The numbers that prove Manly’s boom props are best in the NRL

Manly captain Daly Cherry-Evans has declared his side’s powerful starting front-rowers Martin Taupau and Addin Fonua-Blake are the best in the NRL — and the numbers back him up.

Marty Taupau and Addin Fonua-Blake are the game's best props.

Manly captain Daly Cherry-Evans has declared his side’s powerful starting front-row pairing of Martin Taupau and Addin Fonua-Blake are the best in the NRL.

Taupau and Fonua-Blake will be reunited on Saturday against Canterbury when the latter returns from a two-match ban for the Sea Eagles.

Cherry-Evans won’t be on hand to take advantage, with the incumbent Queensland halfback ruled out for up to six weeks with an ankle injury.

But speaking before his syndesmosis blow, Cherry-Evans hailed them as the league’s “premier” pairing.

Live stream the 2019 NRL Telstra Premiership on KAYO SPORTS. Every game of every round live & anytime on your TV or favourite device. Get your 14 day free trial >

“I hope they don’t read this, but I think they’re marking their place as the game’s premier front-rowers,” Cherry-Evans told AAP.

“They honestly are. They’re a great tandem, they work well together and against each other. They certainly push each other to be better.

“I wouldn’t swap them for anyone ... it’s making my life far easier as a halfback.”

The figures support Cherry-Evans’ claim.

In the combined 87 minutes of their opening stints on the field together this year before one goes off, Manly lead their opponents 42-6.

The Sea Eagles also have a combined for-and-against of +25 in the 128 minutes they’ve been working in tandem, compared to -2 in the 437 minutes when at least one has been off.

The pair also lead Manly for average run metres, with Fonua-Blake’s 168 per game the second highest of all forwards in the NRL according to Fox Sports Stats.

“They might be racking up big stats, but I can guarantee you they’re not playing for themselves,” Cherry-Evans said.

MORE NRL NEWS

BIG PICTURE: Worst of 27 clubs! Strange irony in Bennett’s history against Broncos

MATT GILLETT: The baby-faced halfback with a point to prove

COURT: Mark Geyer’s daughter sues website over sex tape claim

POACHING RAID? The next chapter in fiery Rabbitohs v Broncos feud

LATE MAIL: Taumalolo’s final test; Wests Tigers play it safe with ageing star

“I think that’s why they’re playing so good, because they’re not worried about what metres and what post-contact metres they’ve got.

“They’re trying to work field position for us and they’re trying to work quick play-the-balls.

“That’s the biggest improvement I have seen from those two players, the way they’re playing for the side this year.”

Taupau also said he’d noticed a difference with the pair this year.

“You can definitely see it and feel it when we are on the field with the boys,” Taupau said.

“It gives our outside backs and halves a lot of confidence to run and assess the line on the run as well.

“It’s defined and more specific to a degree this year ... we know our capabilities as front rowers.

“We run, we step and offload. It’s all about eating up those metres through the middle and getting that momentum and quickening up the ruck speed.”

Originally published as The numbers that prove Manly’s boom props are best in the NRL