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Sea Eagles v Dragons: Simpkin to start; No changes for Flanno

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After winning just five games all season in 2023 the Red V continue to rise under the guidance of Shane Flanagan with seven victories already on the board this year.

The Dragons' latest win was a Round 14 rout of Wests Tigers which featured a club record 32 points for Zac Lomax, who backed up from his Origin debut 48 hours earlier to post three tries and 10 goals in the 56-14 victory.

It marked the first time since Round 13, 2021 against Brisbane that the Dragons had racked up 50 points in a game and has them positioned ninth on the ladder, outside the eight on points differential only.

The Sea Eagles were also in a mood to score tries in Round 14, coming up with five against the Panthers, but a poor afternoon off the tee for Reuben Garrick meant only one of those was converted in a 10-point loss.

Of the 35 meetings between these sides since the Dragons entered the competition on 1998, the Red V have won 23, including a 20-12 triumph at WIN Stadium earlier this season.

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Team News

Sea Eagles: A late change sees Jake Simpkin named to make his club debut at hooker after signing with the club last week with Karl Lawton reverting to the bench. A shuffle in the forwards also sees Toafofoa Sipley starting at prop with Nathan Brown shifting to the bench. Damaging second-rower Haumole Olakau’atu is named to start despite suffering a calf injury last week which restricted him to just 24 minutes. Ethan Bullemor the new face on the bench with Josh Aloiai suspended. Aaron Schoupp is 18th man.

Dragons: No changes to the 17 players who destroyed the Wests Tigers in Round 14. Luciano Leilua is named to start in the second row but could drop back to the bench prior to kick-off, as was the case last week. Christian Tuipulotu is 18th man.

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Lehi Hopoate
    Fullback for Dragons is number 1 Tyrell Sloan
  • Winger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Jason Saab
    Winger for Dragons is number 2 Zac Lomax
  • Centre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Tolutau Koula
    Centre for Dragons is number 4 Max Feagai
  • Centre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Reuben Garrick
    Centre for Dragons is number 20 Christian Tuipulotu
  • Winger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Tommy Talau
    Winger for Dragons is number 5 Mathew Feagai
  • Five-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Luke Brooks
    Five-Eighth for Dragons is number 6 Kyle Flanagan
  • Halfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Daly Cherry-Evans
    Halfback for Dragons is number 7 Ben Hunt

Forwards

  • Prop for Sea Eagles is number 8 Taniela Paseka
    Prop for Dragons is number 8 Francis Molo
  • Hooker for Sea Eagles is number 20 Jake Simpkin
    Hooker for Dragons is number 9 Jacob Liddle
  • Prop for Sea Eagles is number 17 Toafofoa Sipley
    Prop for Dragons is number 10 Jack De Belin
  • 2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Haumole Olakau'atu
    2nd Row for Dragons is number 11 Luciano Leilua
  • 2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Ben Trbojevic
    2nd Row for Dragons is number 12 Jaydn Su'A
  • Lock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Jake Trbojevic
    Lock for Dragons is number 13 Tom Eisenhuth

Interchange

  • Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 9 Karl Lawton
    Interchange for Dragons is number 14 Blake Lawrie
  • Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 10 Nathan Brown
    Interchange for Dragons is number 15 Raymond  Faitala-Mariner
  • Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Corey Waddell
    Interchange for Dragons is number 16 Ben Murdoch-Masila 
  • Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Ethan Bullemor
    Interchange for Dragons is number 17 Toby Couchman

Reserves

  • Replacement for Sea Eagles is number 22 Aaron Schoupp
    Replacement for Dragons is number 19 Michael Molo

Match Officials

  • Referee: Peter Gough
  • Touch Judge: Dave Munro
  • Touch Judge: Belinda Sharpe
  • Senior Review Official: Chris Butler

Last updated:

Stat Attack

  • The Sea Eagles have won five of their past six against the Dragons at 4 Pines Park.
  • The Dragons have won eight of their past 11 games against the Sea Eagles.
  • Sea Eagles winger Tommy Talau has scored nine tries in his past six games.
  • The Dragons have scored 78 points in their past two games.
  • Sea Eagles centre Reuben Garrick requires 12 points for 400 points at 4 Pines Park.

Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services,  

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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.