Kieran Foran insists Manly’s vast September playing experience will ensure their weary troops have enough in the tank to see off South Sydney in next week’s NRL preliminary final.
The Sea Eagles were out on their feet in the latter stages of Friday’s win over Cronulla – their second successive bruising encounter in six days after going down 4-0 to the Sydney Roosters in the first qualifying final.
Skipper Jamie Lyon (leg) and Anthony Watmough (knee) were the biggest concerns after the game but the pair are confident of being fit to face a Souths side next Friday boosted by an extra week off.
Manly have not missed a finals series since 2004 and appeared in four grand finals in that time – winning two premierships – and Foran said the players know exactly what’s required to get the team primed for big games.
“We believe there is enough left in the tank to beat Souths,” Foran told AAP.
“We’re professional athletes, we know how to recover. I don’t think it’s anything too serious … bumps and bruises it just needs a good a bit of ice.
“You have nothing to lose this time of year, you have to just throw in everything you’ve got as if it’s your last chance.
“If all 17 of us do that then I always give us a big chance of beating a top quality Souths team.”
Foran credits the likes of Watmough, Matt Ballin, Glenn Stewart, Brett Stewart Steve Matai, Brent Kite and Lyon as major factors in the Sea Eagles’ success at this time of the year.
All seven have played a part in every finals series since 2007, with Watmough, Kite, Matai and the Stewarts involved since 2005.
“I think a lot of it goes down to senior players, we have some guys who have been playing September footy for nine years,” he said.
“They know what to do and let the younger guys like me just jump aboard and ride that wave. I have to give a lot of credit to our senior boys.”
Foran was one of the Sea Eagles’ four try scorers on Friday, latching on to a delightful side-footed grubber-kick from halves partner Daly Cherry-Evans.
Cherry-Evans proved to be the difference between the sides with an assured display at halfback in addition to scoring the decisive fourth try for his side in the second half.
“He’s a class act,” Foran said.
“He’s been building nicely all year. He’s had a blinder of a year and I thought his touches against Cronulla were just phenomenal.
“His kicking has improved so much, he does a lot of work on it. He knows it’s an important part of what happens for the side and he nailed it.”
Foran and Cherry-Evans have been working with eighth rugby league immortal Andrew Johns this year, with the Sea Eagles employing the Newcastle legend as a full-time halves coach.