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The Sea Eagles finally put a stop to the bleeding against Canterbury last round but an in-form Gold Coast will be confident of ending Manly's win streak at one.

The injuries keep coming but the positives are also beginning to multiply for Des Hasler with youngsters like Morgan Harper and Tevita Funa stepping up and standing out as Manly's season has cratered.

And captain Daly Cherry-Evans has never stopped trying, once again carrying the playmaking load for the Sea Eagles against the Bulldogs with three try assists after tallying four in the devastating loss to Wests Tigers the previous week.

The Titans have authored an amazing turnaround under Justin Holbrook in 2020 and with so many players in form, particularly halves Jamal Fogarty and Ash Taylor, will be looking to finish off the season in style.

The rundown

Team news

Sea Eagles: Tom Trbojevic (hamstring) has been cleared to play his first game since round six by Des Hasler. He will start at fullback, Tevita Funa switches to the wing, with Abbas Miski reverting to the interchange. 

Taniela Paseka has been promoted to prop for Addin Fonua-Blake (knee), who has been left out of the team 24 hours from kick-off along with reserve winger Reuben Garrick.

Haumole Olakau'atu and Ben Trbojevic dropped off the extended bench on game day. The Sea Eagles have scored 64 points in their past two games.

Titans: The Gold Coast are 1-17. Captain Kevin Proctor will return from suspension in the second row in place of the injured Beau Fermor while Tanah Boyd has replaced Erin Clark on the bench. Strike centre Brian Kelly (ankle) has been included on the reserves and is a chance to return, with Treymain Spry likely to drop out if he does.

Reserves duo Nathan Peats and Toby Sexton were omitted from the squad on Friday. Darius Farmer and Brian Kelly were omitted from the reserves list an hour before kick-off.

The Titans are aiming for four consecutive wins for the first time since 2014.

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Sea Eagles is number 21 Tom Trbojevic
    Fullback for Titans is number 1 AJ Brimson
  • Winger for Sea Eagles is number 1 Tevita Funa
    Winger for Titans is number 2 Anthony Don
  • Centre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Brad Parker
    Centre for Titans is number 3 Treymain Spry
  • Centre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Morgan Harper
    Centre for Titans is number 4 Young Tonumaipea
  • Winger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Albert Hopoate
    Winger for Titans is number 5 Corey Thompson
  • Five-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Lachlan Croker
    Five-Eighth for Titans is number 6 Ashley Taylor
  • Halfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Daly Cherry-Evans
    Halfback for Titans is number 7 Jamal Fogarty

Forwards

  • Prop for Sea Eagles is number 10 Martin Taupau
    Prop for Titans is number 8 Jarrod Wallace
  • Hooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Danny Levi
    Hooker for Titans is number 9 Mitch Rein
  • Prop for Sea Eagles is number 14 Morgan Boyle
    Prop for Titans is number 10 Moeaki Fotuaika
  • 2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Jack Gosiewski
    2nd Row for Titans is number 11 Kevin Proctor
  • 2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Curtis Sironen
    2nd Row for Titans is number 12 Sam Stone
  • Lock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Jake Trbojevic
    Lock for Titans is number 13 Tyrone Peachey

Interchange

  • Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 5 Abbas Miski
    Interchange for Titans is number 14 Tanah Boyd
  • Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Corey Waddell
    Interchange for Titans is number 15 Jai Arrow
  • Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Sean Keppie
    Interchange for Titans is number 16 Sam Lisone
  • Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 17 Taniela Paseka
    Interchange for Titans is number 17 Jai Whitbread

Match Officials

  • Referee: Dave Munro
  • Touch Judge: Liam Kennedy
  • Touch Judge: Gavin Badger
  • Senior Review Official: Jared Maxwell

Last updated:

Key match-up

Martin Taupau v Mo Fotuaika: They aren't perfect 10s but there's still a hell of a lot to like about the Sea Eagles veteran and his 20-year-old rival. The Titans' rising star has the advantage when it comes to churning out the metres (boasting better averages for hit-ups, average metres and metres after contact).

But the man they call Kapow busts more tackles (46-32) and pops more offloads (31-12). He would also be quick to point out he has more tries than the young pup (2-0) in 2020 including one last week in the win over Canterbury.

Stat attack

The Gold Coast are chasing their first four-game winning streak since rounds 3-6, 2014, when they knocked over Canberra, North Queensland, Melbourne and Brisbane. Victory over Manly would set the Titans up for a tilt at equalling the club record of five on the trot in the final round of the regular season. It is a feat the club has achieved twice: Between rounds 18 and 22 (Dragons, Warriors, Eels, Cowboys and the Roosters) in 2010 and from round three to round seven in 2009 (Sharks, Raiders, Eels, Broncos and Warriors).

Acknowledgement of Country

National Rugby League respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.

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