Fire with fire: battle set to light up NRL prelim final
Scott Bailey and George Clarke |
Breakout Newcastle star Francis Manuleleua has vowed to fight fire with fire against Liam Martin, as the Knights’ left edge promise not to be fazed by Penrith’s chief niggler.
The battle between Manuleleua and Martin looms as one of most enticing of Sunday’s preliminary final, with Martin known for ramping it up in big games.
The pair did not properly cross paths during Manuleleua’s junior days at the Panthers, but Martin has been impressed by the 22-year-old’s rise in recent months.
Manuleleua is also well aware of what he is in for, and is desperate to match Martin’s intensity come Sunday afternoon at Accor Stadium.
“I know how much aggression he comes with during a game, so I’ve got to match that,” Manuleleua said.
“It’s going to be a good challenge for me. It’s going to show where I’m at with my footy, with the best of the best.
“He’s the benchmark for backrowers. He’s probably been one of the best over the last five years, and it’s going to be a good challenge.”
Since cutting his KFC intake mid-season and dropping 5kg, Manuleleua has bust 30 tackles in eight games on recall to the Knights’ side.
The 22-year-old will also make it his job to go after Nathan Cleary on Sunday afternoon, with the champion Panthers half set to overcome a bone issue in his foot to play.
“He’s been really impressive. He’ll bring that pressure and physicality,” Martin said of Manuelelua.
“(Against guys like that), you just have to go even harder yourself.
“They are big and physical and if you’re even just half a per cent off your own game they will make you look silly.”
The other target for Martin will be livewire Knights five-eighth Fletcher Sharpe.
A natural fullback, Sharpe’s running game has come to the fore over the second half of the season.
“It’s going to be massive and a lot of responsibility on myself to make it as tough of a game as possible for him. I’ll be doing everything in my power to,” Martin said.
“That’s a backrower’s job.
“You don’t want to go out of your own game to chase that. I will just be playing my game but I will be doing it at 100 miles an hour and I’ll see him on the other side.”
Not that Sharpe is concerned.
“I can’t wait for it. That’s what finals footy is about,” Sharpe said.
“Obviously (Martin) does a good job of (being a menace) through the year so I know he is going to be coming hard and I will have to put my body in front to make the tackles.
“On the flip side when we get the footy we’ll try and terrorise them. It’s exciting.”
AAP