Manly Warringah Sea Eagles will be looking to overcome a poor start to the NSWRL Jersey Flegg season at Blacktown this afternoon.
The Sea Eagles – the defending premiers in the U20s competition – sit on the bottom of the ladder after two losses and take on the third place Cronulla Sharks in round three.
Manly lost 58-10 to Newcastle at Cessnock in the opening round before losing 38-6 to Parramatta at Lottoland last Sunday.
Sea Eagles Coach Wayne Lambkin said his team didn’t handle the adversity thrown at them by Newcastle in the first round and was very disappointed with the way his players backed it up against the Eels.
In a replay of the U20s decider last year that saw Manly field eight players from their grand final winning team, the Eels dominated the first half to lead 26-0 at half-time.
Manly has now conceded 96 points in their two matches for just 16 points scored.
The challenge won’t get any easier for the Sea Eagles against a Cronulla side that has won both of its matches this season.
The Sharks will also be out for a little bit of revenge after being eliminated by the Sea Eagles in the U20s finals last season after finishing the regular season as minor premiers.
Manly vs Cronulla
Sunday, March 25
1pm, HE Laybutt Field, Blacktown
Sea Eagles team
1 Zaan Weatherall
2 Alfred Smalley
3 Semisi Kioa
4 Tevita Funa
5 Bilal Maarbani
6 Luke Metcalf
7 Cade Cust (c)
8 Jaiden Tarrant
9 Max Barry
10 John Tuivaiti
11 Blake Andrews
12 Haumole Olakau’atu
13 Jordan Main
Interchange
14 Michael Fenn
15 Kees Nicholson
16 Sosaia Talivakaola
17 Kurt Schultz
18 Finn Heath
19 Ben Gleeson
