Manly forward Anthony Watmough doesn't want revenge over Melbourne - he wants redemption.

The Sea Eagles second-rower had his name all but written down in the Australian Test side prior to last year's NRL grand final only to produce the "worst game of my life" and miss selection altogether.

Speaking ahead of the grand final re-match at Olympic Park on Friday night, Watmough says he is determined to prove himself worthy of rep honours and step up to become Manly's most feared attacking weapon.

His campaign starts Friday when he faces the Storm, his chance to avenge the grand final flop and show new NSW coach Craig Bellamy what he can do in a big game.

"He is the NSW coach, hopefully I can show him I am worthy of playing at that level," Watmough told AAP.

"Last year I think I had consistency but it's no secret I had probably the worst game of my life in the grand final.

"I'm not going to put it down to one game to really step up (now), it is about getting that consistency again.

"(But) it would be good to put a really good performance together against Melbourne.

"I think there's a few more weeks before (Test) selection and I just want to put some good games together and get some consistency."

Watmough certainly has started the 2008 season in the kind of form which catapulted him back into representative contention last year.

After four rounds he is the game's No.1 attacking backrower - ahead of Bulldogs superstar Sonny Bill Williams.

Watmough tops the count in runs, metres gained, minutes played, offloads and tackle breaks.

He has run the ball more than twice as often as Sydney Roosters star Willie Mason, and is at least a football field ahead of his nearest NSW backrow contender in metres gained.

Workaholic Watmough says he made a conscious effort to increase his attacking output in 2008 and hopes his form is attracting the attention of his opposition.

"I want to play a bit more with the ball in hand, catch pass and get little offloads after you're hit," he said.

"It's slowly coming together. Dessy (Coach Des Hasler) has given me a bit more ball, a bit earlier too which is good, and I know I can only get better.

"Every week the opposition will watch the videos and if they see me playing well then they'll do things to try and stop that.

"I hope I am a marked man in a way. Then I know I'm doing my job and that people are taking notice."

Watmough expects the Sea Eagles attack to explode back into form against Melbourne after coming under fire for their lifeless display in the 20-2 win over South Sydney.

"We were probably a little flat from Monday night but we defended our backsides off and we sort of got into the battle up front and it was credit to the boys that we dug our heels in and they didn't score a try," he said.

"I think we'll be better off for the boring run and just defending our backsides off.

"It's no secret that our ball control has been a bit off this year, just a few individual errors let us down every week.

"If we hold the ball we know we can do something with it and that's a positive part out of it."

Meanwhile Sydney Roosters coach Brad Fittler has urged injured fullback Anthony Minichiello to quit representative football.

The former Golden Boot winner is resting a sore back and while no date has been set on his return, Fittler believes the custodian would be better served concentrating on club football rather than rushing to make Test or NSW teams.

"It's a decision up to Mini," Fittler told the Nine Network.

"Personally I think it may be a good time to give it a rest for a while.

"That's not to say it's the end of his life in rep football either. He has got to look after his back and the last thing he needs on his mind is outer distractions."

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