Manly fullback Tom Trbojevic says the NRL's off-season rule changes are not to blame for the Sea Eagles' slow start.
Des Hasler's side suffered losses to Penrith and the Sydney Roosters in the opening two rounds of the season.
It comes after the NRL tweaked the six-again rule for the third year straight, awarding teams a penalty to relieve pressure inside their own 40m zone.
The six-again rule made defences tired and Trbojevic went on to win the Dally M award as he carved through gasping would-be tacklers to finish 2021 with 28 tries and 31 try-assists.
Trbojevic's 2022 form has been questioned following the Sea Eagles' slow start, but the Manly fullback says that's more down to their inability to dominate field position.
"We have been getting the ball in the spots where we don't want it," he said.
"Our focus is winning that field position and battle and getting the ball in better positions.
"It's more where we are getting the footy, often it's in the corner where you've got no chance to run and we're landing on our fronts when we catch."
Winger Reuben Garrick claimed Manly's winless start could also be attributed to their inability to create quick ball for the likes of Trbojevic and Daly Cherry-Evans.
"I don't think the rule changes have changed a hell of a lot except in the play-the-ball speed," he said.
"I think if you're a team who can get a quick play-the-ball I think the stats say you'll go on to win games.
"I don't have a great feel of them (rule changes) yet because we've been in deep yardage."
Deep yardage has been Manly's achilles' heel this year and the problems are two-pronged.
Their pack has been unable to gain an upper hand in their opening two games, although they should have better luck against Canterbury at Brookvale on Sunday.
Rival teams have also been targeting right winger Jason Saab with their kicks given he struggles to get them out of their own end and is often ganged up on by rival defenders.
Hasler deflected questions about Saab after the Roosters loss but centre Brad Parker recognised the need to help the 21-year-old flyer out.
"We need to start winning the tackle and putting a bit more kick pressure on so he can get an easier catch and get out of that corner," said centre Brad Parker.
"Our defence has been pretty weak so if we can slow them up in defence we can get a quicker attack."
