Brad Fittler expects the coaching ability of Craig Fitzgibbon to shine through when the Sharks host the Sea Eagles in a blockbuster Thursday night clash to kick off round seven.
Manly have shaken off a slow start to the season, winning their last four games on the trot to plant themselves in the eight.
They also have the advantage of an outstanding record in the so-called ‘battle of the beaches’, with the Sea Eagles winning the battle 12 of the last 14 times they’ve played.
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Yet, all that can be brushed aside by the third-placed Sharks, according to Fittler, thanks to one of the most conscientious coaches in the business.
With Tom Trbojevic out of action, much of the credit for Manly’s recent success has gone to Daly Cherry-Evans, whose kicking game has been dominant against the Titans, Knights and Raiders.
Look for that to change on Thursday night if Fittler is on the money.
“One thing Fitzy does well, I think he does his research, so they’ll have a plan obviously around Daly Cherry-Evans’ kicking game,” Fittler told Andrew Johns on Wide World of Sports’ Freddy and The Eighth’s Tips.
“So, I think if they can do better than the last couple of teams they’ll beat them down there, so I’m going to go Cronulla.”
Johns picked Manly to continue their recent trend against the Sharks and spring “an upset”.
Scroll below for the current leaderboard and Round 7 tips by Johns, Brad Fittler and all Nine’s expert tipsters!
Andrew Johns: Sea Eagles, Broncos, Cowboys, Tigers, Knights, Panthers, Roosters, Storm
Brad Fittler: Sharks, Broncos, Cowboys, Rabbitohs, Knights, Panthers, Roosters, Storm
Paul Gallen: Sharks, Broncos, Titans, Tigers, Eels, Panthers, Roosters, Storm
Billy Slater: Sharks, Broncos, Cowboys, Rabbitohs, Eels, Panthers, Roosters, Storm
Ruan Sims: Sharks, Broncos, Cowboys, Rabbitohs, Knights, Panthers, Roosters, Storm
Darren Lockyer: Sharks, Broncos, Cowboys, Rabbitohs, Eels, Panthers, Roosters, Storm
Michael Chammas: Sharks, Broncos, Cowboys, Rabbitohs, Eels, Panthers, Dragons, Storm
Stream the NRL premiership 2022 live and free on 9Now.
David Middleton: Sharks, Broncos, Cowboys, Rabbitohs, Eels, Panthers, Roosters, Storm
Mat Thompson: Sharks, Broncos, Cowboys, Rabbitohs, Eels, Panthers, Roosters, Storm
Peter Psaltis: Sharks, Broncos, Titans, Rabbitohs, Eels, Panthers, Roosters, Storm
Ben Glover: Sharks, Broncos, Cowboys, Rabbitohs, Eels, Panthers, Roosters, Storm
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