Mannah tells Eels to turn things up

PARRAMATTA are headed to the NRL finals for the first time in seven years however captain Tim Mannah warns they face being bundled out swiftly unless they can find another gear.

Ahead of a test of their title credentials against Brisbane at ANZ Stadium tonight, Mannah issued a warning to his team.

The blue and golds are revelling in their best season since making the 2009 grand final – which sees them in seventh heading into Round 21– however there’s a growing feeling of discontent about their recent performances.

Mannah said they risked being towelled up by the thirdplace Broncos, and come September, unless they can lift.

“We turned over a lot of cheap ball and there are a lot of parts of our game that we need to improve,” he said.

“(Against) a side like the Broncos … they’ll make you pay.

“After the game we spoke about how we do need to take our game to another level. We’re are capable of playing better than we have.

“The pleasing thing is we’ve had good results but at the end of the day if we want to be serious contenders, we need to take our game to another level.”

GOLD Coast are poised for another player cleanout with coach Rodney Eade hinting at changes to the Suns’ list for next season.

Eade said he knows exactly who has the ability to take the Suns forward in 2017 as he looks to improve the list that has failed to take the club to a finals in their first seven years in the AFL.

Gold Coast made 11 changes last year including the trades of Jaeger O’Meara and Dion Prestia and nine delistings. They made 14 the year before.

The Suns have 12 players off contract at the end of the season. Of those only Michael Rischitelli, Brandon Matera and Jack Leslie have played regular senior football.

Rischitelli, 31, is yet to decide if he will play on next year.

Eade and the rest of the Suns football department are being reviewed and the coach will need to show he has a plan in place for the future if he hopes to save his job.

The veteran coach said injury had restricted some players’ opportunities to show their worth but he would continue to push new talent in the final five games of the season.

Eade’s reliance on younger players is a sign some of the club’s long-term campaigners could be on the way out.

“We have got 10 or 12 out at the moment so some of those are maybe hurt by injury to actually put their best foot forward for next year,” Eade said.

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