Ben Barba may have cleaned up at Tuesday’s Dally M awards, but Manly coach Geoff Toovey has backed his in-form side to keep the Canterbury superstar under control in Friday’s NRL semi-final.
Barba swept the board at Sydney’s Town Hall, taking home the main prize as well as the fullback of the year award and the Provan-Summons Medal.
The 23-year-old also picked up the Peter Frilingos headline moment award and finished the season as the NRL’s joint top tryscorer with North Queensland’s Ash Graham.
Toovey said he is a huge admirer of Barba but does not expect Brett Stewart to be the last man in defence trying to stop another of the young Queenslander’s trademark long-range tries at ANZ Stadium.
“It’s a great award, it’s a great honour and he’s deserved of it,” Toovey said.
“You need to be consistent throughout the year to get that award and that’s what he’s done, so I’m sure we’ll see some more Benny Barba magic on Friday.
“But I don’t think Brett will be in that situation, I don’t think he’ll get through, we’ll be sweet.”
The reigning premiers have won their last six encounters, but the last team to beat them were the Bulldogs in round 20 at Brookvale Oval.
Barba scored the decisive try in his side’s 20-12 victory when he darted over from close range, and Toovey said his side are well versed in his strengths and what they have to do to stop him.
“He had a bit of luck and you make your own luck and he’s been making his own luck really well this year.
“He’s scored some sensational tries and some long range ones and some ones where he’s just been Johnny on the spot like the one against us, but you’ve got to put yourself in those positions to score those tries.”
“We’ll just have to tackle him I suppose and stop him from scoring.”
Stewart has been in fine form for the Sea Eagles this year and performed strongly for NSW after being recalled for the State of Origin series.
And Toovey believes the 27-year-old’s big-match experience will be crucial against the newly-crowned minor premiers and that he won’t be fazed by the threat of Barba.
“He’s a quality player, a representative player and always produces on the big games and that’s what he’s done over the last five or six years,” he said.
“He’s a smart footballer and a smart person and he realises that his opposite number has had a great year and deserves the accolades.
“But I don’t think he’ll let that affect his game and I think you’ll see a great performance from him.”