Manly out to skin giant Bunnies

Anthony Watmough ... is relishing the challenge of facing South Sydney's big men. Source: Mark Evans / News Limited

Anthony Watmough says Manly's pack pride themselves on lifting for a challenge - and he says taking on the Rabbitohs on Friday will be their biggest of the year.

SOUTH SYDNEY:

David Tyrrell 102kg

Issac Luke 89kg

Roy Asotasi 108kg

Chris McQueen 102kg

Ben Te'o 106kg

Sam Burgess 116kg

INTERCHANGE:

Nathan Peats 90kg

Jeff Lima 106kg

Ben Lowe 101kg

George Burgess 120kg

TOTAL: 1040kg

MANLY:

Brenton Lawrence 106kg

Matt Ballin 88kg

Brent Kite 111kg

Anthony Watmough 94kg

Justin Horo 102kg

Glenn Stewart 100kg

INTERCHANGE:

Richie Fa'aoso 108kg

Tom Symonds 100kg

Jamie Buhrer 95kg

Jason King 111kg

TOTAL: 1015kg

"I don't think I have seen a bigger team," Watmough said in the lead-up to the heavyweight NRL showdown at Brookvale.

"There should be a weight salary-cap because they are massive.

"Poor little me, they are going to be trying to run over the top of me.

"I will throw the little frame in front and see how it goes."

Watmough's laugh was a dead giveaway of just how much he is obviously looking forward to the challenge.

In the tale of the tape, there isn't a lot between the two packs in size - with Souths averaging 103.8kg to Manly's 101.9kg.

Manly are two years older on average and also have 37 more games in experience.

But then there are the Burgess brothers to factor in.

		W	L	D	B	PD	Pts
1	Storm	7	0	0	0	83	14
2	Roosters	5	2	0	0	102	10
3	Sea Eagles	5	1	0	0	85	10
4	Rabbitohs	5	1	0	0	32	10
5	Knights	4	2	0	0	43	8
6	Titans	4	2	0	0	40	8
7	Broncos	3	3	0	0	16	6
8	Raiders	3	3	0	0	-55	6
9	Dragons	3	4	0	0	-56	6
10	Sharks	2	4	0	0	-3	4
11	Cowboys	2	4	0	0	-12	4
12	Eels	2	4	0	0	-36	4
13	Tigers	2	4	0	0	-50	4
14	Panthers	1	5	0	0	-50	2
15	Bulldogs	1	5	0	0	-69	2
16	Warriors	1	6	0	0	-70	2

Sam is 115kg, George 120kg.

As per usual, they will be the two biggest on the field - with individual stats that highlight the damage they do.

As Fox Sports Stats show, Sam plays an average of 67 minutes and runs for 139m from 15.2 runs with 11 tackle busts for the year.

George averages 40 minutes for 13.3 runs and 125m with a massive 22 tackles busts.

Watmough says there is no question Sam is Souths' forwards leader.

"Some of the carries he has done this year, he just changes the game," Watmough said.

"There will be nothing going on in a set and he just tramples over four people.

"When you think nothing is doing is when he steps up. Like I said, he can change the game."

So can George, who only has nine NRL games in the bank but Watmough says his reputation has already earned plenty of interest.

	SYD	34 - 10 Full Time	STI
	MEL	28 - 18 Full Time	WAR

All times are listed in EST

"I have sat back and watched him play. I have watched him run through people and over people and he just tramples them," Watmough said.

"You just have to get in front of him. There is no other way of putting it. It is a collision sport and we love the collision at this club."

Which goes to the heart of what tonight's battle is all about.

Early on this year everyone was talking up Newcastle as the new tough guys of the competition until Manly got hold of them in round two and gave the Knights a 32-0 hiding.

There isn't a pack in the NRL who like rolling up the sleeves and getting dirty more than Manly, which is why this is also another significant test for Souths in the wake of their last-start loss to Melbourne.

"I think we are two packs that play very similar," Watmough said.

"They love to run hard and really work hard for one another and our team is no different."

It's a confronting trip South Sydney know all too well, having tallied just three wins from their past 17 visits to Manly's home turf.

"To win a match like this would be huge. Huge for our confidence," said Souths winger Nathan Merritt, who has just one win from seven attempts at Brookvale.

"You know they're a great side and to get a win against them brings a lot of confidence to your squad. It can do wonders for the rest of the season."

View the original article here