Sea Eagles ready for Sunday showdown with Dragons
Sunday afternoon footy returns to 4 Pines Park this weekend with the Sea Eagles taking on the Dragons in a big Round 15 NRL Telstra Premiership clash.
Here is a look at some key points in our weekly match preview.
Team Changes
Damaging second-rower Haumole Olakau’atu is named to start after suffering a calf injury last week that saw him unable to finish the game. Nathan Brown comes in to start at prop for the suspended Josh Aloiai, with Ethan Bullemor added to the bench.
Form
NRL Ladder: Dragons 9th, 16 points, Sea Eagles 11th, 15 points
Last five NRL matches: Manly 1/5, Dragons 3/5
Last round: Penrith 32 d Manly 22, Dragons 56 d Wests Tigers 14
Head to Head: Played 35; Dragons 23, Manly 12
Last 6 games at 4 Pines Park: Manly 5, Dragons 1
'Back Fence Browny' ready to rip in
Look out for some extra special bullocking runs off the ''back fence' from damaging forward Nathan Brown after signing a new two year deal with the Sea Eagles this week.
“The biggest thing I can say about Nathan is that in a really short time here, he has become a bit of a cult hero at Manly because people like the way he plays,'' said Manly Coach Anthony Seibold.
In his nine appearances this season, Brown has made 12 tackle breaks for an average of 103 metres per game.
50 for Wadz
Hardworking second-rower Corey Waddell will play his 50th game for Manly on Sunday.
Waddell played 36 games for the Sea Eagles in 2019-20 before playing 59 matches for Canterbury over the last three years.
The respected forward is a real tradesman and is loving his second stint at the Sea Eagles, the club he made his NRL debut for in 2019.
Another one for Tommy?
Sea Eagles winger Tommy Talau has now scored nine tries in his past six games after scoring four against the Panthers last Sunday.
“I’m super grateful. The boys sent the ball out to me and they did their job in attack. I just did my role as a winger,'' Talau said afterwards.
Talau, who became the 20th Manly player to score four tries in a match for the club, will be hungry for another 'meat pie' or two against the Dragons to add to his season tally of 11.
Home sweet home
Our beloved 'Fortress' has witnessed some memorable Sea Eagles wins this season.
Four of our five home games have been sold out with the Dragons game heading that way. Plus, there is nothing better than Sunday afternoon footy.
Second-rower Ben Trbojevic spoke this week about the energy a packed 4 Pines Park gives to the team.
"When you are in the tough times in the game, it honestly helps you. Please show up Sunday,'' Trbojevic said.
"It really helps the team, it's a great atmosphere. We will go out and try and turn in our best performance for the fans."
Exciting Curtain Raiser
The Sea Eagles will be looking to get their Jersey Flegg Cup campaign back on track at 4 Pines Park on Sunday following two tough away losses.
The Dragons have won one of their last five games to sit ninth on 14 points, two behind the seventh placed Sea Eagles.
Check out the match preview here
Game Day Schedule
11.45am: Gates Open
12pm: Jersey Flegg Cup: Sea Eagles v Dragons
2pm NRL: Sea Eagles v Dragons
Buy tickets here
