Kick off: 7:35 | Channel 9 Coverage: 7:30 Live in QLD | DEL 9:30 NSW | Suncorp Stadium Friday June 5th 2015
The Sea Eagles make a return to the ‘Sunshine State’ eight days after their heartbreaking loss in Townsville against the North Queensland Cowboys.
This Friday, they make their way to the state capital where they take on the highflying, Brisbane Broncos, at Suncorp Stadium.
The Northern Beaches outfit travel up to Queensland on the back of fantastic news for the Club, with superstar halfback, Daly Cherry-Evans, opting to re-sign with the Silvertails instead of the Gold Coast Titans, ending half a season of speculation.
The Sea Eagles will look to use the good news as motivation in their attempt to topple a Broncos side that have returned to the furore under the super coach, Wayne Bennet. Sitting level at the top of the table after an impressive win against the Raiders in Canberra, the Broncos will look for another win heading into their first bye of the season.
However, the Queensland side will be wary of a Sea Eagles team that has won four out of the last five encounters against them and a team who has won seven out of twelve games at Lang Park.
Manly have looked stronger in recent rounds with top players slowly returning to the side and this week Manly will welcome back dynamic second rower Feleti Mateo for the Friday night blockbuster.
The Silvertails will be desperate for the win and to get themselves off the foot of the ladder but will face a tough resistance against a Broncos side in red-hot form.
Be sure to tune in when two historic teams collide in what’s set to be a gruelling encounter.
Last time they met
The Sea Eagles got up 16-4. Tries to Peta Hiku, Jamie Lyon and Brett Stewart did the damage.
Key Match Ups
Matt Ballin v Andrew McCullough:
Two of the hardest workers in the game go head to head in a battle of the Queensland hookers. Both men get through tremendous amount of work on the field and are both extremely important to their side’s defensive and attacking efforts. Both started their careers around the same time with Ballin having one year’s more experience starting in 2007 with McCullough beginning in 2008. It’s impossible to separate these two battlers and will be an intriguing battle to watch.
Dunamis Lui v Sam Thaiday:
The Cauldron will be stabilising its walls for when these two powerful locks engage each other on Friday night. Both men are strong on and off the ball and love a good hit up as much as the next man. Lui has been one of Manly’s best enforcers in an indifferent season and has offered some real aggression up front. His opponent, Thaiday, is coming off the back of a strong origin performance and a will look to get firing again with a weeks rest under his belt. The Cauldron is set for a shake down when these two big men lock horns.
Match Officials
Referee: Matt Cecchin | Assistant Referee: Gavin Morris | Touch Judges: Michael Wise & David Munro | Video Referees: Bernard Sutton & Luke Phillips
