Selfless Elliot to switch back to fullback ... again

Backline utility Brendon Elliot had another taste of playing fullback in place of Tom Trbojevic after the Test winger limped off the field with a hamstring strain in the 13-12 win over South Sydney.

In his first season at Manly after stints at the Roosters, Knights and Titans, Elliott has become invaluable to coach Des Hasler.

He filled in for stood-down centre Moses Suli against the Rabbitohs, but shifted back to No.1 when Trbojevic was injured in the 42nd minute.

"You saw how great Turbo was last week – he's a class player and this side is better with him in it," Elliot said.

"We got the win today and I'm confident I can slot into the fullback role again.

"I played the first two rounds there and a couple of trials too. If I'm at the back there I'll try and do my best for the side."

Trbojevic missed the opening two rounds of 2019 – losses to the Tigers and Roosters.

"The more games you get in a certain position, obviously the more confident you get," Elliot said.

"Having that second half there I felt I grew more into the role then.

"I'm more confident to try a few different things. Whether I'm playing centre or fullback I'm getting more used to my spot in the team.

"Hopefully Turbo isn't out for too long."

Hasler also has great faith in the 25-year-old, now into his seventh season of NRL.

"Brendan is just a real footballer. He's tidy in all those areas. He's a thorough professional in the way he works and the way he prepares," Hasler said.

"So for him to slot back in there and carry on, particularly from a defensive point of view, is really important."

The next assignment is against one of Elliot's former clubs – the Knights next Saturday at McDonald Jones Stadium.

Captain Daly Cherry-Evans said after the Souths win that he would be reminding teammates that they have soldiered on without Trbojevic in the past.

"We had a chat about it and we'd been there before and learned some lessons when Tom was out last time," he said.

"So I thought we adapted well and the effort was there at the back of the game to make up for Tom's workload.

"Hopefully it's a dry field because those two games [without Trbojevic] we didn't get to play the style of game we would have liked to with Brendan at fullback as we played in two downpours.

"That stifled the game and I think it's pretty obvious from the last two weeks that the brand of footy we like to play is suited to dry footy.

"I'd like to think we're a smart enough team to prepare well for Tom's injury but again, I hope it's not too long."