Sea Eagles v Warriors: Suli and Harris-Tavita make returns
After three straight wins the Sea Eagles received something of a reality check from ladder-leaders Penrith last week while the Warriors earned their second win in three weeks with a gutsy effort against the Cowboys.
Manly fought hard against the unbeaten Panthers and were in it right up until Penrith's 77th-minute match-sealer. They are entitled to carry plenty of confidence from their form over the past month.
That three-game winning run started against this weekend's opposition in the Warriors, with Daly Cherry-Evans' match-winning field goal a minute from time earning a 13-12 win that was celebrated like a finals game.
The Warriors have done well to sit in seventh after eight rounds but will be desperate to return the favour against Manly and take two points away from their home patch.
Match: Sea Eagles v Warriors
Round 9 -
home Team
Sea Eagles
9th Position
away Team
Warriors
8th Position
Venue: 4 Pines Park, Sydney
The rundown
Team news
Sea Eagles: The Sea Eagles are 1-17 with Tevita Funa the last man omitted and Ben Trbojevic 18th man.
Props Josh Aloiai and Martin Taupau are out. Sean Keppie moves to the front row and Haumole Olakau'atu goes from the interchange into the second row. Aloiai may miss as many as 12 weeks with a wrist injury while Taupau suffered a head knock last week in the loss to Penrith.
Centre Moses Suli makes his return from a back injury via the interchange bench.
Christian Tuipulotu and Jorge Taufua were omitted from the reserves list 24 hours before kick-off.
The Sea Eagles have lost their past six games at Lottoland.
Warriors: A big in for the Warriors on game day with Chanel Harris-Tavita making his return from a foot injury at five-eighth in jersey 20. Reece Walsh shifts to the interchange bench and Jack Murchie drops to 18th man.
With Eliesa Katoa droppingh out on Saturday, Bayley Sironen starts in the second row. Tom Ale was the other player to drop out of the extended squad on Saturday and Euan Aitken was the last man cut an hour before kick-off..
Ben Murdoch-Masila is out after suffering a head knock last week.
The Warriors have won all four daytime games this season.
Match: Sea Eagles v Warriors
Round 9 -
home Team
Sea Eagles
away Team
Warriors
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Tom TrbojevicFullback for Warriors is number 1 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
-
Winger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Jason SaabWinger for Warriors is number 2 Edward Kosi
-
Centre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Brad ParkerCentre for Warriors is number 3 Adam Pompey
-
Centre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Morgan HarperCentre for Warriors is number 4 Rocco Berry
-
Winger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Reuben GarrickWinger for Warriors is number 5 Ken Maumalo
-
Five-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Kieran ForanFive-Eighth for Warriors is number 20 Chanel Harris-Tavita
-
Halfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Daly Cherry-EvansHalfback for Warriors is number 7 Kodi Nikorima
Forwards
-
Prop for Sea Eagles is number 8 Taniela PasekaProp for Warriors is number 8 Jamayne Taunoa-Brown
-
Hooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Lachlan CrokerHooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde Egan
-
Prop for Sea Eagles is number 10 Sean KeppieProp for Warriors is number 10 Kane Evans
-
2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Haumole Olakau'atu2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Josh Curran
-
2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Josh Schuster2nd Row for Warriors is number 17 Bayley Sironen
-
Lock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Jake TrbojevicLock for Warriors is number 13 Tohu Harris
Interchange
-
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Cade CustInterchange for Warriors is number 6 Reece Walsh
-
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Mosese SuliInterchange for Warriors is number 14 Jazz Tevaga
-
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Zac SaddlerInterchange for Warriors is number 15 Leeson Ah Mau
-
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 17 Toafofoa SipleyInterchange for Warriors is number 16 Bunty Afoa
Reserves
-
Reserve for Sea Eagles is number 18 Ben TrbojevicReserve for Warriors is number 18 Jack Murchie
Match Officials
- Referee: Peter Gough
- Touch Judge: Darian Furner
- Touch Judge: Todd Smith
- Senior Review Official: Ashley Klein
Last updated:
Key match-up
Tom Trbojevic v Roger Tuivasa-Sheck: The two superstar No.1s are among the best players in the entire competition and each is the most important player for their respective team.
The transformation in Manly since Turbo's return has been stunning, while RTS has been at the heart of everything good the Warriors have done this year.
Stat attack
Speaking of those in-form fullbacks, Trbojevic has a try in all three games since returning from injury with four try assists while Tuivasa-Sheck has at least one try, try-assist or try-save in every game this year barring the round seven loss to Melbourne.
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