Eels to target Manly playmaker Orford

Parramatta will target Matt Orford's ability to perform under pressure when the Eels travel to Manly for Friday night's NRL blockbuster at Brookvale Oval.

While most of the pre-game hype has focused on the clash between Manly centre Jamie Lyon and the teammates he walked out on in 2004, the Eels have highlighted game-breaker Orford as the player they must stop.

And the Eels know Orford is already under extreme pressure, among several halfbacks around the NRL battling for the wide open NSW No.7 spot in a last opportunity to impress selectors before Origin I selection.

Orford has already blown two chances in the past fortnight, struggling against Queensland opposite Johnathan Thurston in the loss to the Cowboys two weeks ago and again failing to impress against Canberra last week.

Orford must turn in a blinder to give himself any chance of making his debut NSW side and that's something Eels coach Michael Hagan wants to ensure doesn't happen.

"There's always pressure on key players. He's responsible for a lot of what they do and defensively we're going to be working hard around him anyway," said Hagan.

"I just think the Origin issue is around the corner for a lot of players and with that is normally good performances in the weekend leading up to that.

"Manly have got a number of players in contention so I would expect a number of their players to be up for the game.

"(Orford's) an important part of their game plan and I think he's obviously under pressure to be the one of the considered halfbacks for NSW."

Orford is doing his best to deflect talk of Origin and maintains selection is the farthest thing from his mind.

But the 29-year-old can hardly escape the scrutiny which comes with being in the halfback mix.
He faced several questions following the win over the Raiders last week and was also bombarded earlier this week for his thoughts on Origin.

"Every footballer you ask would love to play State of Origin and I'm no different, but my main focus is this weekend against Parramatta," he said.

"Last weekend was one to forget but hopefully I haven't reached my best yet and peaked. I'm starting to come back and I know I need to work on things this week. One bad game doesn't put you out of the picture I hope.

"All I've got control of is how I play on Friday night and the next few weeks."

Another Sea Eagle under pressure for Origin selection is unheralded centre Steven Bell.

Bell performed strongly for Queensland last year until he missed the decider with injury, but is hopeful he can reclaim a spot in the Maroons' backline.

"They've got a lot to choose from with quality players coming through so it does make you work a little bit harder," said Bell.

"(Origin) is something I think about a little bit but at the moment I'm more concentrating on Manly.

"We've got a good start and want to continue that way.

"If you just play good footy for your team each week hopefully someone will notice."