By MARK CASHMAN

What’s that saying about Rome not being built in a day, well it takes some time for a winning rugby team to find its mojo, to find its identity and that is the case at Manly Oval.

Manly head coach Matt McGoldrick, along with many others, has gone about a bit of a reset at the club and as he prepared his side for the game against Northern Suburbs on Saturday he spoke about the narrow focus adopted by the Marlins in the early weeks of the Shute Shield.

“We’ve just focused heavily on our defence and set piece work,” McGoldrick said.

“That’s the sort of stuff that is going to win you games at the back end of the year and we have looked closely at those two things in the early stages of this season.

“Not to say that attack isn’t important, but that will come and you will win more than you lose if your defence, scrum and lineout are going okay.

“Set piece will be important against Norths but it’s like that every week. We are still a work in progress and we will get better with every game.”

The Marlins went down 13-6 to the defending premiers Sydney Uni last start, failing to make the most of a number of chances right throughout the 80 minutes at Camperdown.

The only change to the Manly side this week is in the back row with Harry Bergelin dropping out after suffering a nasty cut near one of his tear duct.

Genuine depth there though with Kotoni Ale teaming with Max Douglas and Dan Alley.

Northern Suburbs head coach Earl Va’a has plenty of respect for the Marlins and says they will be a major step up for his side after the first fortnight of competition.

“Yeah this one will be a big challenge for us and a major step from Round One and Round Two,” Va’a said.

“We are going to have to be on our toes and be clinical in the early exchanges, finish off what we are trying to do and be disciplined and make sure that we didn’t get offside with the referee.”

Va’a has tweaked his pack bringing Isacc Cavu in at tight head prop for his starting debut and adding some size in the back row with George Murrin at No.8.

Manly were more than competitive at set piece time against Sydney Uni last weekend and if Norths aren’t careful they could be playing without the ball for long stretches of this game.

“The only real hiccup we have had this week has been the weather but we’ll turn up and give it a go,” Va’a added.

This one is the 7TWO match of the round and should be an intriguing encounter.

MANLY MARLINS (1-15):
Alefosio Tatola, James Hilterbrand, Conor Davidson, Van Stewart, Alex Dalzell, Max Douglas, Kotoni Ale, Daniel Alley, Adam Crerar, James Ohmsen, Jack Veitch, Hutana Coffin, Dennis Pili-Gaitau, Yool Yool, Michael Adams.

NORTHERN SUBURBS (1-15):
Jack Brewer, James Margan, Isaac Cavu, Dave Henaway, Nick Palmer (c), Brad Hemopo, Heinrich Brendel, George Murrin, Nick Duffy, Angus Sinclair, Reece Mau’u, Harry Burey, Nathan Russell, Kepu Lokotui, Max Burey.

IMAGE: ADAM MCDONALD / MANLY MARLINS