The injury-ravaged Sea Eagles' season is starting to slip away and their task to steady the ship doesn't get any easier against the ladder-leading Eels.
Manly have slumped to 10th place after losing three straight games.
A dubious forward pass call that denied them victory over Parramatta in round four will still be fresh in the home side's minds.
While Des Hasler's team is struggling without Tom Trbojevic and Dylan Walker, the Eels have managed just fine in the absence of star halfback Mitchell Moses to go on a three-match win streak.
Match: Sea Eagles v Eels
Round 10 -
home Team
Sea Eagles
10th Position
away Team
Eels
2nd Position
Venue: 4 Pines Park, Sydney
The Rundown
Team news
Sea Eagles: Manly are 1-17 after cutting Haumole Olakau'atu and Tevita Funa from their final squad. Morgan Boyle (groin) is out. Taniela Paseka starts at prop and Corey Waddell joins the bench. The Sea Eagles have conceded 88 points in their past three games. Abbas Miski and Toafofoa Sipley were the two players left out 24 hours before the match.
Eels: Parramatta cut reserves Daniel Alvaro and Will Smith from their match-day 17 which confirms late-blooming 28-year-old Andrew Davey's NRL debut. Ryan Matterson (thumb) and Blake Ferguson are both out of the Parramatta team. George Jennings (No.19) will start on the wing and Brad Takairangi (No.17) will start in the second row. The Eels are hopeful star second-rower Matterson will only miss one week.
Junior Paulo takes his place despite back spasms ruling him out of the second half last week.
"It's all good - just coming with old age I think. Or probably because it's been a tough month of footy," he said.
The prop said his back "seized up" when he came from the field against Newcastle after being tight during the week. "It wasn't a pleasant feeling but it's just good to be moving around again."
Rookie Stefano Utoikamanu gets a second game despite a slight biosecurity breach after full time against the Knights. The Eels have won nine of their past 11 games against the Sea Eagles.
Match: Sea Eagles v Eels
Round 10 -
home Team
Sea Eagles
away Team
Eels
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Brendan ElliotFullback for Eels is number 1 Clinton Gutherson
-
Winger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Jorge TaufuaWinger for Eels is number 2 Maika Sivo
-
Centre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Brad ParkerCentre for Eels is number 3 Michael Jennings
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Centre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Mosese SuliCentre for Eels is number 4 Waqa Blake
-
Winger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Reuben GarrickWinger for Eels is number 19 George Jennings
-
Five-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Cade CustFive-Eighth for Eels is number 6 Dylan Brown
-
Halfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Daly Cherry-EvansHalfback for Eels is number 7 Jai Field
Forwards
-
Prop for Sea Eagles is number 8 Taniela PasekaProp for Eels is number 8 Reagan Campbell-Gillard
-
Hooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Danny LeviHooker for Eels is number 9 Reed Mahoney
-
Prop for Sea Eagles is number 10 Martin TaupauProp for Eels is number 10 Junior Paulo
-
2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Joel Thompson2nd Row for Eels is number 11 Shaun Lane
-
2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Curtis Sironen2nd Row for Eels is number 17 Brad Takairangi
-
Lock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Jake TrbojevicLock for Eels is number 13 Nathan Brown
Interchange
-
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Lachlan CrokerInterchange for Eels is number 14 David Gower
-
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Jack GosiewskiInterchange for Eels is number 15 Stefano Utoikamanu
-
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Sean KeppieInterchange for Eels is number 16 Marata Niukore
-
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 17 Corey WaddellInterchange for Eels is number 21 Andrew Davey
Match Officials
- Referee: Ashley Klein
- Touch Judge: Peter Gough
- Touch Judge: Matt Noyen
- Senior Review Official: Steve Chiddy
Last updated:
Key match-up
Daly Cherry-Evans v Clint Gutherson. Both teams will be looking towards their skippers for inspiration. Manly halfback Cherry-Evans endured a horror night in last week's loss to the Dragons and will want redemption. Eels fullback Gutherson continues to lead from the front and may feel he's got an extra point to prove against his former club.
Stat Attack
Good luck trying to stop Maika Sivo, Manly. The powerful Parramatta winger leads the NRL for line breaks (10) and tries (9, equal with Kyle Feldt). No Sea Eagles player features in the top 15 of either category.
