Manly coach Anthony Seibold wants to help Matt Lodge fulfil his potential as the controversial prop begins life at his fourth NRL club in the space of two years.
Lodge signed a train-and-trial deal with the Sea Eagles earlier this week after being shown the door by the Sydney Roosters.
Brisbane and the Warriors have also offloaded Lodge in the past two years.
Seibold, who coached Lodge at the Broncos and shares the same agent with the prop, said the 28-year-old had the chance to work his way into the club's top-30 squad if he performed well.
"It brings competition for spots and I don't shy away from that," Seibold said.
"We shouldn't have people who are comfortable thinking, 'oh, that's my jersey every single week'.
"I don't think he's achieved his potential in the game.
"He's got the quickest play-the-ball in the competition and he breaks more tackles than any other front-rower on average per game.
"He has had a challenging time, but some of that's not his own fault.
"I'll let Matt speak for himself about the last club he was at, but I've known him since he was 17 and I trust him and I know he trusts me. He's not in our top 30, but he's got an opportunity here."
Lodge will play for Manly's feeder club Blacktown this weekend, while the NRL side take on North Queensland.
NSW prop Jake Trbojevic and Queensland captain Daly Cherry-Evans are both expected to back up for the Sea Eagles at Brookvale Oval on Saturday in a game which shapes as season-defining for Seibold's men.
Both sides are one win outside the top eight and Manly would do their finals hopes a massive favour before three consecutive games on the road.
"It's a really big game for us," Seibold said.
"The Cowboys are in really good form - they've won their last four games and they're obviously a team that made the prelim final last year, so we know what they're going to bring.
"If you don't start fast against them, then they can put some points on and they've done that over the last month."
Manly will hand 25-year-old utility Dean Matterson - brother of Parramatta forward Ryan - a NRL debut off the bench after impressive displays in NSW Cup.
