Manly Marlins coach Matt McGoldrick believes that he has handed the playmaking role for Saturday’s vital Shute Shield match against Southern Districts at Forshaw Rugby Park to a “cool and steady hand”.

McGoldrick has brought the experienced BJ Hartmann into the flyhalf role for the game against Souths in the wake of the sometimes error-ridden loss to West Harbour at Manly Oval last weekend.

It’s essential that the Marlins really kick start their season this weekend as they have been sporadic at times and will lose touch with the playoff contending group of clubs with a third of the home and away season run.

Souths sit on 12 points on the competition table going into Round Seven while the Marlins are on 11, both only one win away from forcing their way into the top six.

“It’s like every week – you pick what you think is the best that we have to get the job done,” McGoldrick told Rugby News.

“I’m not worried about the derby (v Warringah) in two weeks time, my focus is on Souths on Saturday.

“BJ’s played the last five games in the twos and has been going really well. He’s a steady, cool man experienced hand (at No.10) and that’s just what the team needs at the moment.”

McGoldrick wants the Marlins to cut the “niceness” out of their game, a trait that did them no favours last weekend against Wests.

“Saturday was a tale of our errors unfortunately,” McGolrdrick added.

“We’ve got to limit our errors and just give ourselves a chance.

“At the moment we just seem to be too nice – as I said to you (earlier this week) we score a try, make an error, score a try, another error.

“So we just need a steady hand there to lead us around the field.”

It’s going to be a tough ask for the Marlins as Souths are emerging as the side that everyone hates to play.

They play an “in your face” style of rugby, come at you at scrum time and when the team cohesion kicks in they will be one hell of a hurdle particularly if they are around in the playoffs.

Souths have had the toughest start to the 2021 season of any club – in their first six rounds they have played Easts, Eastwood, Northern Suburbs and Gordon, four clubs logically considered good things to play finals.

 “We know we’ve got a lot more growth in us than any other club but it’s frustrating because we know how close we were in those games,” head coach Todd Louden said.

“A penalty kick here, a made tackle there, we probably win those games and suddenly we are sitting towards the top of the ladder.

“The players are confident though and they know that we’re heading in the right direction.”

The next few weeks will be vital for the Rebel with a slightly easier draw helping the cause but they do play Sydney Uni twice during that time and as well know they are pretty hot at the moment.

“I think the competition will start to even out over the next few weeks as everyone plays one another and gets a better idea of what each team has to offer,” Louden added.

“Like most years, it’s going to go down to the wire and we think if we get into the top six, then we’ll be the most dangerous team in the finals.”

The Marlins have recognised the threat that Tyzak Jordan brings to the table for the home side on Saturday.

“He’s a dangerous player but with a quick guy like that you’ve got to be good with your ruck defence and acknowledge the threat that he brings to the table,” McGoldrick added.

“Souths are a tradesman like team, there are no frills there. They carry hard and hit. They’re going to be a tough cookie.”

It’s a game that will tougher than the long par five that McGoldrick negotiated at the Allambie Jets golf day on Friday – let’s hope the Marlins aren’t far off par come Saturday afternoon.