Origin selectors could snub Manly: Perry

Manly prop Josh Perry says the Sea Eagles are on track for another State of Origin
snubbing unless they can turn their NRL season around and start winning games.
The Sea Eagles were furious last year when star fullback Brett Stewart was the only
Manly player called upon by NSW.
The club used the snubbing as motivation for their premiership assault and were duly
rewarded with Glenn Stewart, Anthony Watmough, David Williams, Brent Kite and Perry
earning Australian Test jerseys during the World Cup.
Last year's title triumph has spilled over into 2009 with Jamie Lyon and Michael
Robertson joining the five Test players in the NSW 40-man Origin squad that met in
Sydney during the week with hooker Matt Ballin named in Queensland's 25-man squad.
But Perry has warned his teammates that they'll all be overlooked by selectors
unless they start living up to expectation at club level and turn around their 2-5
start to 2009.
And the timing of his warning couldn't be more appropriate with Manly facing arch
rivals Melbourne at Brookvale Oval on Friday night - the Storm guided by NSW coach
Craig Bellamy.
"We've got to individually start playing well and getting the runs on the board for
Manly or we might all be still playing (for Manly) in a few weeks time," said Perry.
"We definitely need to get the ball rolling and get it rolling very soon.
"We really need to pull our fingers out to get a win on the board. It's getting to
that time of the season that you have to start winning.
"It's great timing really (to play Melbourne). A Friday night game at Brooky and we
get to play Melbourne. We are going to have to play well and we will and it will be
our best performance of the year."
It's been seven months since Manly belted Melbourne 40-0 in the record breaking
grand final triumph at ANZ Stadium and the clash at Brookvale Oval is certain to be
a fiery encounter between the two best sides of recent years.
While the Sea Eagles are without tryscoring machine Brett Stewart, the Storm have
lost several of their grand final stars including Israel Folau, Michael Crocker and
Jeremy Smith.
Former NSW halfback Brett Finch is set to play his second game for the club at
five-eighth, allowing Greg Inglis to move out to the centres.
Manly hooker Matt Ballin said the Sea Eagles are particularly wary of Inglis after
his relatively quiet start to the season.
"I think he is a threat anywhere he plays with his palm and strength and size," he
said.
"I don't think it matters where he plays at the moment, we have to make sure we
watch him and have him well covered."
Perry and Ballin joined teammates Michael Bani and Jason King at Queenscliff beach
on Thursday to promote Starlight Day on Friday May 1.