I can’t wait for this one. The French speaking,window banging, three time premiership winning, luxury car driver versus the raspy voiced , Harvard educated, Dally M 2018 coach of the year. Lots of sub plots here. Potentially the last NRL game for Rugby Joe , Manu , Keary and JWH , although Manu will probably be back.
The first thing Manly should do is check whether NRL suspensions carry over to Super League. JWH will be eating the paint off the walls in the dressing room. Manly forwards could easily wear an “accidental” bumper bar to the head. They can’t afford to lose Olakauatu to a head bin as he is the key to this match.
Manly’s plan A will be run at Keary. Plan B will be run at Keary. Plan C will be run at Keary. I like Keary as a player. He’s still a threat darting down the blindside and has a deadly accurate cross kick to his giant wingers. He was interviewed a couple of months ago on a Foxtel sports show (can’t remember which one). He said that at the start of his career there were only one or two 120kg plus players that would target him, now every team has them. He made special mention of Olakauatu being the most difficult to contain.
Manly have defensive issues on their right side . But I think the Roosters have more. Queensland admitted that they were targeting Suaalii in SOO 1 and Walsh put the Hammer through a gap around him before getting illegally clobbered. He was right centre that day but normally plays left centre for the Roosters. This makes the Roosters left side even for inviting for Manly.
Toupounuia is probably one of the best effort players in the NRL. I can see why Ciraldo was keen for him to join the Bulldogs. He fits in perfectly with their style of play. But his defence can be a bit suspect at times , especially close to his line. He is another player Manly can target.
No Sam Walker equals no X factor . And they lose his goal kicking prowess. It wouldn’t surprise me if Radley plays and gets stationed next to Keary to look after Keary in defence and nullify Olakauatu .Robinson did this against the Bulldogs to contain Kikau at Gosford (from memory) as Kikau had a habit of carving up the Roosters.
If Tom Turbo was fully fit I’d go Manly by 20. But he’s not so I’ll go Manly by 8. Pencil in Hopoate for at least 2 tries, Garrick and Tupou 1 each. Hopefully Atkinson stays out of it and lets the players decide .
