Manly star Jake Trbojevic has attempted to claim underdog status heading into the NRL finals, playing down the Sea Eagles’ top four credentials.
Fifth-placed Manly have a chance to move into the top four with a win over the wounded and desperate Warriors on Friday night, provided other results go their way.
In a quirk of the draw, all four top-four teams face off on a bumper Sunday afternoon with ladder leaders Melbourne taking on South Sydney on the Central Coast while Canberra host title favourites the Sydney Roosters.
But in comments which echo the sentiments of coach Des Hasler, Trbojevic said the Sea Eagles still weren’t of the same calibre of the competition’s leading four sides.
Asked if they felt like a top-four team, Trbojevic said: “Nah, I don’t think so.
“The teams in the top four have been there all year, they’re the quality sides, they’re setting the standards, they’re the benchmarks of the competition. We’re happy we’re there pushing them.”
This is despite the Sea Eagles having a 2-2 record against current top four teams this year, having sprung a spirited golden-point win over South Sydney in round four and an almighty upset over the Storm a fortnight ago.
They have litmus tests over the Raiders and Storm in the run home which will decide if they get two bites at the cherry.
They sit on 26 points, two behind the Rabbitohs, Raiders and Roosters.
However, they have ground to make up on for-and-against given they have a +80 differential, trailing Souths (+93), the Raiders (+157) and Roosters (+192).
“You always want to be up there but you try not to think about it too much,” Trbojevic said.
“You just want to keep playing well each week. You don’t want to look too far ahead and put pressure on yourself, you just want to put your best foot forward and in a position to win games.”
Back-rower Joel Thompson said the feeling within the group was the best he had experienced during his 12 years in the NRL.
“This is the best feeling I’ve had in my career so far,” Thompson said.
“As a footy player, when you’re winning games, it feels like everything outside of football is going well, you’re getting all the green lights, life’s running along pretty smoothly.
“When you’re losing games, you feel like everything’s going wrong.”
