Eels v Sea Eagles: Moses a lucky seven; Schuster into halves
Parramatta take a five-game winning streak and unbeaten 2021 home record into their clash with the NRL's most-improved team, Manly, at Bankwest Stadium.
The second-placed Eels will pit their third-ranked defence against the irresistible force that is Manly fullback Tom Trbojevic, who has turbocharged the Sea Eagles' surge from last place into the top eight.
Parramatta are not to shabby themselves in attack, with halfback Mitchell Moses and skipper Clint Gutherson masterfully pulling the strings in the Eels' 34-18 Magic Round win over the Warriors.
Manly, for their part, put 50 on the Broncos with the burgeoning partnership between Trbojevic and lightning-quick winger Jason Saab producing a double for each player.
Match: Eels v Sea Eagles
Round 11 -
home Team
Eels
3rd Position
away Team
Sea Eagles
6th Position
Venue: CommBank Stadium, Sydney
The rundown
Team news
Eels: The Eels will start 1-17 with Haze Dunster the 18th man. Coach Brad Arthur has made just one change to his 17 from last week with dummy-half Joey Lussick coming on to the interchange.
Halfback Mitchell Moses, who left the field late in Sunday's win over the Warriors after having his foot stepped on, has been named as expected.
Centre Marata Niukore and pivot Dylan Brown have, respectively, one and two weeks left to serve of their suspensions.
Keegan Hipgrave and Jordan Rankin were the two players to drop out 24 hours before kick-off.
The Eels have won nine of their past 12 games against the Sea Eagles, winger Maika Sivo has scored 27 tries in 27 games at Bankwest Stadium and Mitchell Moses requires three points for 200 points at Bankwest Stadium.
Sea Eagles: Five-eighth Cade Cust dropped out of the side on Friday due to a lower leg injury and Karl Lawton added. Josh Schuster shifts from second row to five-eighth, Sean Keppie goes from the bench into the second row and Lawton joins the bench.
Christian Tuipulotu is the 18th man.
Kieran Foran is expected to miss 2-4 weeks with a hand injury and return after the round 13 bye.
Injured duo Dylan Walker (hamstring) and Curtis Sironen (knee) have also had their return dates pushed back to round 14.
Tevita Funa and Jorge Taufua were the two players omitted 24 hours before the match.
Jake Trbojevic will play his 150th NRL game for the Sea Eagles while Daly Cherry-Evans will become only the third Manly player, after Jamie Lyon and Geoff Toovey, to captain the club in 100 first-grade games and Des Hasler will have the chance to become only their second coach after Bob Fulton to achieve 150 wins.
Match: Eels v Sea Eagles
Round 11 -
home Team
Eels
away Team
Sea Eagles
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Eels is number 1 Clinton GuthersonFullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Tom Trbojevic
-
Winger for Eels is number 2 Maika SivoWinger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Jason Saab
-
Centre for Eels is number 3 Tom OpacicCentre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Brad Parker
-
Centre for Eels is number 4 Waqa BlakeCentre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Morgan Harper
-
Winger for Eels is number 5 Blake FergusonWinger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Reuben Garrick
-
Five-Eighth for Eels is number 6 Jake ArthurFive-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 12 Josh Schuster
-
Halfback for Eels is number 7 Mitchell MosesHalfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Daly Cherry-Evans
Forwards
-
Prop for Eels is number 8 Reagan Campbell-GillardProp for Sea Eagles is number 8 Taniela Paseka
-
Hooker for Eels is number 9 Reed MahoneyHooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Lachlan Croker
-
Prop for Eels is number 10 Junior PauloProp for Sea Eagles is number 10 Martin Taupau
-
2nd Row for Eels is number 11 Isaiah Papali'i2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Haumole Olakau'atu
-
2nd Row for Eels is number 12 Ryan Matterson2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 16 Sean Keppie
-
Lock for Eels is number 13 Nathan BrownLock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Jake Trbojevic
Interchange
-
Interchange for Eels is number 14 Oregon KaufusiInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Moses Suli
-
Interchange for Eels is number 15 Shaun LaneInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Zac Saddler
-
Interchange for Eels is number 16 Joey LussickInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 17 Toafofoa Sipley
-
Interchange for Eels is number 17 Bryce CartwrightInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 23 Karl Lawton
Reserves
-
Reserve for Eels is number 20 Haze DunsterReserve for Sea Eagles is number 20 Christian Tuipulotu
Match Officials
- Referee: Adam Gee
- Touch Judge: Chris Butler
- Touch Judge: Chris Sutton
- Senior Review Official: Ashley Klein
Last updated:
Key match-up
Mitchell Moses v Daly Cherry-Evans: With his halves partner Dylan Brown still on the sidelines, Moses will need to step up against incumbent Kangaroos No.7 Cherry-Evans.
DCE produced two try assists in last week's romp over Brisbane and his running game has hit top form as well, with 10 tackle busts in the past two matches. Moses is in good touch as well but will need to be an attacking force against a Manly side firing on all cylinders.
Stat attack
Eels fullback Clint Gutherson is No.1 in kick return metres with 732 - 76 ahead of second-placed Valentine Holmes - so the Sea Eagles' kicking game will need to be on song and their kick chase relentless if they are to win the field position battle.
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