Sea Eagles v Raiders: Aloiai, Koula to start; Cotric back on deck
Riding high after a miracle comeback in round three the Raiders travel to Mudgee's picturesque Gen Willow Oval with a spring in their step.
Ricky Stuart's men were 22 points down in the shadows of half-time on Saturday and produced a stunning second-half surge to reel in the Titans and register their second narrow win of the season.
The Sea Eagles were also taken to the wire before opening their 2022 account on the back of a Daly Cherry-Evans field goal.
In round six last year the Sea Eagles headed to Mudgee with a 1-4 record and turrned their season around in a big way with a 36-0 demolition of the Titans.
Sportsbet Betting preview: Sea Eagles v Raiders
The Rundown
Team news
Sea Eagles: Josh Aloiai will start in the frontrow in his first appearance of the season after serving a suspension. Sean Keppie drops back to the bench. Teenager Tolutau Koula comes in to the centres for Brad Parker (COVID).
Raiders: Matt Frawley will again start at hooker, with Tom Starling to provide impact from the bench. Winger Nick Cotric returns from the quad injury that has sidelined him for the past two weeks in the only change to the 17 that produced a stunning comeback to down the Titans.
Match: Sea Eagles v Raiders
Round 4 -
home Team
Sea Eagles
away Team
Raiders
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Tom TrbojevicFullback for Raiders is number 1 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
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Winger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Jason SaabWinger for Raiders is number 2 Nick Cotric
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Centre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Morgan HarperCentre for Raiders is number 3 Matthew Timoko
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Centre for Sea Eagles is number 20 Tolutau KoulaCentre for Raiders is number 4 Semi Valemei
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Winger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Reuben GarrickWinger for Raiders is number 5 Jordan Rapana
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Five-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Kieran ForanFive-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Jack Wighton
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Halfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Daly Cherry-EvansHalfback for Raiders is number 7 Brad Schneider
Forwards
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Prop for Sea Eagles is number 10 Martin TaupauProp for Raiders is number 8 Josh Papali'i
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Hooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Lachlan CrokerHooker for Raiders is number 14 Matt Frawley
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Prop for Sea Eagles is number 19 Josh AloiaiProp for Raiders is number 10 Joseph Tapine
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2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Haumole Olakau'atu2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 Hudson Young
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2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Andrew Davey2nd Row for Raiders is number 12 Corey Harawira-Naera
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Lock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Jake TrbojevicLock for Raiders is number 13 Elliott Whitehead
Interchange
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Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 8 Sean KeppieInterchange for Raiders is number 9 Tom Starling
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Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Dylan WalkerInterchange for Raiders is number 15 Emre Guler
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Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Karl LawtonInterchange for Raiders is number 16 Adam Elliott
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Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 17 Taniela PasekaInterchange for Raiders is number 17 Corey Horsburgh
Reserves
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Replacement for Sea Eagles is number 23 Christian TuipulotuReplacement for Raiders is number 18 Xavier Savage
Match Officials
- Referee: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
- Touch Judge: Jon Stone
- Senior Review Official: Ashley Klein
Last updated:
Key match-up
Daly Cherry-Evans v Brad Schneider: Manly's marquee man has 264 games on his CV as well as a premiership, 16 Origins and 15 Tests. The Raiders No.7 is three games into his career but showing maturity and composure beyond his years. The 21-year-old couldn't be in better hands when it comes to the finer ats of halfback play - his coach Ricky Stuart was one of the great playmakers of the modern era. DCE got Manly home with a clutch field goal against the Bulldogs and he'll
Stat attack
The Sea Eagles have made just eight line breaks so far this season and the Raiders nine, both well off the pace being set by the Sharks with 21 and the Storm, Titans and Knights with 15 apiece.
