Anthony Seibold insists Daly Cherry-Evans has nothing to prove following his State of Origin axing, as Manly try to right a poor run on the road against low-ranked teams.
Cherry-Evans will play his first game on Friday night since being dropped as Queensland No.7, leading a near full-strength Sea Eagles side against Gold Coast.
The 36-year-old’s Origin omission has dominated headlines this week, with Cherry-Evans the first captain dropped mid-series by either state this century.
Manly’s No.7 has not spoken publicly, but played one of his best games of the year a fortnight ago against Brisbane when talk first emerged around his selection.
Seibold did not want to delve into the debate around Queensland’s decision to drop Cherry-Evans, but said the halfback had responded well.
“He hasn’t got anything to prove,” the Manly coach said.
“He’s coming up somewhere around 340 games in the NRL, plus all the representative footy, so he doesn’t have a point to prove to anybody.
“There’s obvious disappointment there, but there’s also a great deal of pride.
“(He’s captained) his state 20 times and he’s played 26 games for Queensland, so there’s a lot to reflect on and look back and be proud about.”
Manly will have Tom Trbojevic back from a cork to his thigh, while winger Jason Saab will return from illness and Siua Taukeiaho a calf issue.
Daly Cherry-Evans. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
That means the Sea Eagles enter Friday night as firm favourites, with the Titans in last place and without Origin representatives Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and Moeaki Fotuaika.
Recent history is, however, not kind to Manly in games they have been expected to win.
Data from Sportsbet shows the Sea Eagles have lost their past four away games when considered favourites.
Since August, Manly have given up 16-0 leads to Wests Tigers and Newcastle away from home, to go with losses to the Warriors and Parramatta.
As if to underline their Jekyll-and-Hyde status, Manly have also beaten Canterbury twice away from home and Penrith once in that time after entering as outsiders.
Speaking generally after being asked about the Sea Eagles’ inconsistencies, Seibold was adamant his ninth-placed team was not alone in a salary cap-based competition.
“They (the NRL) want an even competition, so that means there’s going to be wins and losses along the way,” he said.
“I’ve never seen a competition where the top four or five sides all had losses by 40 points, and that’s what we’ve got this year.
“Everyone talks about inconsistency, but the NRL is designed to have an even competition, which means that if you win more than 50 per cent of your games you’re going all right.
“And if you’re losing more than 50 per cent of your games there’s always going to be a challenge for you.
“I think we’re right in that sweet spot. We’ve got a great opportunity with somewhere near our best squad this week.”
© AAP
