2020 NRL Round 19 Preview, Sea Eagles Vs Titans
Matt Pritchard previews the opening Women In League Super Saturday clash between the Manly Sea Eagles and Gold Coast Titans. This is what we have to look forward to.
FORM LINE
Manly Sea Eagles
Finally Manly ended their six game losing streak when they beat last placed Canterbury 32-20 at ANZ Stadium last Friday night. It was a sea-sawing game where they trailed 0-10 early, before heading into the sheds 16-10 up. Second-half tries to Jack Gosiewski, Morgan Harper and Marty Taupau were enough to keep the Bulldogs at bay.
Gold Coast Titans
For the first time since 2010 the Gold Coast Titans will finish the best placed Queensland side in the NRL winning their last three matches. Their win over Brisbane by twelve points was their biggest victory of the streak in a game where the visitors failed to convert their opportunities. A win for the Titans could elevate them to as high as ninth with one game to play.
SQUAD NEWS
Manly Sea Eagles
Some welcome news for Manly this week as Tom Trbojevic was named in Des Hasler’s twenty-one man squad. Reuben Garrick is also named in the extended squad. If they both play, it’s a huge boost for a side decimated by injuries.
1. Tevita Funa 2. Albert Hopoate 3. Brad Parker 4. Morgan Harper 5. Abbas Miski 6. Lachlan Croker 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Danny Levi 10. Martin Taupau 11. Jack Gosiewski 12. Curtis Sironen 13. Jake Trbojevic 14. Morgan Boyle 15. Corey Waddell 16. Sean Keppie 17. Taniela Paseka 18. Haumole Olakau’atu 19. Reuben Garrick 20. Ben Trbojevic 21. Tom Trbojevic.
Gold Coast Titans
Captain Kevin Proctor returns from suspension, fresh from signing a new one-year deal with the club. Tanah Boyd has forced his way into the seventeen at the expense of Erin Clark.
1. AJ Brimson 2. Anthony Don 3. Treymain Spry 4. Young Tonumaipea 5. Corey Thompson 6. Ashley Taylor 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Jarrod Wallace 9. Mitch Rein 10. Moeaki Fotuaika 11. Kevin Proctor 12. Sam Stone 13. Tyrone Peachey 14. Tanah Boyd 15. Jai Arrow 16. Sam Lisone 17. Jai Whitbread 18. Darius Farmer 19. Brian Kelly 20. Toby Sexton 21. Nathan Peats.
KEY STAT
Manly hold the win-loss record over the Titans 11 to 9, with one draw. However, the Titans have won three of their last five encounters. Their famous 36-18 win in 2019 at Brookvale featured a first ever hat-trick to Dale Copley, and a double to Tyrone Roberts. Ten of those players feature in the Titans squad going into this weekend’s clash.
BATTLE TO WATCH
Daly Cherry-Evans vs Jamal Fogarty
A good battle in the halves with the experience of Daly Cherry-Evans and the second coming of Jamal Fogarty.
Cherry-Evans was best on field for the Sea Eagles last week with three try assists on his side’s way to victory. Despite Manly’s position on the table, DCE continues to be one of the most influential players in the NRL having 18 try assist to his name. Shutting down the Queensland Origin star will be a key to the Titans winning.
Fogarty’s second stint of NRL has been a success after playing twice for the Titans in 2017. His kicking game takes a load off Ash Taylor’s shoulders which has helped reignite the fire in the talented halfbacks game. Like DCE, Fogarty likes to take on the line which might explain why he has the most run metres of any halfback in 2020. Looking forward to see if he ‘has a go’ and runs around the Manly pack.
GAME DETAILS
Manly come into the game as favourites and that will be strengthened if Tommy Turbo returns. However, you can’t write off a Titans side who have clearly improved under Justin Holbrook as a unit this season. Defensively they’ve been good in the last three matches only conceding ten points a game. If they can continue that effort and frustrate Manly into errors, they are a good chance of victory.
Titans by 6
Date: Saturday, September 19
Venue: Lottoland
Kick-off: 3pm
