Big League Weekly Edition – July 25, 2019

Fewpeoplebacked

theminpre-season,

buta mastercoach

andstarfullback

havetheSeaEagles

soaringbackinto

finalscontention.

ByMARTIN GABOR

W

HENthesmartestminds

wereaskedatthestart

topredictthe2 019top

defaultedtotheStorm,Roosters,

andPanthers.

Somewerebraveenoughtoba

RaidersorWestsTigersfora final

butnext-to-no-onepickedtheSea

followinglastseason’sdisastrousc

whichresultedinTre ntBarrettleavi

clubdespitestillbeingcontracted.

Whatcouldhavebeena messysplit

becamea blessingindisguise,withclu

favouriteDesHaslerreturningtothen

beachesfollowinga yearincoachingex

Questionswereraisedastowhetherh

couldfixa teamthatfinished 2018 witht

worstdefensiverecord,but 18 roundsin,

HaslerhastheSeaEaglessittingfifth– with

thefifth-bestdefensiverecord– andplaying

someofthebestfootyintheNRL.

Thefacthe’shadtodoit withstarsTom

TrbojevicandDalyCherry-Evansspendingso

muchtimeonthesidelinessaysplentyaboutthe

hardestworkernorthoftheHarbourBridge.

“I’vealwayshadconfidenceplaying,buthe

heightensit.Hewantsusplayingninesand10s

footy,notaimingforfivesandsixes(outof10),”

lastweek’shat-trickhero,ReubenGarrick,says.

“Heencouragesustobackourselves.

Hewantsustogohardandnotleaveanything

inthetank,notplaythelow-percentageplays.

“He’sa greatanalyserofthegame.Hecuts

somuchvideo,sohe’dbethehardest worker in

Flying

high

PHOTOS:

NRLPhotos.com: Grant Trouville (Hasler), Gregg Porteous (Trbojevic)

i

for

allhe

“I’v

hisre

next

from

ope

but

Has

18 BIG LEAGUE 2019 Round 19