time greatest victory margin over their long-time rivals.
''I was confident that we'd play well today but I didn't expect the scoreline that finished up. I'm just more pleased that we could hold them to zero,'' Barrett said.
''We controlled the ball really well. Last week we were probably our own worst enemies in turning over too much cheap possession. Tonight, we held onto it and got the job done.
''Our resilience on our try-line and our defence was good and we controlled the footy. There's enough points in the team if we hold onto the ball.
''We had to be disciplined there at the back end. It would have been easy to put the cue in the rack, particularly how hot it was, but that’s probably what I’m most proud of, that we could stick to our guns and be disciplined with and without the ball and come away with a really good win.''
Match: Sea Eagles v Eels
Round 2 -
home Team
Sea Eagles
6th Position
away Team
Eels
16th Position
Venue: Lottoland, Sydney
Sea Eagles skipper Daly Cherry Evans was proud of the way every teammate contributed to the convincing win.
''I think it probably looks easy when you have all 13 players doing their job really well. There wasn't a bad player on the field for Manly today, it was really good to be a part of and it is certainly a real pleasure to have things that you've worked so hard for pay off,'' Cherry-Evans said.
''The defence is something we've really tried to narrow in on. A nil scoreline is certainly very pleasing.
''Nothing come easy today but it was certainly a reflection of 17 players doing their job really well.''
The win was even better for the Sea Eagles considering they suffered a golden point loss to the Newcastle Knights in round one.
The heat didn’t seem to be a problem for Manly, with the halves leading the way as they capitalised on nearly every opportunity.
