Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Coach Trent Barrett has dropped two players from his squad to play South Sydney Rabbitohs at ANZ Stadium tomorrow.
Second-rower Jack Gosiewski and prop Darcy Lussick have been cut from the 21-man squad named on Tuesday.
The final Manly team will be announced an hour before the 5.30pm kick-off tomorrow with Matthew Wright and Frank Winterstein still on the extended bench.
Gosiewski and Lussick will now line up for Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles against Newtown in round three of the Intrust Super Premiership at Blacktown on Sunday.
For Lussick, the match marks his return from an ankle injury suffered against Cronulla in a trial match in mid-February.
The Sea Eagles head into the NRL match against Souths full of confidence after a dominant 54-0 win over Parramatta last Sunday. Souths are searching for their first win of the season.
Barrett says the big win over the Eels ‘means nothing’ if Manly don’t back it up against the Rabbitohs.
“You have to play well every week to get a win in this competition,’’ he said.
Last week is gone. It’s done and dusted.
Coach Trent Barrett on the win over Parramatta
"It is a really important game for us. They are a big team and we have got them on their home track.
“We don’t have any injuries and we expect to play well tomorrow.”
Barrett nominated Cody Walker, Damien Cook, and Sam Burgess as the Souths players they will have to keep an eye on.
“They have got a lot of internationals and Origin players in their team. They will be hungry and will want to get (their season) off to a start,’’ he said.
Second-rower Curtis Sironen – who scored two tries against the Eels – said his team-mates were very aware of not being complacent against the Rabbitohs.
“They are a really good side. They have been leading in their games and have just been run down at the end,’’ Sironen said.
“If we don’t turn up, we know we can get our pants pulled down. We have to worry about ourselves and make sure we are ready.”
A Manly victory over Souths will see the Sea Eagles record their 900th first grade premiership victory since entering the competition in 1947.
Following the match against the Rabbitohs, Parramatta play Cronulla in the second double header game at ANZ Stadium with both sides searching for their first wins of the season.
NRL Sydney Double Header
Saturday, March 24, ANZ Stadium
4pm - Gates open
5.30pm - NRL: South Sydney Rabbitohs v Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
7.30pm - NRL: Parramatta Eels v Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
1 Tom Trbojevic
2 Jorge Taufua
3 Brad Parker
4 Brian Kelly
5 Akuila Uate
6 Lachlan Croker
7 Daly Cherry-Evans (C)
8 Addin Fonua-Blake
9 Api Koroisau
10 Martin Taupau
11 Joel Thompson
12 Curtis Sironen
13 Jake Trbojevic
Interchange
14 Jackson Hastings
15 Shaun Lane
16 Lloyd Perrett
17 Kelepi Tanginoa
18 Matthew Wright
20 Frank Winterstein
