Apisai Koroisau has kept Manly afloat in the absence of Daly Cherry-Evans with two man of the match awards, but the utility’s future at the Sea Eagles remains uncertain.
Koroisau has starred in the narrow loss to South Sydney and an impressive win over the Warriors since Cherry-Evans was outed with an ankle injury after the win over Sydney Roosters three weeks ago.
The former Rabbitohs grand final winning rake made the halfback spot his own at Manly over the past fortnight after failing to do so with the No.9 slot earlier this year following his off season move to the northern beaches.
However Cherry-Evans is certain to slot back into the halfback role when he returns in three weeks and Matt Parcell appears to have sown up the dummy half position at Brookvale on the back of a number of big performances, leaving Koroisau on the outer despite his good form.
Coach Trent Barrett doesn’t know what he will do with Koroisau when Cherry-Evans does return.
“Api is a terrific player but Daly will certainly come right back in and play halfback,” Barrett said at Sydney airport on Sunday as Manly returned from Auckland.
“Api has done a great job. We are lucky to have a player like him with his versatility. He can play anywhere, he is just a competitor, and I thought him and (five-eighth) Dylan (Walker) gelled really well together again on the weekend.”
When asked where Koroisau will play when Cherry-Evans does return, Barrett replied: “I will cross that bridge when we come to it”.
New look Manly are 3-3 but Barrett said his side has plenty of improving to do.
“We are not anywhere where we need to be,” he said.
“But I am happy that we are getting better each week. They can all see they are improving.”
Kieran Foran returns with Parramatta to play his old club Manly for the first time at Brookvale Oval on Thursday night. Barrett said that wasn’t of importance for his side.
“They are probably the form team at the moment along with Brisbane, but that is something we won’t focus on,” Barrett said.
“We have a dozen new players that probably don’t even know Kieran personally so that won’t be an issue for us.”
