Josh Mercer previews the Saturday afternoon match between the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles and the Newcastle Knights; here’s what we have to look forward to.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Vs Newcastle Knights
Venue: Glenn Willow Oval, Mudgee
Date: Saturday, April 1, 3:00 pm
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles: 1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Christian Tuipulotu 3. Brad Parker 4. Morgan Harper 5. Reuben Garrick 6. Josh Schuster 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Jake Trbojevic 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Kelma Tuilagi 13. Josh Aloiai 14. Kaeo Weekes 15. Ben Trbojevic 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Sean Keppie 18. Toafofoa Sipley 19. Cooper Johns 20. Ray Tuaimalo-Vaega 21. Karl Lawton 22. Samuela Fainu
Newcastle Knights: 1. Lachlan Miller 2. Hymel Hunt 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Tyson Gamble 7. Jackson Hastings 8. Daniel Saifiti 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Leo Thompson 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Lachlan Fitzgibbon 13. Jack Johns 14. Phoenix Crossland 15. Jack Hetherington 16. Mathew Croker 17. Brodie Jones 18. Dylan Lucas 19. Enari Tuala 20. Dominic Young 21. Simi Sasagi 22. Thomas Cant
Referee: Chris Butler
Embed from Getty ImagesMATCHDAY PREVIEW
The Sea Eagles might have lost in Golden Point to the Rabbitohs on the weekend, but they will be a handful for any side this season. They were hard done by in the first half: when the scores were locked at 6-all, they looked like they would score a certain try. However, referee Chris Sutton called it back after a forward pass. Replays showed no forward pass, so it was a let-off for the Rabbitohs.
The Eagles are showing a resolve that they didn’t have last season. Is it their new coach Anthony Seibold who has shown them the way? There is one thing for sure: when Daly Cherry -Evans and Tom Trbojevic are firing, they are a top eight side.
It was ‘no Kalyn Ponga, no worries’ for the Knights, as they beat the more fancied Canberra Raiders last week. Lachie Miller had a day out for the Novocastrians; the former Rugby Sevens player looks more comfortable each game he plays. Winger Greg Marzhew looked good for the Knights, with the former Titan scoring a double.
While it’s not Brookvale, the Knights will find it hard to win at Mudgee. The Sea Eagles have too much firepower across the park. Last year, they had the Knights’ number, scoring 72 points across both matches. To add to the Knights’ injury woes, Kurt Mann will not play this weekend after a Category 1 HIA and will be stood down for 11 days under the concussion protocol.
LAST TEN MATCHES
Sea Eagles 5, Knights 5
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Sea Eagles by 18.
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