Match Preview: Round 12 vs Eels

Author: Manly Media
Timestamp: Wed 21 May 2025, 04:41 PM

Manly Warringah Sea Eagles take on the Parramatta Eels at CommBank Stadium on Friday night in Round 12 of the Telstra NRL Premiership.

Round 12 - Round 12 - Friday 23 May

Full Time

Eels

Sea Eagles

Venue: CommBank Stadium, Sydney

Highlights Latest

In what is a scheduling anomaly, it will be the third week in a row where the Sea Eagles will line up against a team which they have already played this season.

Manly beat the Cowboys 24-6 in Townsville in Round 11 after thumping the same opposition 42-12 at Brookvale in Round 1.

Last weekend’s win saw the team bounce back in style after a disappointing loss at home in Round 10, which saw them suffer a second defeat to the Sharks inside one month.

Manly enters the clash at CommBank aiming to the do the double over the Eels after beating them 26-12 at Brookvale in Round 4.

Cherry-Evans in action against the Eels in Round 4 at 4 Pines Park

Both teams are affected by Origin, and minus their key playmaker and captain.

Manly will be without Queensland veteran Daly Cherry-Evans, while the Eels will be missing Mitchell Moses, who is in camp with the Blues.

The blue & golds will also be without in-form winger Zac Lomax, who has also been selected for New South Wales. Between them, Moses and Lomax, they scored 20 points in last weekend’s 28-6 win over the Knights in Newcastle.

Moses is missing after being selected as five eighth for the Blues in Origin 1

For Manly it’s a big opportunity for Cherry-Evans’ replacement Jake Arthur, who will play his seventh NRL game for Manly, and first since 2023. The 22-year-old will pull on the Manly No.7 jersey for just the second time, each occasion against his former club.

Arthur returns: Jake's last NRL game was Round 27 in 2023 against the Wests Tigers

Lachlan Croker and Matt Lodge will also play their first game of the season on Friday night, each making their first appearance since last season’s loss to the Roosters in week two of the finals.

Croker in action against the Roosters in the 2024 semi-finals

In team news, Jazz Tevaga shifts to lock in place of Jake Trbojevic (concussion) while Jake Simpkin starts at hooker after coming off the bench in Townsville.

For the Eels, Dean Hawkins will again fill in at half back for Moses, as he did in Round 4 at Brookvale when Moses was injured. Sean Russell moves to the wing for Lomax with Jordan Samrani shifting to the centres, and former Manly forward Kelma Tuilagi returns from a three-match suspension.

Round 12 - Round 12 - Friday 23 May

Full Time

Eels

Sea Eagles

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Eels is number 1 Isaiah Iongi

Fullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Tom Trbojevic
Winger for Eels is number 2 Sean Russell

Winger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Jason Saab
Centre for Eels is number 3 Will Penisini

Centre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Tolutau Koula
Centre for Eels is number 4 Jordan Samrani

Centre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Reuben Garrick
Winger for Eels is number 5 Josh Addo-Carr

Winger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Lehi Hopoate
Five-Eighth for Eels is number 6 Dylan Brown

Five-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Luke Brooks
Halfback for Eels is number 7 Dean Hawkins

Halfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Jake Arthur

Forwards

Prop for Eels is number 8 Jack Williams

Prop for Sea Eagles is number 8 Ethan Bullemor
Hooker for Eels is number 9 Ryley Smith

Hooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Jake Simpkin
Prop for Eels is number 10 Junior Paulo

Prop for Sea Eagles is number 10 Siosiua Taukeiaho
2nd Row for Eels is number 12 Kitione Kautoga

2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Haumole Olakau'atu
2nd Row for Eels is number 15 Luca Moretti

2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 15 Corey Waddell
Lock for Eels is number 13 J'maine Hopgood

Lock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Jazz Tevaga

Interchange

Interchange for Eels is number 11 Kelma Tuilagi

Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Lachlan Croker
Interchange for Eels is number 14 Dylan Walker

Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Nathan Brown
Interchange for Eels is number 16 Ryan Matterson

Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 17 Matthew Lodge
Interchange for Eels is number 18 Joash Papalii

Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 22 Caleb Navale

Reserves

Reserve for Eels is number 17 Matt Doorey

Reserve for Sea Eagles is number 18 Clayton Faulalo

Match Officials

Referee: Liam Kennedy
Touch Judge: Phil Henderson
Senior Review Official: Grant Atkins

Last updated: 5/25/2025 10:36:19 AM

Stat Zone

The Eels have won five of their six games against the Sea Eagles at CommBank Stadium.
Sea Eagles centre Reuben Garrick has scored 13 tries in 13 games against the Eels.
Eels winger Josh Addo-Carr has scored seven tries in his last seven games at CommBank Stadium.
Sea Eagles winger Jason Saab has scored four tries in his last four games at CommBank Stadium.
Eels prop Junior Paulo will make his 250th NRL appearance.