Sea Eagles v Warriors: Cust returns; Harris-Tavita replaces Green
A Manly side stumbling from injury crisis to injury crisis must pick itself up off the canvas for a Lottoland date with the resurgent Warriors.
The Sea Eagles saw Dylan Walker, Brad Parker and Curtis Sironen added to an overworked injury ward after their 42-12 hammering at the hands of competition leaders Penrith saw them slip out of the top eight.
Gun fullback Tom Trbojevic is at least another two rounds from returning.
The Warriors (12th) have proven a tough out in recent weeks, pushing the Roosters all the way before knocking over Wests Tigers last round for their fourth win of an extremely challenging season.
Match: Sea Eagles v Warriors
Round 13 -
home Team
Sea Eagles
9th Position
away Team
Warriors
11th Position
Venue: 4 Pines Park, Sydney
The Rundown
Team news
Sea Eagles: Curtis Sironen (knee) and Joel Thompson (ankle) were ruled out on Thursday and Manly were given an exemption by the NRL to add Toafofoa Sipley to their squad.
Haumole Olakau'atu and Corey Waddell have been elevated to the starting second row. Morgan Boyle moves in from the reserves to the interchange.
Tevita Funa replaces Brad Parker (HIA) at centre and Cade Cust is back at five-eighth for Dylan Walker (foot).
Albert Hopoate and Sipley were the last two players cut an hour before kick-off.
The Sea Eagles have won eight of their past 10 games against the Warriors.
Warriors: No late changes expected. Chanel Harris-Tavita starts at halfback following Blake Green's mid-season move to the Knights. The Warriors have not defeated the Sea Eagles in Australia since 2009.
Jack Murchie and Gerard Beale were omitted from the reserves 24 hours before kick-off. Isaiah Papali'i and Adam Keighran were cut an hour before kick-off.
Match: Sea Eagles v Warriors
Round 13 -
home Team
Sea Eagles
away Team
Warriors
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Brendan ElliotFullback for Warriors is number 1 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
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Winger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Jorge TaufuaWinger for Warriors is number 2 Patrick Herbert
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Centre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Tevita FunaCentre for Warriors is number 3 Adam Pompey
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Centre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Moses SuliCentre for Warriors is number 4 Peta Hiku
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Winger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Reuben GarrickWinger for Warriors is number 5 George Jennings
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Five-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Cade CustFive-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Kodi Nikorima
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Halfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Daly Cherry-EvansHalfback for Warriors is number 7 Chanel Harris-Tavita
Forwards
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Prop for Sea Eagles is number 8 Addin Fonua-BlakeProp for Warriors is number 8 Jamayne Taunoa-Brown
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Hooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Danny LeviHooker for Warriors is number 9 Karl Lawton
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Prop for Sea Eagles is number 10 Martin TaupauProp for Warriors is number 10 Jack Hetherington
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2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 15 Corey Waddell2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Eliesa Katoa
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2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 18 Haumole Olakau'atu2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Tohu Harris
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Lock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Jake TrbojevicLock for Warriors is number 13 Jazz Tevaga
Interchange
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Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Lachlan CrokerInterchange for Warriors is number 14 Wayde Egan
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Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Sean KeppieInterchange for Warriors is number 15 Adam Blair
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Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 17 Taniela PasekaInterchange for Warriors is number 16 Daniel Alvaro
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Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 20 Morgan BoyleInterchange for Warriors is number 17 Lachlan Burr
Match Officials
- Referee: Henry Perenara
- Touch Judge: Jon Stone
- Touch Judge: Drew Oultram
- Senior Review Official: Steve Chiddy
Last updated:
Key match-up
Addin Fonua-Blake v Jamayne Taunoa-Brown: Manly's premier metre eater looms as a daunting challenge for the Warriors rookie. Taunoa-Brown has been impressive in 2020, playing all 12 games so far in his debut season and averaging around 40 minutes an outing, but having Fonua-Blake running at him will test his resilience to its limits.
The Sea Eagles prop is fourth in the NRL for post-contact metres, his 867 representing almost 50 per cent of his season total (1933). JTB has 321 tackles at an efficiency rate of 91.3 per cent and must raise the latter while adding to the former if he is to contain AFB.
Stat Attack
The Warriors must match Manly's discipline in defence if they are to give themselves a chance. They rank third in missed tackles (386) at an average of a shade over 32 per game while the Sea Eagles sit in equal 14th (306) with only the Roosters (299) having made fewer missed tackles.
