By MARK CASHMAN

In the words of their coach Matt McGoldrick, the Manly Marlins are “banged up” but ready to go to war with Southern Districts on Saturday.

In my conversations with the Shute Shield coaches each week it’s been hard to split the clubs that have been hit hardest by injury, but if we were going to have a grand final Southern Districts and the Marlins would be in it.

McGoldrick says they have used four scrum halfs, four No.10s and four inside centres.

“But on the other side of things we have found first graders to fill those gaps and we will benefit from that in the future,” McGoldrick said.