Manly prop Lloyd Perrett has taken a subtle dig at former club Canterbury, saying their game plan was too structured to get the best out of him.
Perrett is among a host of good news stories this year at the Sea Eagles, who have defied expectations to be in the top four and look the real deal heading into the business end of the NRL season.
Speaking to the playing group, it's been a common refrain that coach Trent Barrett just manages to get the best out of everyone - and Perrett is no different.
Perrett, the brother of retired Bulldogs and Roosters back Sam, has discovered his most consistent football on the northern beaches and he puts it down to Barrett putting absolute faith in him to do whatever he wants on the field.
"I think I'm just a lot more confident," a candid Perrett said.
"When I was at the Bulldogs, I was doing my role and I don't think it complimented the way I play and what makes me good.
"Now that I'm here, I'm allowed to play the way I know I'm good at playing.
"I was just playing a role at the Bulldogs, I just ran the ball, tackled, that was it.
"Now that I'm at Manly I'm allowed to offload the ball a bit, I'm allowed to run, use my footwork. It's not as rigid a structure, that's good for me, because I'm not that sort of player."
If anyone at Belmore was to take umbrage with Perrett's comments, you get the feeling that the 22-year-old couldn't care less.
Having moved into the region, he has taken to heart the club's motto of "no one likes us and we don't care."
"I'm new to the Manly club and to the culture here. But I live on the northern beaches now and that's the Manly way - they don't really care what anybody else thinks," Perrett said.
"When I was at other clubs, it was something I noticed, everyone just hates Manly and I never knew why.
"Once I'm up here it's like 'nobody cares what you think'. They got on with their job, it's the culture around here and we're like that a little bit on the field, we don't mind if they hate us or doubt us."
