by Paul Cook - ********************** THE WARM-UP: ********************** This clash was somewhat of an achievement in itself for both clubs as Manly (3rd) and Easts (5th) had overcome the top two – Sydney University and Eastwood respectively - on the ladder in the finals series in order to book their place on the biggest stage. Their two clashes in the regular season offered little in the way of a form guide, the Beasties having smashed Manly 22-0 in round three, only for the Marlins to return the favour 11 weeks later, with a 13-0 margin of victory. ********************** THE BREAKDOWN: ********************** It was the Beasties that settled first, no doubt buoyed by their finals series success, they carried the fight early on and struck the first blow when openside Marcos Insau was driven over and Will Maddocks converted. Maddocks then missed a chance to extend the lead when he pushed a long range penalty past the tallest uprights in the Southern Hemisphere, and it proved to be E