Des Hasler faces a dilemma over Manly's five-eighth for 2019 after Trent Hodkinson and Kane Elgey both impressed in the Sea Eagles' 38-20 NRL trial win over the Sydney Roosters.
Playing against a Roosters side that included no members of last year's grand-final winning team, both halves were solid as they gave Manly an 18-10 half-time lead before being rested in the second half.
Angus Crichton also scored in his first game for the Tri-colours on return from a shoulder injury, collecting a nice ball from Lachlan Lam, who set up three tries.
The rookie playmaker won't feature in round one of the NRL but showed positive signs for the future with a two-man cut-out ball for a Matt Ikuvalu try and grubber in the lead up to another.
But with the injured Tom Trbojevic and stood-down Dylan Walker watching on in Gosford, it was in Manly's team where the battle for spots mattered most in their last trial before taking on the Wests Tigers.
Recruit Brendon Elliot appears set to claim Trbojevic's No.1 jersey despite a quiet 40 minutes at fullback, with no other rivals emerging.
"He just has tremendous anticipation Brendan - he's always there when he needs to be there," Hasler said.
Moses Suli moved to right centre to cover Walker and looked dangerous in attack but made three errors, while likely starting-jersey competitor Albert Hopoate is yet to play a match this season as he returns from knee surgery.
Meanwhile Elgey grubbered nicely through the line for one try for Jack Gosiewski in his No.6 push, and also forced an error with a bomb before another four-pointer.
Hodkinson's prowess was in his general play kicking as well as nailing three-from-three with the boot, while also remaining solid in defence after persistent knee issues.
"It's always good to be faced with a difficult question like that, but one way or another they will both feature somewhere," Hasler said.
Hodkinson may appear to have the inside running after playing alongside Daly Cherry-Evans in last week's pre-season clash against Cronulla, after the club captain was rested on Saturday.
Jake Trbojevic, Martin Taupau, Apisai Koroisau and Joel Thompson also missed the match for Manly as their fringe and reserve-grade players ran away with the game in the second half to counteract Lam's efforts.
"He plays some big plays really well and he did that tonight," Robinson said.
"It's about getting him into the rhythm of playing consistent plays over and over again and that was good to see.
"He was close for the World Club Challenge but it was good to see him out there for the 80 minutes in more of a dominant role as well."
