Trent Barrett says that starting spots are still up for grabs for Manly

MANLY coach Trent Barrett says starting spots in the forwards are still up for grabs for the new look Sea Eagles.

The new forwards Lewis Brown , Martin Taupau ,Apisai Koroisau,Nate Myles , Matt Parcell and Darcy Lussick during the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles training camp at The Novatel Pacific Bay resort ,Coffs Harbour .Picture Gregg Porteous

MANLY coach Trent Barrett has put his forwards on notice that places in the opening round of the NRL are on the line during Saturday’s trial against the Ipswich Jets at Pittwater Rugby Park.

“A lot of them still have a lot to play for, we still have some spots up for grabs in the team and the players are aware of that,” Barrett said.

“So it will be an interesting day tomorrow.”

Barrett said while the backline was fairly settled, there was still plenty of jostling for places in the new look Sea Eagles pack.

“There are some blokes who will be fit for round one that won’t play in this trial and we’ve got to fit them in somewhere -some good players are going to have to miss out,” Barrett said.

Feleti Mateo, Lewis Brown, Apisai Koroisau and Matt Parcell will be watching from the grandstand.

The Sea Eagles front-row stocks are bursting with options meaning Barrett and his assistant coaches face some tough decisions ahead of the first round game with the Bulldogs on March 4.

Nate Myles and Jake Trobojevic will start, with Darcy Lussick, Brenton Lawrence and Josh Starling on the bench. On top of that Luke Burgess and Siosaia Vave are also in the mix.

Former Cronulla and Storm forward Vave has impressed during the pre-season and will start in the reserves but may get some time in the first grade game.

“He has done really well, he has dropped a lot of weight and is the lightest he has been for a few years,” Barrett said.

“We are probably going to have eight or nine genuine first grade front-rowers to pick from so that is a luxury that we have got and hopefully it stays that way all year.”

Barrett said it was always planned that halfback Daly Cherry-Evans would be fit for this game after off-season shoulder surgery.

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“I wouldn’t be playing him this week if he wasn’t right, he’s 100 per cent fit.”

It will be the first hit out for Barrett’s squad with most of the big names on deck following the club’s major off-season rebuilding program.

“It’s exciting, we’ve had a pretty big three months as has every other NRL club,” Barrett said.

‘We’ve got some things that we do want to see when we play Ipswich but I’m really happy with where they are at.

“They have trained really hard and I don’t think they could have done anything else to put themselves in a good position to play well.”

As for playing the unorthodox Jets Barrett said: “They do do some weird things so we will have to concentrate.

“We don’t want to fall into the trap of playing the style of footy they are playing.”