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Sea Eagles v Broncos: Olakau'atu, Davey boost; Haas, Capewell return

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The Sea Eagles travel to Suncorp Stadium on Friday night to host the high-flying Brisbane Broncos who have won three straight and are looking to knock off another prized scalp in the competition.

Manly are coming off an impressive win of their own against the Wests Tigers at 4 Pines Park with a dream starting debut for Ben Trbojevic alongside his brothers Tom and Jake. 

Both sides have only played each other once in the past three seasons for a 2-1 split in favour of the Sea Eagles. They pummelled the Broncos 50-6 in the corresponding clash last year with Tom Trbojevic scoring a double.

However, this Broncos side has proven with improved defensive performances and under the guidance of chief playmaker Adam Reynolds, they're a completely different side to the one that ran out onto Lang Park a year ago. 

Sportsbet Betting preview: Sea Eagles v Broncos

The Rundown

Team news

Sea Eagles: Manly are 1-17 with no late changes. Haumole Olakau'atu returns after withdrawing last week due to illness. Ben Trbojevic and Ethan Bullemor maintain their spots in the starting side with Morgan Harper the 18th man. Andrew Davey is the new man on the bench after overcoming a shoulder injury, in place of Kurt De Luis.

Josh Schuster (calf) was included in the extended squad on Tuesday but dropped out on Thursday when the squad was cut to 19.

Broncos: The Broncos are 1-17 with no late changes. Payne Haas (shoulder) and Kurt Capewell (neck) are back, which means a reshuffle in the engine room with Patrick Carrigan moving to lock, Kobe Hetherington to the bench and TC Robati dropping out. Brenko Lee is 18th man.

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Tom Trbojevic
    Fullback for Broncos is number 1 Te Maire Martin
  • Winger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Christian Tuipulotu
    Winger for Broncos is number 2 Corey Oates
  • Centre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Ben Trbojevic
    Centre for Broncos is number 3 Kotoni Staggs
  • Centre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Tolutau Koula
    Centre for Broncos is number 4 Herbie Farnworth
  • Winger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Reuben Garrick
    Winger for Broncos is number 5 Selwyn Cobbo
  • Five-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Kieran Foran
    Five-Eighth for Broncos is number 6 Tyson Gamble
  • Halfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Daly Cherry-Evans
    Halfback for Broncos is number 7 Adam Reynolds

Forwards

  • Prop for Sea Eagles is number 8 Josh Aloiai
    Prop for Broncos is number 8 Corey Jensen
  • Hooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Lachlan Croker
    Hooker for Broncos is number 9 Billy Walters
  • Prop for Sea Eagles is number 10 Sean Keppie
    Prop for Broncos is number 10 Payne Haas
  • 2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Haumole Olakau'atu
    2nd Row for Broncos is number 11 Kurt Capewell
  • 2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Ethan Bullemor
    2nd Row for Broncos is number 12 Jordan Riki
  • Lock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Jake Trbojevic
    Lock for Broncos is number 13 Patrick Carrigan

Interchange

  • Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Dylan Walker
    Interchange for Broncos is number 14 Cory Paix
  • Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Andrew Davey
    Interchange for Broncos is number 15 Kobe   Hetherington
  • Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Martin Taupau
    Interchange for Broncos is number 16 Thomas Flegler
  • Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 17 Toafofoa Sipley
    Interchange for Broncos is number 17 Keenan Palasia

Reserves

  • Replacement for Sea Eagles is number 19 Morgan Harper
    Replacement for Broncos is number 18 Brenko Lee

Match Officials

  • Referee: Grant Atkins
  • Touch Judge: Chris Sutton
  • Touch Judge: Dave Munro
  • Senior Review Official: Chris Butler

Last updated:

Key match-up

Josh Aloiai v Patrick Carrigan: Both big men returned for their respective sides last week and didn't disappoint. With a couple of key forwards out through injury and illness, Aloiai and Carrigan were dominant in the middle to provide a platform for their halves to play off. Aloiai crossed for a try while Carrigan never missed a beat to lay on one for Adam Reynolds in the first half. 

Stat attack

The kicking games for both teams will be on full display with Adam Reynolds and Daly Cherry-Evans among the game's best with the boot. Reynolds has the Broncos sitting on top of the competition for most kick metres with a total 5,361 for the season while the Sea Eagles sit fourth with 4,998. If the game goes down to the wire, expect DCE and Reynolds to step up for the one-pointer with 47 field goals between them.

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Acknowledgement of Country

National Rugby League respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.

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