ID :
21938
Tue, 09/30/2008 - 14:34
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/21938
The shortlink copeid
Heaver happy to leave tied with Lamb
Manly legend Steve Menzies knows he cannot script how his NRL career finishes, all he can guarantee is that this Sunday's grand final will be the end.
It will be Menzies' 349th and final game and he'll equal Terry Lamb as the most
capped Australian rugby league player along the way.
No comebacks. No acceptance of a Manly offer to make a cameo next year to break the
record.
"I wouldn't consider coming back for one game and cheapening the record or
anything," said Menzies.
"If I fell one short or equalled it or whatever then that's my career and the way it
finishes.
"(Lamb) was such a great player ... I'm very honoured to stand next to him.
"Of course I'd like to go out a winner. It'll be a nice way to finish a very
enjoyable career here at Manly."
It has been a long farewell for the Bradford-bound 34-year-old.
Starting five weeks ago with his final regular season game at Brookvale Oval,
Menzies had a qualifying final on his favourite patch of turf two weeks later and
another emotional game last Saturday as he faced fellow 16-year veteran, retiring
Warriors prop Ruben Wiki, for the final time.
He admits last week's preliminary final against the Warriors, where a loss could
have left him stranded one game shy of Lamb's record, had left him rattled.
"I was pretty nervous last week against the Warriors - that was pretty close to the
most nervous I've been - so who knows what's going to happen this week?" he said.
"Hopefully the old mind can control the body and keep the nerves under control."
Menzies is expected to play his final game off the bench for the Sea Eagles, coming
on as either a forward replacement or backline gap fill.
His ability to play almost any position has helped extend his longevity with coach
Des Hasler using him in a variety of roles the past two seasons.
But there is one thing Menzies won't be putting his hand up for this week -
delivering a rousing speech to his adoring teammates.
"Last year I said a couple of things to them and that didn't go real well so I'll
say a couple of words if I must but nothing too big like last year," he said.
"Until this week I haven't really thought about finishing the way every player would
love to. To be at the one club, having so much fun at Manly, to go out this way
would just be unbelievable so cross the fingers.
"It'll either be a dream or the other thing's called a nightmare."
It will be Menzies' 349th and final game and he'll equal Terry Lamb as the most
capped Australian rugby league player along the way.
No comebacks. No acceptance of a Manly offer to make a cameo next year to break the
record.
"I wouldn't consider coming back for one game and cheapening the record or
anything," said Menzies.
"If I fell one short or equalled it or whatever then that's my career and the way it
finishes.
"(Lamb) was such a great player ... I'm very honoured to stand next to him.
"Of course I'd like to go out a winner. It'll be a nice way to finish a very
enjoyable career here at Manly."
It has been a long farewell for the Bradford-bound 34-year-old.
Starting five weeks ago with his final regular season game at Brookvale Oval,
Menzies had a qualifying final on his favourite patch of turf two weeks later and
another emotional game last Saturday as he faced fellow 16-year veteran, retiring
Warriors prop Ruben Wiki, for the final time.
He admits last week's preliminary final against the Warriors, where a loss could
have left him stranded one game shy of Lamb's record, had left him rattled.
"I was pretty nervous last week against the Warriors - that was pretty close to the
most nervous I've been - so who knows what's going to happen this week?" he said.
"Hopefully the old mind can control the body and keep the nerves under control."
Menzies is expected to play his final game off the bench for the Sea Eagles, coming
on as either a forward replacement or backline gap fill.
His ability to play almost any position has helped extend his longevity with coach
Des Hasler using him in a variety of roles the past two seasons.
But there is one thing Menzies won't be putting his hand up for this week -
delivering a rousing speech to his adoring teammates.
"Last year I said a couple of things to them and that didn't go real well so I'll
say a couple of words if I must but nothing too big like last year," he said.
"Until this week I haven't really thought about finishing the way every player would
love to. To be at the one club, having so much fun at Manly, to go out this way
would just be unbelievable so cross the fingers.
"It'll either be a dream or the other thing's called a nightmare."
