South Sydney veteran Roy Asotasi claims fellow prop Jeff Lima won’t be changing his game in light of suggestions he could be a target for retribution from the Manly pack in Friday night’s NRL preliminary final.
Lima left Sea Eagles players, coaches and fans seething after his leg twist on Manly back-rower Anthony Watmough during the teams’ last meeting in round 23 – his actions seen as a deliberate test of Watmough’s injured knee.
Watmough was sidelined for two weeks following the incident for which Lima copped a one-game ban, with talk out of the Manly camp that there could be payback on Friday night.
But Asotasi said the Rabbitohs – including Lima – would be focused on football.
“Jeff wont be changing the way he plays,” Asotasi said at Rabbitohs training held at a sun-drenched Clovelly Beach.
“He had a great game against Melbourne last game and that’s all we expect from him, to go out there and do what he needs to do.
“I don’t think he is a dirty player.”
Having dominated the regular season along with bitter rivals Sydney Roosters, Asotasi said the Bunnies were fully aware that it was now sudden-death, having bowed out at the same stage last season.
“Last year we fell short of the grand final, that’s why we’re not getting too far ahead (of ourselves),” he said.
“All it takes is 80 minutes and it could be all over.”
Sea Eagles prop George Rose maintained there was no bad blood over Lima’s leg pull, insisting his side wasn’t not looking to avenge the incident.
“No, no payback,” Rose told Sky Sports Radio on Monday.
“I think we’ve got bigger things to worry about than that.
“We’re just competitive sides. Both teams are so close to each other in the talent stakes, it’s always a close battle every time we play.
“We’re going to do whatever we can to win and they’re going to do the same thing.
“Saying that, we probably wouldn’t do what happened to Choccy.
“We’re just going to bust our backsides to win this game.”
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