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Manly hooker Matt Ballin has branded as unacceptable a possible four-day preparation for the Sea Eagles’ first NRL final.
Depending on last-round results, Manly could be forced to play on Friday week, giving them little time to rest and back up from Sunday’s clash with Penrith.
The scenario could eventuate if they slip from third to fourth by losing to the Panthers and Melbourne beat Gold Coast, while the availability of ANZ Stadium with the Swans expected to play an AFL preliminary final there that weekend is another variable.
Asked if it was a little unfair, especially since a a lower-placed side like Canterbury could enjoy a nine-day turnaround after playing their final-round match on Thursday, Ballin said “the short answer is yes.
“Four days is not a great turnaround leading into a a big finals match, so I don’t know what the answer is to it.
“But I think someone was saying the Bulldogs might get nine days and less than half the time for us, so I think that should be looked at.
“Coming off a team like Penrith, who have got a big pack of forwards, and after 26 rounds of pretty hard footy, I don’t think that (a four-day preparation) is acceptable.”
Winger David Williams said Manly had been used to short turnarounds this year, but wasn’t looking beyond this weekend.
“I’m happy to play round 26. I haven’t played that in four years (due to injuries),” Williams said.
He has yet to commit to Manly for next season.
“Staying here would be good for me, but that’s football. Sometimes you might have to go other places to keep in the game,” Williams said.
Sunday’s game represents a farewell to Brookvale Oval for dual premiership-winning prop Brent Kite, who will join the Panthers next year after nine seasons at Manly.
“I’ve said for a little while we’re potentially a multi-premiership-winning team and it’s good that we’ve won two and I think all the guys think we’ve got one more in us,” said Kite.
Coach Geoff Toovey said Jamie Buhrer’s rib cartilage injury wasn’t as bad as initially feared and he might play again this season while Brett Stewart and Anthony Watmough could both return for the first finals game.
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