Premiership-winning legend Laurie Daley has questioned whether Manly’s greatest asset Tom Trbojevic could be the thing that brings the Sea Eagles down in tonight’s grand final qualifier against South Sydney.
Daley cited what the Melbourne Storm did to the Sea Eagles and Trbojevic in Week 1 of the finals.
“Manly’s biggest strength is potentially their biggest weakness,” Daley wrote for the St George Leader.
“The threat fullback Tom Trbojevic provides is enormous, as is his influence on the rest of his teammates. He was unstoppable at times against the Roosters last weekend. But as the Storm showed against the Eagles a couple of weeks ago, if you win the field position battle and keep Turbo penned in with concentrated defence, you can shut the entire Manly side down.
“It will be interesting to see how Des Hasler plays this. Does he give Turbo his usual licence to go out and try and wreak havoc or does he tactically use him a little differently as a decoy at times in a bid to have the Souths’ defence second guessing themselves.”
Meanwhile Billy Slater has been confirmed as the new coach of the Queensland Maroons for the next two seasons.