Tips: Fittler baffled by 'can't keep winning' theory
Brad Fittler has picked the absence of workhorse Manly hooker Lachlan Croker and impact forward Nathan Brown to tip Thursday night’s round 10 opener against the Sea Eagles, as they visit the Dolphins on a road trip that is becoming a huge challenge in 2024.
Wayne Bennett’s team is in the top four and flying, defying the expectations of most experts who expected them to still be a season or two from contending for finals positions.
Despite their strong form, there is still a sense in the general rugby league population that the bubble will eventually burst for the second-year club, who are the bookmakers’ outsiders for their clash with Manly, discounting the recent formline.
Speaking on Wide World of Sports’ Freddy and The Eighth’s Tips, Fittler was puzzled by the continued narrative that the Dolphins are due to tail off, while the Sea Eagles, just one point behind them in fifth, are considered by many to be a hot top four chance.
“When you look at Manly, they’re losing their hooker, Croker, who’s been integral to them,” Fittler said.
“[Also] Brown, who has a lot of their impact and obviously [Haumole] Olakau’atu’s out for another week.
“I think the Dolphins are one of those sides where you keep on saying, ‘they can’t keep winning, they’re not going to win this’ … what they are, they’re fast.”
Croker was concussed in Manly’s capitulation against the Raiders last week, ruling him out of the Dolphins clash due to the NRL’s concussion protocols, while Brown injured his hip flexor against Canberra.
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