Jack Harbidge previews the Round 24 clash between the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles and Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs at Moreton Daily Stadium as the Sea Eagles push for a top four spot….. This is what we have to look forward to.
Embed from Getty ImagesTEAM NEWS
Venue: Moreton Daily Stadium, Redcliffe Date: Sunday August 29, Time: 1:50pm
Sea Eagles Team
1. Tom Trbojevic
2. Jason Saab
3. Brad Parker
4. Morgan Harper
5. Reuben Garrick
6. Kieran Foran
7. Daly Cherry-Evans
8. Toafofoa Sipley
9. Lachlan Croker
10. Martin Tapau
11. Haumole Olakau’atu
12. Josh Schuster
13. Jake Trbojevic
14. Dylan Walker
15. Karl Lawton
16. Curtis Sironen
17. Josh Aloiai
18. Moses Suli
19. Cade Cust
20. Jack Gosiewski
21. Kurt De Luis
Team Changes
IN: Brad Parke, Cade Cust, Jack Gosiewski, Tom Trbojevic
OUT: Tevita Funa
Bulldogs Team
1. Nick Meaney
2. Corey Allan
3. Will Hopoate
4. Aaron Schoupp
5. Jayden Okunbor
6. Lahclan Lewis
7. Kyle Flanagan
8. Ava Seumanufagai
9. Bailey Biondi-Odo
10. Jack Hetherington
11. Matt Doorey
12. Joe Stimson
13. Josh Jackson
14. Brandon Wakeham
15. Ofahiki Ogden
16. Chris Patolo
17. Sione Katoa
18. Falakiko Manu
19. Jackson Topine
20. Jake Avarillo
21. Watson Heleta
Team Changes
IN: Brandon Wakeham, Chris Patolo, Falakiko Manu, Jack Hetherington, Jake Avarillo, Ofahiki Ogden, Sione Katoa, Watson Heleta.
OUT: Adam Elliot, Corey Waddell, Corey Horsburgh, Luke Thompson, Ryan James.
Referee: Chris Sutton
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Sea Eagles
Embed from Getty ImagesManly Warringah get the unplayable Tom Trbojevic back after missing out with a cheekbone injury, while Brad Parker also comes into the fray having been given a week off for a concussion following a high shot. The latter will have to pass checks and Moses Suli will wait in the wings on stand by, while Cade Cust and Jack Gosiewski also make their way back into the 21-man squad.
The Sea Eagles come into this one with only a loss to Melbourne in their last six games, having most recently beaten Canberra by a point after an impressive second half comeback from 12-0 down. Manly need to win to keep their hopes of a top four spot alive, especially following the Roosters’ wide margin loss to the Rabbitohs.
Bulldogs
Embed from Getty ImagesTrent Barrett was forced to make a number of changes on Tuesday with a raft of forwards out, including Corey Waddell, Corey Horsburgh (playing in Canberra’s win over the Warriors last night), Luke Thompson, and Ryan James. Adam Elliot has also been dropped as a result of his off-field issues.
Jake Averillo is included in the 21 but will be an unlikely inclusion in the match day squad as he continues to struggle with the lower leg issues that ruled him out of last week’s loss to Newcastle. As a result Brandon Wakeham is recalled to the squad.
The formbook isn’t pretty reading for the Bulldogs, with Barrett’s side having only won one of their last 10 games (against St George Illawarra in June). The Dogs most recently failed to take advantage of a faltering Newcastle Knights team, losing 22-16 despite scoring one of the tries of the decade through Jayden Okunbor.
PREVIEW
It would be hard to find a more polarised match up in the NRL this season, with a red hot in-form Manly side bidding to take fourth place with a win against a completely out-of-sorts Bulldogs side that has overhauled a major core of their pack this week.
KEY STAT
The Bulldogs have lost 14 consecutive games in Queensland, while Manly also hold a five game win streak against the Doggies with an aggregate score line of 166-42 in their favour.
PREDICTION
With a shot at entering the top four, Turbo back, and the Bulldogs with nothing to play for, this will be Manly by a cricket score.
Sea Eagles by 50.
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