The Warriors host Manly with nothing on the line but pride and a shot at finishing the season with a modest promotion in the NRL's pecking order.
With the team teams locked together on 14 points Manly edge ahead into 11th on the ladder by virtue of a measly five points in for-and-against differential.
Ahead of them the Titans and Wests Tigers are both facing finals sides but short of the Gold Coast being routed by Newcastle, in combination with a lopsided victory of their own, the best Sunday's winner can hope for is 10th place.
The Warriors go into the clash as underdogs with the bookies but the resilient Kiwis, who have overcome so much in 2020, will fancy their chances against an injury ravaged Sea Eagles side that fell back into its bad habit of giving up big scores last round in their 42-24 loss to Gold Coast.
Match: Warriors v Sea Eagles
Round 20 -
home Team
Warriors
10th Position
away Team
Sea Eagles
13th Position
Venue: Industree Group Stadium, Gosford
The rundown
Team news
Warriors: Will start 1-17 after Josh Curran and Paul Turner were the two players left out an hour before the match. In a positional switch, Tohu Harris will start at prop and Isaiah Papali'i in the second row.
Peta Hiku will switch to fullback after a hamstring injury to captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck. Patrick Herbert is set to return on the wing and Hayze Perham will shift to centre. Eliesa Katoa returns with Jack Murchie bumped to the bench.
Jamayne Taunoa-Brown will return from suspension on the interchange.
Tom Ale and Gerard Beale were omitted from the reserves list 24 hours before kick-off. The Warriors have won three of their past four games against Manly.
Sea Eagles: Manly will start 1-17 after Ben Trbojevic and Toafofoa Sipley were omitted 60 minutes before kick-off.
Fullback Tom Trbojevic is out with a shoulder injury, so Tevita Funa will drop to the back while winger Reuben Garrick is named to return from his shoulder issue. Abbas Miski will start on the other wing with Albert Hopoate dropping to the interchange.
Taniela Paseka is named to start at prop with Morgan Boyle reverting to the pine. Corey Waddell will start in the second row with Jack Gosiewski out. Haumole Olakau'atu is the new face on the bench.
Luke Metcalf and Sione Fainu were omitted from the extended bench on Saturday. Manly have conceded an average of 34 points per game since Round 12.
Match: Warriors v Sea Eagles
Round 20 -
home Team
Warriors
away Team
Sea Eagles
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Peta HikuFullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Tevita Funa
-
Winger for Warriors is number 2 Adam PompeyWinger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Abbas Miski
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Centre for Warriors is number 3 Adam KeighranCentre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Brad Parker
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Centre for Warriors is number 4 Hayze PerhamCentre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Morgan Harper
-
Winger for Warriors is number 5 Patrick HerbertWinger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Reuben Garrick
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Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Kodi NikorimaFive-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Lachlan Croker
-
Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Chanel Harris-TavitaHalfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Daly Cherry-Evans
Forwards
-
Prop for Warriors is number 8 Lachlan BurrProp for Sea Eagles is number 8 Taniela Paseka
-
Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Karl LawtonHooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Danny Levi
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Prop for Warriors is number 12 Tohu HarrisProp for Sea Eagles is number 10 Martin Taupau
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2nd Row for Warriors is number 10 Isaiah Papali'i2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Corey Waddell
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2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Eliesa Katoa2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Curtis Sironen
-
Lock for Warriors is number 13 Jazz TevagaLock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Jake Trbojevic
Interchange
-
Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Wayde EganInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Albert Hopoate
-
Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Adam BlairInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Morgan Boyle
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Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Jack MurchieInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Sean Keppie
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Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Jamayne Taunoa-BrownInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 17 Haumole Olakau'atu
Match Officials
- Referee: Adam Gee
- Touch Judge: Chris Sutton
- Touch Judge: Drew Oultram
- Senior Review Official: Ashley Klein
Last updated:
Key match-up
Peta Hiku v Morgan Harper: Former Manly centre Hiku matches up against one of the newest Sea Eagles in an intriguing clash. Hiku began his NRL career with Manly, scoring 28 of his 52 career four-pointers while playing 60 games between 2013 and 2015.
He has eight tries this season including a double against Canberra last round and one against the Sea Eagles in round 13.
Harper has impressed mightily since joining Manly after playing a single game in each of the 2018 and 2019 seasons with Canterbury. He scored a double on his Sea Eagles debut in round 17 against Wests Tigers and crossed again the following week against his old club.
Stat attack
The tables have turned in this rivalry with Manly having won only one of their past four clashes after prevailing in 13 of the preceding 14 games between the two sides. Last time out the New Zealanders triumphed 26-22 at Lottoland after leading 20-10 at the break. Patrick Herbert crossed for a double in the five-tries-to-four victory.
