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No Foran, no drama says Cherry-Evans

Roar Guru
22nd April, 2014
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Manly are confident they can continue to overcome the loss of key personnel with Kieran Foran ruled out for a month with a knee injury.

The tough playmaker starred in the Sea Eagles’ win over North Queensland last week without halves partner Daly Cherry-Evans, yet another occasion this season when the 2013 grand finalists have tasted victory without key players.

Cherry-Evans, Jorge Taufua, Brett and Glenn Stewart and Jason King have all been sidelined this season but the Sea Eagles have continued on their winning ways of the last decade.

After seven rounds, they are 5-2 and sit in third spot on the premiership ladder.

Brett Stewart was named on Tuesday in the Manly side to take on Canberra at Brookvale on Sunday despite being charged with drink driving the day before.

But the Sea Eagles are likely to also be without back-rower Anthony Watmough who is battling an elbow injury.

Those disruptions have been compounded by confirmation Glenn Stewart will leave the club at season’s end to join South Sydney.

But Cherry-Evans, who has been named to make his return from a leg injury, said Manly like having the odds stacked against them.

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“I strongly believe the Manly club faces adversity better than anyone else and the situation put in front of us this week I have not doubt we will rebound strongly and play our best football come Sunday,” he said.

“I would like to think I am almost 100 per cent.

“The whole purpose of having the week off was to get me right and I would like to think I’m very close and it would be highly unlikely if I didn’t play this weekend.”

Winger Daniel Tupou (leg) returns for the Sydney Roosters for their traditional Anzac Day clash against St George Illawarra, with Trent Merrin lining up for his 100th game for the Dragons.

Ben Hampton gets another shot at the Melbourne five-eighth spot with Ben Roberts out with a knee injury for their Anzac Day meeting with the Warriors at AAMI Stadium. Warriors interim coach Andrew McFadden has recalled Feleti Mateo to his 17.

George Burgess and Ben Te’o return from suspension for South Sydney for the final Anzac Day game against Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium.

Sam Thaiday is out for the Broncos with a calf injury.

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Beau Ryan (neck) has been named on an extended bench for their Saturday afternoon match against Penrith at Remondis Stadium.

North Queensland coach Paul Green has dropped halfback Robert Lui for their fixture against Parramatta in Townsville. Ray Thompson moves into the halves alongside Johnathan Thurston.

Kade Snowden returns for the suspended Willie Mason for Newcastle as they take on Canterbury.

Wests Tigers interchange forward James Gavet will miss four weeks with a hamstring strain. His place in the Tigers’ side for their Leichhardt Oval clash with Gold Coast has been taken by Sitaleki Akauola.

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