Hasler proud of lesser lights in Tigers win

Manly coach Des Hasler says a mark of his side's success this year has been the ability for lesser known players to come in and make an impact when they get a chance, as evidenced again in the 32-12 win over the Wests Tigers at Lottoland on Thursday night.

Hasler praised the efforts of Brendan Elliot, coming into centre for Brad Parker (knee), and Jack Gosiewski at back row for Curtis Sironen (hamstring).

Hasler expected neither player to return for a crunch round 23 trip to Canberra but was pleased with the way the replacements lifted as the side turned around a poor round 21 loss to push at least temporarily into the top four.

"It's great when players like Jack and Brendan Elliot can slot in straight away, they were probably two of our strongest performers out there tonight, they didn't miss a beat," Hasler said.

Gosiewski bagged the first of two tries running Sironen-like lines off Daly Cherry-Evans on the right edge while Elliot managed eight busts and two line breaks.

"Taniela Paseka was really good off the bench," Hasler added.

And while not exactly a lesser light, Kiwi and Tonga Test prop Addin Fonua-Blake had another huge game.

"He's been a real revelation," Hasler said.

"That's one thing very early in the year, he wanted to play consistently. That's what I think is the biggest change in Addin's game is the consistency he plays at week in week out."

Hasler was however disappointed his side didn't better capitalise on an early weight of possession.

"I thought we treated possession a little bit scarcely in that first half. To get away with 32 points against them is good," he said.

"We won tonight but there were some patches there we weren't as clinical as we should have been. I thought we squandered a bit of possession in that first half."

The run home against Canberra in Canberra, Melbourne and Parramatta at Bankwest will provide the club a real acid test ahead of the finals.

"They're two excellent sides," Hasler said of the coming top-four clashes.

"Obviously it's a big one against Canberra next week and they've got Melbourne this weekend, going down there and playing in the nation's capital against the Green Machine the way they're playing at the moment won't be an easy task. It's another test of your credibility."