Parramatta have started 2014 in eerily similar fashion to their wooden-spoon effort of last year but Manly coach Geoff Toovey insists they are a different proposition under his former assistant Brad Arthur.
After an impressive 40-10 round one win over the Warriors last season under coach Ricky Stuart, the Eels copped a 50-0 hammering at the hands of Sydney Roosters in round four.
This year, after a promising 36-16 opening round victory over the Warriors, the Roosters’ thumping was handed out 56-4 in round two.
But now under his righthand man Arthur from last season’s grand final charge, Toovey believes the Eels are a different side from that which finished with the least amount of wins in the past three NRL seasons.
“I think last week was a bit of a blemish, they started the competition really well if you look at their first-round match against the Warriors,” Toovey said.
“I thought they played some great football there and it was a great effort.
“I think they will be like a bear with a bit of a sore tooth on Sunday.
“They will come out firing.
“Under Brad they have got some great systems in place, last week was a hiccup against a quality side.
“But all we are worried about producing is a good effort.”
Manly are fresh off a gutsy 14-12 round-two win over South Sydney, after their opening round capitulation to Melbourne and Toovey says they have to be wary of a Parramatta side with a point to prove.
Former Manly premiership winner Will Hopoate returns to Brookvale for the first time since the 2011 title win after two years away from the NRL.
Toovey was benevolent in his views on former NSW representative Hopoate.
“That’s what we are here at Manly to do, particularly the junior league here, we have developed a lot of great players who have gone on to do great things and he is one of those players,” Toovey said.
The Eels didn’t travel to Brookvale until round 17 last year when they were beaten 50-10.