Sea Eagles v Titans preview
Mad Scientist Returns as Manly look to swoop on purple patch
The man known as the Mad Scientist in Des Hasler will prepare his troops to take on the Harvard graduate in Anthony Seibold in what promises to be a heated Sunday arvo at Brookvale Oval.
For Manly, this season has been one of confusion. We say that because there’s been occasions where they have beaten the best in the comp, they have beaten the top three teams this season.
But then the next, they are in an arm-wrestle and lose to a team that is inferior to them on the ladder. They have started to find their groove in recent weeks and having Turbo at the back last start certainly helped.
The question for Manly is how do you frustrate an improved side in the Titans against a coach that will be searching for revenge. It’s quite simple, win the middle and earn the right to play good ball footy. That’s what Manly’s middle did last weekend and earlier in the season on the Gold Coast.
They also need to shut down David Fifita, he will be looking for a point to prove regardless of the outcome of Origin III to prove Billy Slater wrong for not picking him. Manly also need to match the energy that comes from Randall, we all know what a back-fence bandit Nathan Brown is. So the challenge is on him, to reduce Randall’s scheming through the middle.