No-one wants to try to fill the shoes of Dally M Player of the Year Tom Trbojevic because of the scrutiny it brings - but Manly winger Reuben Garrick is more than comfortable in his own skin.
The 24-year-old has been Manly's top points scorer for the past three years from tries and goalkicking.
But when Trbojevic was diagnosed with a medial knee ligament strain, putting him out for a month, and 19-year-old livewire replacement Tolutau Koula also got injured, coach Des Hasler had no hesitation turning to Garrick as his No.1 to face the Knights in Newcastle.
Adding to the pressure of replacing Trbojevic was the drenching rain and wind squalls at McDonald Jones Stadium on Thursday.
Garrick has only played fullback six times in his 75 games for Manly, but he showed he has a safe pair of hands, collecting bombs and floating corner kicks from Knights five-eighth Jake Clifford, as well as Kalyn Ponga and Adam Clune, in the Sea Eagles' 30-6 win.
"During the week there was a lot of talk about what the weather was going to be like. And Jake Clifford must have one of the biggest boots in the comp because he put up some pearlers," Garrick told AAP.
"Honestly, for some of them I did cross my fingers. You've just got to take into account the ball is going to be slippery and there was a bit of wind there. All the hours you put in playing and training comes to the fore.
"I grew up playing fullback in juniors and I've always been out the back catching bombs. But it's good to play it and get a decent crack at the back there, especially with Tom out."
Garrick can expect to be there for the next three weeks, or at least for next Saturday's home game against the Titans at 4-Pines Park.
"I am just trying to play a gutsy style of footy of just making the metres and putting our team in the best position to get down the other end of the field," he said.
He certainly did that with 19 runs for 147 metres, including 60 post-contact metres and three tackle-busts. In the appalling conditions, he also booted five from six goals.
"On a night like tonight, you just try to play for field position and stay as error-free as you can," Garrick said.
Manly are managing to do that. After starting the season with two losses, the Knights victory has given the Sea Eagles their third win in a row.
"We've been really focused on our defence the last few weeks and that's what we wanted to get out of this win tonight," said Garrick.
"Another reason (for the winning streak) is the big inclusion of Josh Aloiai. He's really brought some grunt into our pack and really solidified our forward pack."
After 81 post-contact metres in the win over the Raiders a week ago, Aloiai made 76 against the Knights from his 19 runs and 156 metres.
