League: Manly desperate to make good

The Warriors last assignment for 2005 will be to face a Manly side desperate to cling to a playoffs spot and fired up by stinging attacks delivered by club greats after their record loss last week.

The Warriors have made just one change for the Brookvale Oval match, Monty Betham back at lock after being suspended for the 16-4 loss to Newcastle .

So Sione Faumuina stays at five-eighth but that leaves them lacking a kicking option. Louis Anderson is relegated to the bench, where he is joined by 17-year-old prop Sonny Fai, who stood out in the recent Junior Kiwis contests against Australia.

Former Manly and Australian hooker Max Krilich was among those who lambasted the current Eagles side after their 68-6 loss at Cronulla.

"It was woeful, disgraceful, the best non-tackling performance I've ever seen from any team.

"The players should be more than embarrassed - they should feel ashamed," Krilich said.

"Why turn up for the finals? They would only embarrass themselves and their club. It would be a waste of time."

The club's website carried an appeal for calm.

Eagles chief executive Patrick Wilson asked fans to get behind the team during a tough time that would test the resolve of all concerned.

"Manly have bounced back from heavy defeats before and will do so again.

"There can be no excuses for yesterday's performance but we are all in this together - the management, staff, players, sponsors and supporters," Wilson said.

Coach Des Hasler added: "They [fans] have supported us in numbers like never before this season at home and away - we owe it to them to turn the form around and beat the Warriors on Saturday night."

* Sydney, Saturday 9.30pm

NZ Warriors

Brent Webb
Manu Vatuvei
Clinton Toopi
Simon Mannering
Todd Byrne
Sione Faumuina
Stacey Jones
Ruben Wiki
Nathan Fien
Steve Price (c)
Awen Guttenbiel
Wairangi Koopu
Monty Betham

Sea Eagles

Brett Stewart
Paul Stephenson
Terry Hill
Steve Matai
Chris Hicks
Steve Menzies
M. Monaghan (c)
Jason King
Chad Randall
D. Heckenberg
Luke Williamson
A. Watmough
Ben Kennedy

Interchange:

Warriors: Iafeta Paleaaesina, Karl Temata, Jerome Ropati, Louis Anderson, Sonny Fai, Francis Meli.

Manly: Kylie Leuluai, Shayne Dunley, Mark Bryant, Sam Harris, Michael Witt, Nathan Tutt, Kane Cleal, Scott Donald (four to omit).