Shute Shield 2020: Manly rugby bid to improve on sixth place with deeper squad
Coach Matt McGoldrick wants to see an improved Manly Marlins take the field in the Shute Shield and believes his players can rise to the challenge.
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Competition from within is lifting Manly players ahead of their first game of the Shute Shield.
Coach Matt McGoldrick said the Marlins squad is also a little deeper than the one which finished sixth last season.
“We have a lot of locals in the team coming through our Colts which is good,” McGoldrick said.
“We have had a very long and disrupted pre-season but it’s been really good.
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“There’s been a lot of competition for spots which is driving performance.
“But we need to get a little better in how we manage the game.”
Manly have a trial against Southern Districts before they test their mettle in their season opener against Parramatta.
“We were sixth last year. It was probably pretty accurate on where we were as a club. It’s now up to us to improve and get better,” he said.
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“We are a little deeper in our squad. Can handle injuries better.
“There’s been a focus on getting bigger in our pack which we have been able to do.”
McGoldrick said the return of the majority of his players from last season has given the club stability.
“At Manly we talk about improving. If we can give ourselves a chance at the end of the year. We want to be better than last year,” he said.
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