Sea Eagles v Titans: Taupau ruled out; Kelly rejoins backline
The Sea Eagles made a winning start to Tom Trbojevic's injury lay-off last week while the Titans suffered their second narrow defeat of the season to the Eels in round five.
Stand-in fullback Reuben Garrick got the job done for a Manly side that easily accounted for a disappointing Knights outfit.
The Titans had a more eventful evening, luckily dodging a couple of sin-bins as well as a now-infamous pitch invader, eventually going down 26-20 at home to the Eels after a high-scoring four-point loss to the same side in round one.
Sportsbet Betting preview: Sea Eagles v Titans
The Rundown
Team news
Sea Eagles: Prop Martin Taupau and centre Morgan Harper are both out due to COVID. Toafofoa Sipley is the new front-rower and Tolutau Koula returns from a calf injury to fill in for Harper. Ben Trbojevic was named as 18th man when the final line-ups were named 60 minutes before kick-off, with no late changes.
Titans: With no Jayden Campbell, Brian Kelly returns at centre with Phil Sami shifting to the wing and Corey Thompson dropping out. No changes to the line-up listed 1-17 when the teams were finalised 60 minutes before kick-off. Paul Turner is 18th man.
Match: Sea Eagles v Titans
Round 6 -
home Team
Sea Eagles
away Team
Titans
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Reuben GarrickFullback for Titans is number 1 Jamayne Isaako
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Winger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Jason SaabWinger for Titans is number 2 Phillip Sami
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Centre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Brad ParkerCentre for Titans is number 3 Brian Kelly
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Centre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Tolutau KoulaCentre for Titans is number 4 Patrick Herbert
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Winger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Christian TuipulotuWinger for Titans is number 5 Greg Marzhew
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Five-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Kieran ForanFive-Eighth for Titans is number 6 AJ Brimson
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Halfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Daly Cherry-EvansHalfback for Titans is number 7 Toby Sexton
Forwards
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Prop for Sea Eagles is number 8 Josh AloiaiProp for Titans is number 8 Moeaki Fotuaika
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Hooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Lachlan CrokerHooker for Titans is number 9 Erin Clark
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Prop for Sea Eagles is number 20 Toafofoa SipleyProp for Titans is number 10 Isaac Liu
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2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Haumole Olakau'atu2nd Row for Titans is number 11 David Fifita
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2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Andrew Davey2nd Row for Titans is number 12 Beau Fermor
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Lock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Jake TrbojevicLock for Titans is number 13 Tino Fa'asuamaleaui
Interchange
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Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Dylan WalkerInterchange for Titans is number 14 Will Smith
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Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Karl LawtonInterchange for Titans is number 15 Sam Lisone
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Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Sean KeppieInterchange for Titans is number 16 Jaimin Jolliffe
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Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 17 Taniela PasekaInterchange for Titans is number 17 Jarrod Wallace
Reserves
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Replacement for Sea Eagles is number 19 Ben TrbojevicReplacement for Titans is number 18 Paul Turner
Match Officials
- Referee: Todd Smith
- Touch Judge: Belinda Sharpe
- Touch Judge: Nick Beashel
- Senior Review Official: Steve Chiddy
Last updated:
Key match-up
Andrew Davey v David Fifita: an intriguing clash looms out wide on Saturday afternoon. For Davey, the laconic lad from Emerald who debuted at 28 then had to come back from a knee reconstruction, every chance is to be cherished and so far every post is a winner, with a try last week in just his sixth ever run-on start. You can guarantee he won't be overawed by the prospect of marking up on Titans' right-side wrecking ball David Fifita, who scored a try of his own last week - one neither Davey nor almost anyone else could have scored. He's been quiet this year though, and how he gets into the game and how Davey handles that will have a big say on the outcome.
Stat attack
Titans powerhouse Greg Marzhew currently tops the NRL for tackle busts with 29, so Manly's kick-chase off the back of Daly Cherry-Evans NRL-high 2482 kick metres will need to be spot on.
