Manly know that history is against them when they take on Penrith in the NRL season opener on Thursday.
The Sea Eagles haven't won a round one game since 2013.
In 2021 they suffered their worst start a campaign in their 75-year history when they lost their their first four fixtures by an aggregate score of 156-34.
The preparations for Des Hasler's side for this season have been hampered by heavy rain Sydney, forced on Tuesday to move training from their Narrabeen base to the NSWRL centre of excellence.
Hasler, unlike in years gone by, opted to give his big names more minutes in the club's pre-season trials which hooker Lachlan Croker said had them primed to hit the ground running against the Panthers.
"A lot of that had to do with last year and the way we performed," he said.
"It was good to get a few games out of the way.
"A wise man once told me records are there to be broken.
"We're looking forward to getting out there on Thursday and putting an end to a record we don't like.
"I heard it (the record) mentioned before. I can't imagine it weighs on the boys' minds too much.
"At the end of the day it's a game of footy and we've prepared to go out there to win."
Panthers halfback Nathan Cleary has been ruled out of the round-one clash but Manly will be down on troops too, with regular back-row duo Haumole Olakau'atu and Josh Schuster sidelined.
Manly will have to overcome a recent winless streak against Penrith which stretches back to 2018 if they are to beat the reigning premiers first up.
"I'm pretty nervous to be honest," lock Jake Trbojevic said.
"It's been a tough off-season and everyone has worked hard.
"We're against the premiers in round one, out there, they haven't lost there in two or three years so I'm nervous.
"I'm not going to lie to, you think: 'it's going to be tough'.
"There hasn't been a tougher away trip the last few years and we know how good they are.
"I hope we can go out there and put the result aside and put in a really good performance."
