By Jonathan B Geddes 

EASTERN Suburbs coach Ben Batger admits his side is not playing well enough to claim back-to-back premierships after watching the Beasties hold on to beat a fast finishing Manly 36-33 at Manly Oval on Saturday.

And while the Marlins staged a spirited fightback with a chance to snatch victory after the bell, their coach Sam Lane was left frustrated with Manly’s first half effort when they trailed 33-12.

The game was a thriller for the crowd, but more of a killer for the coaches.

The result sees the defending premiers Easts sitting in top spot six points clear of second-placed Warringah. But a candid Batger is not resting a comfort zone after Easts’ less than commanding performance especially after the break.

“To be honest we were happy to get the win, but we have been doing that a lot the last couple of weeks,” Batger told Rugby News after the game. “We are not getting better which is a little bit concerning as a coach.

“Our goal this year was to go back to back and we are nowhere near that at the moment.”   

Batger said you want to be building momentum at this time of the season, but at the moment Easts are flatlining.

“Get some cardiac pumps on us, bring us to life and hopefully we can spring forward,” Batger said. “Luckily there is another four weeks to go and hopefully we can a bit of momentum.”

In previous six games the Beasties have beaten Warringah (by one point), Gordon (by two), Eastwood (by two), Norths (by seven), arch-rivals Randwick (by seven) and Souths (by 37).

WINNERS AREN’T GRINNERS 

BATGER made no attempt to sugarcoat where his side is at right now.

“I guess we are coasting along, we are winning so it masks some errors,” he said.

“We’ve got to be better and we’ve got to be harder on ourselves.”

The coach provided a crystal clear reality check to his players.

“We are winning but it not good enough to win finals games, that’s what we are here to do,” Batger said.

 “We need to have a good hard look in the mirror and improve and get better.

“We just have to be honest with each other.”

A strong Easts’ maul was the positive on Saturday and resulted in four of Easts’ five tries. One of them was scored by improved prop Reon Lowery.

“Big Reon has had a really good year,” Batger said. “This is his third year in Shute Shield, he has decided to get fit and is playing a lot better.”

CLOSE, BUT NO CIGAR    

MANLY’S effort showed how much the team has advanced under coach Lane after Easts  thrashed them 66-5 back in round five at Woollahra Oval.

“I was proud but it was frustrating and I think the boys will be frustrated,” Lane admitted.

“That first half they barely fired a shot, we barely  fired a shot and it was 33-12.   

“I reckon you could go and ask Ben Batger and it was probably the easiest 33 points they have scored all year.”

Lane said at halftime the team knew that they had points in them the way they play.

And they showed that after the break when the outscored Easts 21-3.

“But we probably left ourselves with too much to do,” Lane said.

And while his team lifted, the scoreboard told the story for Lane.

“I’m probably someone that dislikes losing more than I like winning – I hate losing,” he said.

“Our boys will know straight away in there (the dressing room) where we lost it in that first 40, that’s for sure.”