Manly’s injury crisis has taken another hit with Martin Taupau ruled out of Sunday’s clash with Newcastle, robbing the Sea Eagles of both their front-rowers.
Taupau was pulled from the Manly team on Saturday afternoon, failing to pass the concussion protocols after being hit high by Jack Hetherington last week.
It leaves a significant hole in the Manly pack.
The other half of the Sea Eagles’ one-two punch up front Addin Fonua-Blake was ruled out for up to four games last week with a knee blow.
They are among the best in the competition when both are on the field, but Manly must now take on David Klemmer and Daniel Saifiti without them.
Taniela Paseka and Morgan Boyle will begin the game in their place, having only started a combined 13 times in their career.
Coach Des Hasler has also swung the axe, dropping veteran Jorge Taufua and bringing Tevita Funa in on the left wing.
It comes as Manly desperately need a win to keep pace with the race for the top eight, having lost five of their past seven to slide from top-four contention to ninth.
“Marty’s experience and what he brings to the side I can’t replace,” Hasler said.
“The players we have brought in have gone out there and done the job.
“We just need to get the result and play a bit smarter. We need to get off to a good start.”
While not as lengthy as other clubs, the Sea Eagles’ injury list is among the most critical.
Tom Trbojevic hasn’t played since round six but is hopeful of a return in the next fortnight, while five-eighth Dylan Walker has managed just one game in that time.
Second-rowers Curtis Sironen and Joel Thompson both missed last week’s loss to the Warriors, but are cleared to return against the Knights.
There are now almost 100 players in the casualty ward across the NRL, with a sharp increase on long-term injuries compared to previous years regular-sized seasons.
A quicker game, the COVID-19 break and the lack of byes have all been floated as possible causes.
“It’s a really big question as to cause and effect,” Hasler said.
“It will take a little while to break it down … It’s a contact sport, injuries are going to happen.
“It’s a high engaged game of physical contact and big bodies moving at extreme speed … You can draw any conclusion if you draw the bow long enough.”
STATS THAT MATTER
* Manly dominated possession, offloads, linebreaks and tackle busts in their round-eight clash, but lost 14-12.
* Newcastle are aiming for back-to-back wins for the first time since the COVID-19 shutdown.
* Manly are on average 12 points better with Tom Trbojevic in the team.
Stats: Fox Sports
