Talk about bouncing back! After suffering an on-the-buzzer loss to the Panthers, our boys responded in the most positive fashion a supporter could ever ask, by dominating the Canberra Raiders at home in a near perfect first half display.

This week sees us travel away for the first time in 2016, from both Pirtek and ANZ Stadium, as we take on old-foes Manly-Warringah at Brookvale Oval, in what shapes to be a Thursday night special.

To say there is no love lost between the two clubs is an understatement. I could go through a number of reasons as to why, but fact of the matter is, no matter which generation of supporter you are, if you’re an Eels fan (or any other fan really), you just don’t like Manly!

One only has to look at the transfer lounge of the two clubs over the last decade to gain even the slightest insight as to why. Both Clubs have raided each other’s rosters in more recent seasons and now field players that were once considered one-club players of the rival team.

It is for this (obvious) reason that it will be an emotional return to the peninsula for halfback, Kieran Foran and winger Clint ‘Captain America’ Gutherson.

After playing his best game in the blue and gold to date last week, which culminated in a Brad Fittler-esque solo effort, Foran will be running out onto his old hunting ground in his new colours for the first time.

It comes on the back of a dominant halves display with his halves partner Corey Norman and the Eels captain will be looking to consolidate and strengthen the attacking combination that has left Parramatta supporters frothing at the mouth all off-season.

In Form: Corey Norman’s great form will be key to breaking down Manly’s defense tonight

Similarly, after a very strong outing against Warriors in New Zealand, it will be the Sea-Eagles who will be looking to establish some consistency in their performances after beginning the season 3-3.

But just who gets the upper hand this evening?

With both the Sea-Eagles pack and new buys finding a little bit of form across the ditch last week, it will be naive to think that Manly will be walk-over’s, particularly when you consider, (irrespective of recent form), that they’re playing at Brookvale – our boys will certainly have their work cut out for them.

Api Koroisau has shown since stepping into Daly-Cherry Evans shoes that not only is he very quick on his feet, but more than capable of breaking down defensive lines with ball in hand; Dylan Walker is slowly becoming more comfortable with his role at five-eighth; Jake Trbojevic continues to be one of the most impressive young middle forwards in the competition, his brother Tom, on the most impressive outside backs; Nate Myles is a representative forward for a reason; Martin Taupau, a very explosive force out wide; then there’s two world-class centres in Jamie Lyon and Steve Matai on either edge; and let’s not forget the Brett Stewart, the prolific try-scorer at the back.

So as we can see, there are still plenty of threats across the park in the Manly side – particularly in a much improved forward pack that will be looking to make their own statement against our impressive front men.

Now while the bookies and the punters are jumping on the back of our Raiders victory, one gets the sense that the Silvertails will fancy their chances tonight and will be doing everything in their power to setup an old-fashioned Brookvale ambush and take it to us in the opening 20. If this is the case, they do have the ability to make tonight very challenging for us and trap us into playing out a very ugly contest.

Conversely, I can see us just as easily executing our own Brookvale ambush and controlling the game from the opening whistle, as we did last week.

At the end of the day it comes down to consistency and which team can replicate their previous weeks effort. But just how might the Sea-Eagles go about doing this?

Let’s find out.

Transfer Lounge: Eels & Manly games experience plenty of niggle due to the turn over of players from either side

OUR OPPOSITION

Manly possess one of the most skilful and raw talented backlines across the competition. With plenty of speed, power and strength in their 1-5, the Sea-Eagles have all the strike power to finish off attacking raids and take advantage of weak online defence.

They also possess forwards with some individual players capable of very big performances and who, if they perform as a pack, can finish over the top of the majority of teams in the NRL.

Now many punters had this team circled as a top four side and considered them certainties for the top 8 before the start of the season. However, seven rounds into the season and we’ve seen some mixed form from the maroon and whites.

When one considers that their two most creative players in Daly Cherry-Evans and Feleti Mateo, are both out of tonight’s game, one has to question, where are the points going to come from for the Manly side? Especially when you consider that they have to try and break down the strongest defensive line in the NRL.

They had some luck last week against a Warriors side with kicks in behind the line; and the running games of both Koroisau and Walker troubled South Sydney the week before. However, at present one would be hard-pressed to say that either of those sides are in good form or possess any defensive presence like the Eels do.

It’s difficult for any team to manufacture points when their ball players aren’t available. Especially when you consider that Manly, even at full-strength, only go into games with Cherry-Evans as the recognised general play kicker. When you have a makeshift half in Koroisau assuming these type of duties against a stronger side like the Eels, who have a forward pack that’s better placed at limiting the metres of the Manly front men than their more recent opponents, it’s easy to see that the responsibility of leading the Sea-Eagles around could be a burden for even Manly’s first choice number 7, let alone their back up.

It is for this reason that Manly will try to play a running game all night. I fully expect them to try and stretch us on their left fringe and look to make inroads with Walker, Taupau, Matai and Taufua. The Manly left edge is the one area of the field where the Sea-Eagles really having the ability to trouble us. Especially when you consider that two Members of our right defensive edge, were wearing Manly colours last season and that there will be players of the Manly squad tonight, fully aware of the weaknesses in those boys games.

Welcome to the homecoming, Kieran Foran and Clint Gutherson.

They’ll throw the ball around a little bit more, look to play wide and isolate our centres defensively, while also turning the ball back on the inside off hooker Matt Parcell.

Middle Men: Dominating Manly’s middle men will make it hard for the Sea-Eagles to gain field position

I’m yet to see Manly’s middle dominant any forward pack so far and I do think, that while they’ll keep coming at us (particularly with both Lawrence and Starling on the bench), our boys should be able to contain them for the most part and finish over the top of them.

However, what will separate the score line in the end is whether Foran and Norman continue their form from last week.

If we see a repeat effort, it could be back-to-back 13+ wins, but if we don’t finish our sets strong or passes don’t hit their mark, then it’ll be a dog fight and Manly will be well-placed to upset us.

The best way to ensure this doesn’t happen is to score early points, to not let Manly into the contest whatsoever. We’ll have to brace ourselves because they’ll want to start strong, Trent Barrett’s message all week would have been to do so and sucker us into the arm-wrestle. However, an early try or early repeat sets on their line, then we’ll wear down the Manly defensive line and we’ll dictate terms – the start will really set the platform tonight.

Nathan Peats, Junior Paulo, Tepai Moeroa and Daniel Alvaro will have to make their presence known either side of the ball, straight away. If Manly get even the slightest sniff that they’re in a contest, then it will become one. However if our middle four are getting over the advantage line and limiting the metres of Trbojevic, Myles, Lussick and limiting the time of Matt Parcell, then it’ll be difficult for Manly to build any pressure against us.

The role of Nathan Peats in doing this is crucial, our forwards seem to come onto the ball and get over the advantage line more often when he is at hooker for us. Additionally, with less athletic middle forwards then some of our more recent opponents, I also see the opportunity for Peats to utilise his running game more often this evening. Both Myles and Lussick are among the more regularly penalised players in the competition and are at times, guilty of being both offside and get caught up in the niggle of the game – Peats is the perfect man to exploit this and help us establish dominance in the middle third.

It will be just as important that the middle four of our starting pack are on-song from the opening whistle, so as to prevent any hope of a Brookvale ambush in the opening twenty. If we work Manly’s middle men over and slow down the play-the-ball from the opening whistle, then we negate the attacking ability of their outside men and prevent Manly from controlling any field position – if we control the ruck, Manly will not have the time and space to produce points many points against us tonight; however if they get some ascendency in the middle and produce some quick spreads, they may be able to trouble us.

With that in mind, let’s see who it is that may be the source of this trouble.

Home-coming: Kieran Foran returns to Brookvale as the Eels poster boy

WHO WILL TRY TO EXPOSE US & WHERE

Brett Stewart:  He may be getting a little long in the tooth these days but Brett Stewart is still damn quick! He links into the backline with ease and his pass selection is first class. When he’s given space inside a team’s red zone, especially in a second-man play, he more often than not produces results. Cover defence will be crucial, as will limiting his time with the ball in hand.

Jamie Lyon & Tom Trbojevic: These two combine brilliantly. One a veteran with almost every accomplishment in the game, the other a rookie who will no doubt go close to achieving those feats himself.

Lyon may be older these days, but he is just as skillful as ever. Whether it’s getting on the outside of his man or a well placed kick in behind the line, at 34, Jamie still knows how to play with the big boys and how to burn them. He won’t be fast enough to get around Michael Jennings this evening, however he can still create in-roads and is a threat that must be monitored.

Semi Radradra will have to be alert to the Lyon kick in-behind the line, because Tom Trbojevic is fast enough and good enough to turn it into points. Additionally, he’s pretty strong himself is young Tom and Semi won’t want to afford him any room to move near our try-line, because as Tom has shown in his short time in the top grade, he’s a good finisher.

Bad Habit: Steve Matai & the Sea-Eagles right edge have made a habit of scoring points against the Eels in recent seasons

Steve Matai & Jorge Taufua: Manly’s power men on the fringes – they possess size, strength and have the ability to push their way through their opponents. If given room to move, they’ve proven time and time again that either one of them can finish over the top of their opposite.

When you throw in the likes of Marty Taupau and Dylan Walker, both strong runners of the football themselves, it’s easy to see that Manly will try to play down their left edge more often than not – all of these players generally require more than one player to bring them down, and all of these players have the ability to get the ball away when multiple men seem to be on top of them.

Wrapping the ball up will be imperative when the Manly left edge is in possession, because if the ball gets away, these two will have the space to create trouble and finish off attacking raids.

Api Koroisau: As documented before, the livewire Manly number 7 has done a very commendable job filling in for Daly Cherry-Evans.

One only has to look back at his second-half against South Sydney a fortnight ago to realise the threat he is with ball in hand. He’ll come back on the angles and look for support runners to hit; to place a little grubber kick in behind the line; or just look to dummy and run himself – either way he’s a man we’ll have to make those one-on-one tackles against and discourage from taking the line on, because if he gets any room, he’s explosive enough to create damage. Look for a Manu Ma’u or Junior Paulo special to put him in his place.

Martin Taupau: Big Marty Taupau is a frightening prospect for anyone to have to tackle. When he gets those legs pumping, the big don’t argue in your face and pops an offload, you begin to wonder just how you can contain him.

Fortunately for us, we have the best man in the business to do just that – Beau Scott.

Taupau will be a key target man for Manly tonight, especially as they will look to try and isolate our right edge defensively by getting him one-on-one with our outside defenders, or in a hit-and-spin situation – the presence of Beau Scott (as it always is!) is of the upmost significance. He’ll need to wrap the ball-up and limit any potential space Big Marty will be looking to create.

Wrap Him Up: Our defence will have to limit Marty Taupau the same way he did Josh Papalii the week before

Jake Trbojevic & Nate Myles: These two boys hold the key to the middle for Manly. Both are big enough and aggressive enough to set a platform that will allow the Sea-Eagles to get on the front foot.

Conversely, our line-speed and forwards are also strong enough to man-handle them – so long as that we’re on and continuously in their face.

Working them over in the ruck and slowing the play-the-ball down is imperative to establishing our position in the game. If we limit the impact of these two, we limit the field position of the Sea-Eagles sets and force them to have to kick long without a recognised general play kicker in their side. It will allow our back three of Gordon, Gutherson and Semi the opportunity to catch the ball on full and the chance to start our sets on the front foot and assume good field position in our attacking sets.

Lewis Brown: Lewis Brown is a crafty back-rower/hooker and to me, one of the ultimate utility players. An aggressive defender with some very understated skills, he has the ability to come onto the field and add some spark.

He’s one of those players that can produce a timely linebreak or offload that can change the momentum of a game very quickly. Our short-side defenders will have to be aware of his presence.

Out: The injured Daly Cherry-Evans will be a key omission for the Sea-Eagles tonight

The outcome of tonight’s game will be decided by the state of play in the opening twenty minutes. If we start strong, we’ll control the game from start to finish. However, if Manly get a sniff, then the arm-wrestle will ensure and Manly will be a chance with the support of a parochial home crowd.

This is why the combination of Foran and Norman clicking last week is so important. If they can bring that form into this week and we score early, the game won’t be a contest for very long. We’ll just possess too much class for a Manly side that’s without their most creative players.

It’s very hard to see a player of Foran’s calibre and character being affected by the return to his old home ground. He’s not the type of person who an occasion gets the better of them, rather that it inspires the best out of them. As such, I expect both he and Norman to carry that form into this week and irrespective of Manly’s start to the game, finish over the top of them late.

However, if on the off-chance, Foran and Norman don’t quite hit their mark, then strap yourselves in for a tight one ladies and gentleman, because the Manly forwards will want to test themselves against one of the better packs in the competition and Foran’s former team mates will want to show him what he’s missing out on.

I expect Manly to be strong enough defensively out wide to make it challenging for our backs to score, however some astute second-man and inside passing and little kicks in behind the line should be where we produce some results, with x-balls to the likes of M’au and Jennings and cut-out passes to Semi the likely scoring options.

This is the type of game we have to be ruthless in. We have the ability to put Manly to the sword tonight and improve upon our for-and-against, so long as we set an early platform and our middle third doesn’t give Manly a sniff. If they feel they’re in the game, they’ll turn it into an ugly one.

But with that aside, we all know the real story tonight isn’t about our for-and-against, it’s about our Foran-against his old club – and with his halves combination with Corey Norman improving significantly so last week, I look to Kieran Foran to be at his best as he takes on his old side.

Welcome back to the peninsula, Kieran.

Clint

All images courtesy of the Parramatta Eels, NRL.com and Getty Images.

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