Sea Eagles keen to bounce back against Dolphins

Author: Wayne Cousins
Timestamp: Thu 8 Jun 2023, 02:19 PM

Fresh from a bye, the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles are keen to return to their best form against the Dolphins at 4 Pines Park on Friday night.

The Sea Eagles are desperate to capture the great form shown in the round 12 win over the Canberra Raiders after a brave effort against Newcastle in their last match with the side depleted through injury and Origin duty.

The return home to the 'Fortress' is also a big bonus for the Sea Eagles with Manly winning three of five games played at 4 Pines Park.

The Dolphins have recorded victory in just one of their four games outside of Queensland in an impressive debut season as they head to the Northern Beaches for the first time.

The Dolphins sit in eighth position on the ladder on 16 points, just one point ahead of the 10th-placed Sea Eagles.

Team News

Star fullback Tom Trbojevic will line up after being given clearance by the NRL to play following a head knock in the opening Origin match. Trbojevic has at no stage been diagnosed with concussion and will be out for a big game. His form at 4 Pines Park is good, scoring seven tries in his past seven games on his beloved home ground.

Reuben Garrick has shifted to the centres in place of Brad Parker (fractured elbow) with Christian Tuipulotu coming in on the wing.Garrick has scored a try in three consecutive games for the Sea Eagles.

Inspirational Manly captain Daly Cherry-Evans will be looking to continue his great form for the Sea Eagles this season after coming through Origin unscathed.

Born in Redcliffe in 1989, Cherry-Evans may have pulled on the Dolphins jersey at the age of five for the Dolphins, but there will be little room for sentiment on Friday night.

What they said this week

Reuben Garrick on winning at home

"It's about bringing back that 'Fortress' mentality. It is something that we really hold close to our hearts here at Brookie. I know all the supporters are expecting that here on Friday night. We need to put in a really good performance and I think we will."

Coach Anthony Seibold on showing the 'Manly mentality' without Jake Trbojevic

"Our forward pack need to display that tomorrow night. We have been really aggressive at home in different games this year but then we have had two performances where we haven't been happy with how we have played as a forward pack. It's a big challenge for us tomorrow night against a good (Dolphins) forward pack with the Bromwich brothers and Mark Nicholls. They have got a lot of experience there. We need to step up and we do need to fill in for Jake, and that's what we need to show."