Generally speaking, however, we tend to think of this physicality as being heavy clashes and hits – and not touch.

Even as I’ve played the game I have been aware of the ‘soft touch’ connotations from our friends at League – even from that so-called sport  OzTag(!) – and my first season was plagued by a series of under prepared advances as I definitely mistook the game as ‘social’.  How wrong could I have been.  With my initial classification of the sport due to name only, I was constantly rested as I gassed for basically the whole of my first season...and I wasn’t playing close to the top of the sport.

Since then, I’ve been fortunate to see Benji Marshall and a host of other super athletes play the game over the years.  And certainly, my loyalty to my NRL club was tested when he landed at Wests a while back after what I’d seen on the pitch.

The fact is that Touch is an incredibly fast sport that tests both mental and physical preparation.  It also seems to embrace values that sports such as League have stumbled over – especially this past NRL season! 

But are the blokes at Manly manly enough to tell everyone they enjoy Manly Touch?! 

I hope they are – cause I am!

BTW – don’t forget to have a look at the Trans Tasman highlights on myTouchTV here (URL - http://www.austouch.com.au/index.php?id=865)