Round 12: Newcastle v Manly preview
The soaring Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles head up the highway to face the downbeat Newcastle Knights on Sunday afternoon football.
Something is rotten in the city of Newcastle. A side which is chock full of representative players and talented youngsters have limped to back-to-back defeats which has them falling further away from the top eight and another season of failure.
Yes, there has been injuries to key players but there is no will to fight in this side. Coach Adam O'Brien has admitted the side isn't the same as the one which made the finals last season and whether complacency has settled in. If they get another score put on this weekend it might be time for O'Brien to wield the axe on his side although it won't be helped by the sudden retirement of Blake Green.
One positive for the novocastrians is the return of Kalyn Ponga. The superstar fullback might need to do something similar to what his opposite number is doing for the visitors to get them a result. Ponga showed against the Sharks and Raiders he can do it and it might be what is needed for them to proclaim "they love Sunday afternoon footy" again.
Talking about the Sea Eagles should be much like scripture texts into BT (before Tom) and AT (after Tom) because since his return from the hamstring injury, Manly Sea Eagles have averaged 34 points in their five wins with Tom Trbojevic.
Coach Des Hasler was on the hot seat BT but now everything is coming up roses for the Manly coach and it is helped that the backline is humming with Jason Saab living up to his name with some impressive wheels in some run away tries and even Brad Parker has chipped in with some solid efforts which is in contrast to the lackluster effort from the home side.
Last week was the ‘test' for the Sea Eagles after their huge wins, they blew away a title contender in the Parramatta Eels and showed they might be the real deal* (pending on Tom's fitness). The Sea Eagles sit comfortably in sixth and if this form keeps up despite their horror start to 2021 might end the year inside the top four.
The only thing Manly might need to guard against this weekend is a cooldown after their huge win against the Eels but Hasler is an experienced coach. He should have them ready and willing to put another hurt on a side which they have had some memorable clashes against in the past.
Last meeting: Round 14 2020 - Knights 26 Sea Eagles 24
Who to watch: The big names return for Newcastle. Kalyn Ponga and Bradman Best rejoin a Knights backline which is in desperate need of some fire. Ponga can change a game from his fullback position and help the makeshift halves create things against the Knights. Best showed in the win against the Warriors his game-breaking abilities and matching up against flying Sea Eagles backline will be a good audition for him before the Origin sides are announced on Sunday night.
Since his return from injury Tom Trbojevic has been box office to watch and against another porous defense, it might be a bigger mismatch since the race on the Corso. Trbojevic basically is the playmaker for the Sea Eagles and will be primed for another huge performance to move themselves closer to the top four.
When the Sea Eagles had their wretched start to the 2021 season, one of their bright spots was prop forward Taniela Paseka who bends the line with each run. He faces off against a much more tenured Knights pack and if he can stand up and use his offload will get them on the front foot and twirling towards victory.
The favourite: Manly will head into the contest deserved favourites after their demolition job against Parramatta Eels and fancy their chances against the lowly Newcastle Knights side.
My tip: It's hard to go past an in-form Eagles outfit. Manly by 24.
