Sea Eagles v Cowboys: Turbo rested, Walker returns; Taumalolo back from ban
Both clubs had a bye last weekend so fresh legs for both the Cowboys and Manly Sea Eagles shouldn't be a problem, depending on what shape their Origin stars return in.
Manly's captain is also the Queensland skipper - Daly Cherry-Evans - and he had to face both Trboejvic brothers, Jake and Tom, on Wednesday night. The Cowboys also had two on Origin duty with Valentine Holmes and Kyle Feldt suiting up for Queensland.
Travel could play a part in all this since this game has the shortest turnaround of any this weekend coming just 48 hours after game one of the Ampol State of Origin series.
The Cowboys have momentum coming off a 29-28 comeback win against the Warriors, while the Sea Eagles have motivation losing 18-10 to the Knights, halting their three-match winning streak.
Match: Sea Eagles v Cowboys
Round 14 -
home Team
Sea Eagles
6th Position
away Team
Cowboys
8th Position
Venue: 4 Pines Park, Sydney
The rundown
Team news
Sea Eagles: A number of late changes in the backline for Des Hasler with Reuben Garrick going from wing to fullback and Dylan Walker shifting to the bench. Moses Suli goes from the bench to the centres and Brad Parker pushes out to the wing.
Kurt De Luis is the new face on the bench making his NRL debut.
Tom Trbojevic is being rested but Manly's other Origin reps Daly Cherry-Evans and Jake Trbojevic will both back up.
Kieran Foran (hand) makes a welcome return from injury at five-eighth while Ben Trbojevic (head knock) will play after passing concussion protocols during the bye period.
Jorge Taufua and Tolotau Koula were omitted from the extended squad 24 hours before kick-off and Christian Tuipulotu was the last man cut on game day. Cade Cust is 18th man.
Sea Eagles winger Jason Saab has scored 11 tries in his past eight games.
Cowboys: Winger Kyle Feldt won't play after copping lower-back bruising in his State of Origin debut for Queensland. Justin O'Neill returns from a knee injury and slots in on the wing while Valentine Holmes is backing up from Origin at fullback.
Coen Hess will start in the second row having been in Queensland's wider squad but left out of the final 18.
"Feldty copped a knee in the back. It was quite a bit of a bleed," Payten said on Thursday.
"We could potentially give him another 24 hours and see how he pulled up and make a call then. But I just thought with the travel, where our team's at and how we've trained through the week, it's just a cleaner preparation."
Ben Condon and Kyle Laybutt dropped out of the extended squad 24 hours before kick-off. Corey Jensen was the last man cut an hour before kick-off and Daejarn Asi is 18th man.
The Cowboys have won their past three games at Manly's home ground.
Match: Sea Eagles v Cowboys
Round 14 -
home Team
Sea Eagles
away Team
Cowboys
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Sea Eagles is number 5 Reuben GarrickFullback for Cowboys is number 1 Valentine Holmes
-
Winger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Jason SaabWinger for Cowboys is number 5 Murray Taulagi
-
Centre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Morgan HarperCentre for Cowboys is number 3 Javid Bowen
-
Centre for Sea Eagles is number 15 Moses SuliCentre for Cowboys is number 4 Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
-
Winger for Sea Eagles is number 3 Brad ParkerWinger for Cowboys is number 18 Justin O'Neill
-
Five-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Kieran ForanFive-Eighth for Cowboys is number 6 Scott Drinkwater
-
Halfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Daly Cherry-EvansHalfback for Cowboys is number 7 Tom Dearden
Forwards
-
Prop for Sea Eagles is number 8 Taniela PasekaProp for Cowboys is number 8 Tom Gilbert
-
Hooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Lachlan CrokerHooker for Cowboys is number 9 Reece Robson
-
Prop for Sea Eagles is number 10 Martin TaupauProp for Cowboys is number 10 Jordan McLean
-
2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Haumole Olakau'atu2nd Row for Cowboys is number 11 Shane Wright
-
2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Karl Lawton2nd Row for Cowboys is number 12 Coen Hess
-
Lock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Jake TrbojevicLock for Cowboys is number 13 Jason Taumalolo
Interchange
-
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Dylan WalkerInterchange for Cowboys is number 14 Jake Granville
-
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Ben TrbojevicInterchange for Cowboys is number 15 Peter Hola
-
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 17 Toafofoa SipleyInterchange for Cowboys is number 16 Lachlan Burr
-
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 18 Kurt De LuisInterchange for Cowboys is number 17 Francis Molo
Reserves
-
Reserve for Sea Eagles is number 19 Cade CustReserve for Cowboys is number 20 Daejarn Asi
Match Officials
- Referee: Adam Gee
- Touch Judge: Kasey Badger
- Touch Judge: Peter Gough
- Senior Review Official: Alan Shortall
Last updated:
Key match-up
Kieran Foran v Scott Drinkwater: Both Cust (hamstring) and Foran (hand) are due back and either will be wearing the No.6 jumper to take on Cowboys five-eighth Drinkwater, who is tied with Nathan Cleary in topping the NRL list for line engagements.
Drinkwater has 10 try assists and 16 line breaks (along with five tries of his own) to show his value in operating up in the defence's faces. Cust and Foran have three try assists combined.
Stat attack
Valentine Holmes has the unenviable position of leading the NRL for errors - with 25. Just behind him is Queensland Maroons teammate Xavier Coates (22) proving that just because you're an Origin star doesn't mean your football is always perfect.
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