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 Manly eager to send Beaver out in style 

Manly eager to send Beaver out in style

20/07/2008 12:22:52 AM

Manly second-rower Anthony Watmough says the in-form Sea Eagles have extra motivation to overturn last year's grand final loss and go all the way this season after learning it will be veteran Steve Menzies' last year in the NRL.

Menzies announced during the week he would join English Super League club Bradford on a one-year deal in 2009, ending an illustrious 16-season career in Australia.

The top-of-the-table Sea Eagles are on fire, with last night's 28-10 victory against Parramatta - their seventh win in a row - further enhancing their premiership credentials.

While Menzies has played down talk of a potential fairytale finish, Watmough revealed that the club legend's exit was already a motivating factor for the side.

"We don't want Beaver leaving on a low, especially after last year," Watmough said of their grand final loss to the Storm.

"I think deep down everyone is thinking that.

"He has been a legend his whole life and he has been a great ambassador for the game and if you could write your own script, [winning the grand final] would be perfect."

Menzies said after announcing the move that he hoped his loyalty to the Sea Eagles would rub off on local juniors such as Watmough and brothers Brett and Glenn Stewart.

Watmough said having Menzies around during his rise through the ranks had been an enormous influence on his career.

"I remember riding on a pushbike past him when I was a kid and thinking, 'Maybe one day I'll play with him', and when I sit back and think about that, it's pretty special," he said.

Fullback Brett Stewart, who starred in the win against the Eels, said Menzies was probably too modest to realise how much he had helped the club's young players.

"He probably doesn't know the importance of it himself, because he's so laidback and happy-go-lucky," Stewart said. "But young players coming up want to aspire to do what he's done, play for one club and stay loyal."

Although the win on Friday night continued Manly's momentum towards September, they face a tough month ahead after five-eighth Jamie Lyon and prop Jason King were seriously injured in the clash.

Lyon is expected to miss six weeks after damaging his medial ligament while King could be ruled out for the season after suffering a suspected fractured ankle. Both will have scans tomorrow.

Parramatta, meanwhile, are in danger of losing touch with the top eight.

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