Leeds coach Brian McDermott says his players are ready for a repeat of the fireworks that marred their ill-tempered match against Manly in 2009.
England captain Jamie Peacock and then Manly prop Josh Perry were both sin-binned for their part in a wild brawl during the NRL side’s 28-20 win at Elland Road three years ago.
McDermott warned the Sea Eagles that his players would not be taking a backward step in front of an expected full house in Friday night’s (Saturday AEDT) World Club Challenge (WCC) at Headingley.
“We want it (victory) and I am guessing Manly want it,” McDermott said.
“I am not into saying to the guys ‘If it is going tits up, let’s have a fight’.
“That is the wrong way to go about it … I am hoping the job is done and dusted after 25 minutes in our favour.
“But if it is on, it is on.
“We are ready for whatever comes.”
Peacock said his stoush with Perry was part of the game.
“Manly are a physical side and we are a physical side,” he said.
“So when one set of forwards try to get on top of the set of forwards, who knows?”
” … it was a clash and it spilled over.
“Rugby league is confrontational and sometimes emotions spill over.”
The mild weather forecast this week has eased concerns over a frozen pitch at Headingley following a fortnight of freezing temperatures across Britain.
McDermott said Manly’s dramatic change of coach from Des Hasler to Geoff Toovey during the NRL off-season would not affect his preparations too much.
“To be brutally honest I don’t really know much about them anyway,” he said.
“I don’t have enough time to watch too many NRL games and then by the time I do get time I don’t want to watch any NRL games.
“Not that that is against that competition it is just I have to spend time with my family.”
Toovey, an assistant at Manly since 2007, said he had not tinkered too much with the side’s “winning formula”.
Nine members of Manly’s successful WCC side in 2009 have returned for this week’s clash with Kangaroos winger David Williams set to make his return from injury.
Toovey believed the “mental toughness” of his players would be crucial on the home turf of the Super League heavyweights.
“Manly teams are used to hostile crowds against us,” he said.
“We will rise to the challenge.”
