http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/news/manly-recruits-impressed/2007/12/21/1198175324868.htmlDecember 21, 2007 - 4:09PM
Manly recruits Heath L'Estrange and Josh Perry sense the 2007 NRL grand finalists can go one better next year.
The two forwards have been enjoying pre-season training on Sydney's northern peninsula.
L'Estrange, 22, has noticed a marked difference in culture between the Sea Eagles and his old club, the Sydney Roosters.
"A big difference over here," L'Estrange told AAP today.
"I don't want to bag out the Roosters but it is so much more, the boys all for the boys.
"Everyone loves each other."
Another contrasting point is that pre-season training is harder at his new club, he said.
"Tougher than the Roosters," L'Estrange said.
"Johnny Sims, our trainer, has been killing us."
L'Estrange's move will add extra competition for the hooking role next year.
"There are a few hookers running around at the moment - me, Matty Ballin and Clint Halden," he said.
The No.9 aspirant said he had learnt a great deal from the club's experienced front rowers Mark Bryant and Brent Kite.
"Where they want me, tag around them, or have a dart, tell me what they want, what balls they like, where they want them," he said.
Some players are still disappointed about their 34-8 loss to Melbourne in the season's decider but their hunger to win impresses him.
"For them to go one better is awesome and I want to be a part of it," he said.
His Christmas break will include waterskiing at Nelson Bay where he has no fear of injury.
"Nothing will happen, I've been skiing since I was three."
Perry says he has fitted in well with his new club after moving from Newcastle.
"Everyone gets on very well, just the team dynamics is good and everything is positive," Perry said.
"Everyone enjoys coming to training."
The 26-year-old acknowledges he will have to be firing just to make the match-day 17 with the quality props such as Brent Kite and Jason King in the squad.
"I'm going to have to get back to my best, just to even get a start in the 17," Perry said.
Despite rolling his ankle last week, he will be back to full training when the club returns from their Christmas break on January 7.
"I'll be sweet and back to full training on the seventh and onto the trials," he said.
"I can't wait to put the jersey on."
The Sea Eagles' last training session of 2007 was a cross-training day with officers from NSW Police Force specialist units, including tug-of-war, lifting tractor tyres along a football pitch and a sled run with 40kg attached.
An interesting addition at training at the NSW Sports Academy at Narrabeen on Sydney's northern beaches was former Sea Eagle John Hopoate.
Hopoate, whose playing field now is a boxing ring, attends league training to aid his fighting.
"Rugby League stuff is explosive and it helps me out too because sometimes you explode in the ring," Hopoate said.
Hopoate hopes to have his next bout in January and, if not, will be on the undercard of Anthony Mundine's WBA super middleweight bout with Nader Hamdan on February 27.
