Beaver Menzies praises Manly’s unsung heroes

SEA Eagles legend Steve Menzies has hailed the club’s forward as the unsung heroes in the club’s premiership charge this season

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 06: Matt Ballin of the Sea Eagles is tackled by Greg Eastwood of the Bulldogs during the round 13 NRL match between the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles and the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs at Brookvale Oval on June 6, 2014 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)

SEA Eagles legend Steve Menzies has hailed the club’s forward as the unsung heroes in the club’s premiership charge this season.

At the halfway mark in the premiership with his team currently well placed in third spot, “Beaver” has given the hardworking pack a big wrap.

He said the forwards set up last Friday’s 32-10 win over the Bulldogs with their selfless attitude.

“Everyone is playing their part, pushing hard, working for each other and that is something you can see,” Menzies said.

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“Brenton Lawrence has been really good every time I have seen him play and I always making good metres, and Matt Ballin and Choccy (Anthony Watmough) have been going well.”

Menzies cited a play by hooker Ballin against the Bulldogs as an example of the attitude among the Sea Eagles pack.

Manly's Brenton Lawrence (right) celebrates a his try with teammate Jack Littlejohn. Picture: Phil Hillyard

“He literally busted his gut to just make an extra eight or 10m on a kick chase,” he said.

“They are knackered but they know it is an important part of the game and it is part of their job.

“But no one sees that, they see a try or the way they defend.”

Menzies believes the team is well placed heading the back end of the season.

“Obviously they can’t be up for the whole season so it is just about winning those games when you aren’t playing at your best,” Menzies said.

He said their performance last Friday’ was one of the best he has seen this season.

Daly Cherry-Evans when he hurt his knee in the Sea Eagles game with the Bulldogs.

He said after losing Daly Cherry — Evans, Kieran Foran stepped and Brett Stewart was putting his hand up saying he was going to change the momentum of the game.

“All those things are positive signs,” Menzies said.

“They have to ramp it up and get on a bit of a roll going into the semis, that is what you need to be doing.”

Menzies has been impressed by the form of Cherry-Evans and before he went off with a knee injury on Friday he had made a big impact.