Sea Eagles v Eels: Arthur in for Moses; Taupau to start
One of the game's great rivalries is renewed at 4 Pines Park as the home side fight to keep their finals hopes alive by downing the enigmatic Eels.
The blue and golds are walking a little taller after upsetting the Panthers on Friday while Manly endured a tough night against the Roosters with seven key players missing the game for personal reasons.
When these sides met at CommBank Stadium in round 11 it was the Eels squeaking home 22-20, with Manly losing Tom Trbojevic for the season to a shoulder injury.
Des Hasler's men will be hoping for better luck on home soil as they look to avenge that defeat and get on a roll towards the finals.
Sportsbet Betting preview: Sea Eagles v Eels
The Rundown
Team news
Sea Eagles: A late switch with Martin Taupau to start at prop and Toafofoa Sipley going back to the bench. Ethan Bullemor joined the bench in place of Morgan Boyle on Thursday. The Sea Eagles have Jason Saab, Christian Tuipulotu, Tolutau Koula, Haumole Olakau'atu and Toafofoa Sipley back in the starting side but Sean Keppie (shoulder) remains sidelined.
Eels: The Eels are 1-17 with no late changes. Jake Arthur takes over at halfback for the injured Mitch Moses in the only change to the squad that took care of the Panthers in Round 20. Arthur starts at halfback for the first time in 2022 after playing five-eighth in rounds 7 and 8.
Match: Sea Eagles v Eels
Round 21 -
home Team
Sea Eagles
away Team
Eels
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Reuben GarrickFullback for Eels is number 1 Clinton Gutherson
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Winger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Jason SaabWinger for Eels is number 2 Maika Sivo
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Centre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Morgan HarperCentre for Eels is number 3 Will Penisini
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Centre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Tolutau KoulaCentre for Eels is number 4 Tom Opacic
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Winger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Christian TuipulotuWinger for Eels is number 5 Waqa Blake
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Five-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Kieran ForanFive-Eighth for Eels is number 6 Dylan Brown
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Halfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Daly Cherry-EvansHalfback for Eels is number 7 Jake Arthur
Forwards
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Prop for Sea Eagles is number 8 Taniela PasekaProp for Eels is number 8 Reagan Campbell-Gillard
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Hooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Lachlan CrokerHooker for Eels is number 9 Reed Mahoney
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Prop for Sea Eagles is number 16 Martin TaupauProp for Eels is number 10 Junior Paulo
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2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Haumole Olakau'atu2nd Row for Eels is number 11 Shaun Lane
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2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Andrew Davey2nd Row for Eels is number 12 Isaiah Papali'i
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Lock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Jake TrbojevicLock for Eels is number 13 Ryan Matterson
Interchange
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Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 10 Toafofoa SipleyInterchange for Eels is number 14 Makahesi Makatoa
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Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Dylan WalkerInterchange for Eels is number 15 Bryce Cartwright
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Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Ben TrbojevicInterchange for Eels is number 16 Oregon Kaufusi
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Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 19 Ethan BullemorInterchange for Eels is number 17 Marata Niukore
Reserves
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Replacement for Sea Eagles is number 18 Josh SchusterReplacement for Eels is number 21 Sean Russell
Match Officials
- Referee: Gerard Sutton
- Touch Judge: Kasey Badger
- Touch Judge: Darian Furner
- Senior Review Official: Grant Atkins
Last updated:
Key match-up
Reuben Garrick v Clint Gutherson: Manly's No.1 continues to pile on the points and finish off the inside work of DCE and Kieran Foran. Life without Tom Trbojevic would be a lot tougher for Manly if not for Garrick's 163 metres per game and his ability to break the line. King Gutho will take on even more responsibility with Mitch Moses out injured and there's no doubt the Eels skipper is up for the job. Gutherson has racked up 11 tries, seven try assists, 10 line breaks and 152 metres per game in another fine season.
Stat Attack
Mitch Moses leads the NRL in try assists with 20 so the Eels will need to find a new avenue to the tryline with their star hafback nursing an injured finger. His halves partner Dylan Brown has 13 try assists. Sea Eagles halfback Daly Cherry-Evans has come up with 15 try assists in 2022.
Match: Sea Eagles v Eels
Round 21 -
home Team
Sea Eagles
10th Position
away Team
Eels
5th Position
Venue: 4 Pines Park, Sydney
