Brookvale Oval in danger of being overrun by Cronulla fans for NRL finals blockbuster
Brookvale Oval has been cleared of asbestos, only for Cronulla fans to potentially buy most of the tickets for Manly’s elimination final in what would be an embarrassing effort from locals.
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Yes, the asbestos is gone.
So why the bloody hell aren’t Manly fans on Brookvale Oval hill?
Despite waiting 11 years for a home final, the Manly Sea Eagles are suddenly in danger of having their famed suburban venue overrun by Cronulla fans.
According to NRL data, 45 per cent of all tickets currently sold for the club’s elimination clash at ‘Fortress Brookie’ belong to Sharkies supporters, many of whom will arrive en masse via a convoy of buses.
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Privately, there are fears the surprise crowd split is a result of Manly having $2 million worth of playing talent sidelined — most notably, Tom Trbojevic, Marty Taupau, Curtis Sironen and Joel Thompson.
The revelation also comes in the same week Sea Eagles officials were forced to frantically remove a patch of asbestos from the Lottoland hill, with the clash almost switched to a rival venue.
Yet with the ‘Full House’ sign still to be hung, Manly great Steve Menzies is urging locals to snap up all remaining tickets to ensure the ground remains a maroon stronghold.
“I’ve got no idea what was going on with that asbestos — but it’s gone,” Menzies laughed Friday while squaring off with Cronulla’s mascot on Manly Corso.
“So Sea Eagles fans, they need to go buy up those remaining tickets.
“Get out to Lottoland.
“Because the whole point of earning a home final is to ensure your team plays in front of a parochial crowd.”
Despite suggestion fans had deserted the $2.70 TAB outsiders, Menzies stressed the Sea Eagles had been underdogs all season.
“So I know some people are now saying ‘oh, they’re no chance’,” the premiership hero continued. “But it’s been like that since the start of this year.
“This is a team that, right from the beginning, nobody has expected to win.
“Yet they have.
“So there’s a real belief in this team and I know Dessie (coach Hasler) will be reminding the players of that before the game.
“It’s why names on a program are one thing, but what happens on the field … it can be something else entirely.”
Certainly history supports a Sea Eagles upset.
Apart from Cronulla having won only six games in 52 years at Brookvale, the club has also lost 10 of its past 11 clashes against Manly.
Elsewhere, the match represents just the third home final ever at Lottoland, with the venue having also previously played host in 2007 and 2008.
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Despite the chance of playing before a pro-Cronulla crowd, Sea Eagles coach Des Hasler remained in a jovial mood Friday, joking with media: “We’ve got to fill the hill asbestos as we can”.
And as for his Sea Eagles upsetting their beachside rivals?
“It’s always a good script, isn’t it?” he said. “But we want to be careful that.
“You don’t want to become victims sometimes with that (underdog) mentality.
“Sometimes that’s an easy way out.
“We know we can be generally competitive against (anyone), no matter what way you look at them.”
Originally published as Brookvale Oval in danger of being overrun by Cronulla fans for NRL finals blockbuster
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