THEY'RE chalk and cheese in many ways but when it comes to reliability, Collegians centres Saxon Onur and Brad Manton might as well be clones.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The pair have firmly established themselves as the Illawarra League's premier pairing, with 15 tries between them. If they tallied tries saved at the other end they'd be top of the pile there as well.
In a year where there were plenty of question marks over the shape of the Dogs roster, Nathan Fien says the duo have been a regular cure for coaching headaches.
"They've both got a bit of X factor about them but, for both of them, their game stems from defence," Fien said.
"What I love about Sax is I know what I'm going to get from him week-in, week-out. His opponent, whoever he comes up against, knows they're going to be in a battle.
"He's an unbelievable competitor and can finish a try off with the best of them but the work he does back of field for us is tremendous.
"We haven't got the biggest pack and we need our back five to get us out of trouble on occasions and Sax is always the first one putting his hand up."
With 11 tries to his name, Manton in particular has emerged league's premier centre, though Fien insists it's nothing new.
"Everything he's doing this year he was doing last year but being his first year in the comp he probably flew under the radar a bit,' Fien
"He's one of the cruisiest customers I've ever come across, playing or coaching. He's a different sort of character but his fend and footwork is just unbelievable.
"I wouldn't swap him for anyone in the comp that's for sure."