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Match Preview

Eels v Sea Eagles: Niukore returns; Ben Trbojevic out

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Timestamp

Here we go again, Manly and Parra. It's a rivalry that never fails to deliver and another classic chapter will be written on Friday night on the Eels' home turf.

Both sides are coming off Magic Round defeats, a third in four weeks for Manly, so the stakes will be high and CommBank Stadium is sure to be buzzing.

Their previous meeting in round 22 last year resulted in a 56-10 cakewalk for the Sea Eagles as Reuben Garrick piled on 28 points, just two shy of Ron Rowles' record of 30 set way back in 1954.

A repeat of that sort of scoreline is unlikely but the Eels are sure to be on high alert as they confront a Manly backline packed with threats and desperate to make a statement after being held scoreless in Magic Round.

Sportsbet Betting preview: Eels v Sea Eagles

The Rundown

Team news

Eels: Marata Niukore will make his return at lock, with Ryan Matterson joining  Nathan Brown on the bench in the team finalised before kick-off. Maika Sivo made his return from an ACL injury in NSW Cup in the curtain-raiser to the NRL clash.

Sea Eagles: Toafofoa Sipley will start in the front row, with Sean Keppie dropping back to the interchange in the only late change when the teams were finalised 60 minutes before kick-off. Tom Trbojevic has been named at fullback despite concerns over his knee and will be right to play. Brother Ben is out with a shoulder injury, with his place taken by Morgan Harper. Josh Schuster will return from a calf injury on the bench, Andrew Davey goes into the starting side and Ethan Bullemor drops to 18th man.

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Eels is number 1 Clinton Gutherson
    Fullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Tom Trbojevic
  • Winger for Eels is number 2 Hayze Perham
    Winger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Christian Tuipulotu
  • Centre for Eels is number 3 Will Penisini
    Centre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Morgan Harper
  • Centre for Eels is number 4 Tom Opacic
    Centre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Tolutau Koula
  • Winger for Eels is number 5 Bailey Simonsson
    Winger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Reuben Garrick
  • Five-Eighth for Eels is number 6 Dylan Brown
    Five-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Kieran Foran
  • Halfback for Eels is number 7 Mitchell Moses
    Halfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Daly Cherry-Evans 

Forwards

  • Prop for Eels is number 8 Reagan Campbell-Gillard
    Prop for Sea Eagles is number 8 Josh Aloiai
  • Hooker for Eels is number 9 Reed Mahoney
    Hooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Lachlan Croker
  • Prop for Eels is number 10 Junior Paulo
    Prop for Sea Eagles is number 17 Toafofoa Sipley
  • 2nd Row for Eels is number 11 Shaun Lane
    2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Haumole Olakau'atu
  • 2nd Row for Eels is number 12 Isaiah Papali'i
    2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Andrew Davey
  • Lock for Eels is number 15 Marata Niukore
    Lock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Jake Trbojevic

Interchange

  • Interchange for Eels is number 13 Ryan Matterson
    Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 10 Sean Keppie
  • Interchange for Eels is number 14 Makahesi Makatoa
    Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Dylan Walker
  • Interchange for Eels is number 16 Oregon Kaufusi
    Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Joshua Schuster
  • Interchange for Eels is number 17 Nathan Brown
    Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Martin Taupau

Reserves

  • Replacement for Eels is number 21 Bryce Cartwright
    Replacement for Sea Eagles is number 18 Ethan Bullemor

Match Officials

  • Referee: Ben Cummins
  • Touch Judge: Drew Oultram
  • Touch Judge: Nick Beashel
  • Senior Review Official: Ashley Klein

Last updated:

Key match-up

Nathan Brown v Jake Trbojevic: Two men who leave it all out on the field every time they play. Brown averages 118 metres per game, every run as ferocious as the last, and he gets through plenty of work in defence as well with 29 tackles a match. Trbojevic is racking up 41 tackles per game and still finds the energy to spark Manly with his ball-playing skills at the line. The heart and soul of the northern beaches club, Trbojevic will be smarting after last week's hiding and will do everything in his power to ensure they turn it around. 

Stat Attack

Eels No.7 Mitch Moses boasts more try assists than any other player with 16 while Manly's Daly Cherry-Evans has laid on seven tries in 2022. When it comes to building pressure on the opposition with forced dropouts, DCE has 12 for the season compared to five for Moses.

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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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