Origin selectors could snub Manly: Perry
Manly prop Josh Perry says the Sea Eagles are on track for another State of Origin snubbing unless they can turn their NRL season around and start winning games.
The Sea Eagles were furious last year when star fullback Brett Stewart was the only Manly player called upon by NSW.
The club used the snubbing as motivation for their premiership assault and were duly rewarded with Glenn Stewart, Anthony Watmough, David Williams, Brent Kite and Perry earning Australian Test jerseys during the World Cup.
Last year's title triumph has spilled over into 2009 with Jamie Lyon and Michael Robertson joining the five Test players in the NSW 40-man Origin squad that met in Sydney during the week with hooker Matt Ballin named in Queensland's 25-man squad.
But Perry has warned his teammates that they'll all be overlooked by selectors unless they start living up to expectation at club level and turn around their 2-5 start to 2009.
And the timing of his warning couldn't be more appropriate with Manly facing arch rivals Melbourne at Brookvale Oval on Friday night - the Storm guided by NSW coach Craig Bellamy.
"We've got to individually start playing well and getting the runs on the board for Manly or we might all be still playing (for Manly) in a few weeks time," said Perry.
"We definitely need to get the ball rolling and get it rolling very soon.
"We really need to pull our fingers out to get a win on the board. It's getting to that time of the season that you have to start winning.
"It's great timing really (to play Melbourne). A Friday night game at Brooky and we get to play Melbourne. We are going to have to play well and we will and it will be our best performance of the year."
It's been seven months since Manly belted Melbourne 40-0 in the record breaking grand final triumph at ANZ Stadium and the clash at Brookvale Oval is certain to be a fiery encounter between the two best sides of recent years.
While the Sea Eagles are without tryscoring machine Brett Stewart, the Storm have lost several of their grand final stars including Israel Folau, Michael Crocker and Jeremy Smith.
Former NSW halfback Brett Finch is set to play his second game for the club at five-eighth, allowing Greg Inglis to move out to the centres.
Manly hooker Matt Ballin said the Sea Eagles are particularly wary of Inglis after his relatively quiet start to the season.
"I think he is a threat anywhere he plays with his palm and strength and size," he said.
"I don't think it matters where he plays at the moment, we have to make sure we watch him and have him well covered."
Perry and Ballin joined teammates Michael Bani and Jason King at Queenscliff beach on Thursday to promote Starlight Day on Friday May 1.
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