Sea Eagles v Rabbitohs: Big O good to go; Fifita, Smith return
The Sea Eagles and Rabbitohs are part of the six-team logjam on 16 competition points heading into Round 14 so a win is critical to staying in touch with the top four.
Manly had their three-game winning streak halted by the Sharks last weekend while the Rabbitohs took advantage of a mid-season bye to rest weary bodies and prepare for a huge fortnight against the Sea Eagles and Broncos before another bye in Round 16.
After losing their first three games at home to the Raiders, Knights and Roosters, the boys from Brookie have hit back with victories over the Eels, Titans and Broncos to square the ledger 3-3 at 4 Pines Park.
Interim coach Kieran Foran is sure to have the Sea Eagles primed for a visit from the old master Wayne Bennett and his Rabbitohs outfit determined to steady the ship after losing three of their past four matches.
Superstars Tom Trbojevic and Latrell Mitchell remain sidelined but there is no lack of potency across the park with Clayton Faulalo and Lehi Hopoate in great touch for the home side and Cody Walker and Alex Johnston a constant danger on the Rabbitohs' left edge.
Match: Sea Eagles v Rabbitohs
Round 14 -
home Team
Sea Eagles
5th Position
away Team
Rabbitohs
6th Position
Venue: 4 Pines Park, Sydney
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
Team News
Sea Eagles: Back-rower Haumole Olakau'atu returns after being rested last week while Tolu Koula has been named to play after receiving a clearance from the NRL. Koula was forced from the field following a head knock in the second half of Origin One and did not return after failing a HIA. Koula has since satisfied the return-to-play criteria which included testing and assessment by an independent neurological expert. Josh Feledy and Jackson Shereb slide to the bench and Ethan Bullemor makes way.
Rabbitohs: Rampaging forward David Fifita has been named to make his first appearance since Round 6 after recovering from a hamstring injury. Tallis Duncan also shifts to the back row, with Keaon Koloamatangi returning to the front-row and Euan Aitken dropping back to the interchange. Hooker Brandon Smith has also been listed to return from a calf injury in another big boost for Wayne Bennett’s side. Still no Latrell Mitchell as he battles a back injury but Campbell Graham has been named to return from a calf injury in the centres. Jye Gray reclaims the starting fullback role, with Matt Dufty dropping back to the bench. The season looks to be over for Adam Elliott, who suffered a deltoid rupture in his ankle against the Cowboys, while winger Talanoa Penitani is facing 12-14 weeks out with a torn hamstring.
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Clayton FaulaloFullback for Rabbitohs is number 1 Jye Gray
-
Winger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Jason SaabWinger for Rabbitohs is number 2 Alex Johnston
-
Centre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Tolutau KoulaCentre for Rabbitohs is number 3 Latrell Siegwalt
-
Centre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Reuben GarrickCentre for Rabbitohs is number 4 Campbell Graham
-
Winger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Lehi HopoateWinger for Rabbitohs is number 5 Edward Kosi
-
Five-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Luke BrooksFive-Eighth for Rabbitohs is number 6 Cody Walker
-
Halfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Jamal FogartyHalfback for Rabbitohs is number 7 Ashton Ward
Forwards
-
Prop for Sea Eagles is number 8 Taniela PasekaProp for Rabbitohs is number 8 Tevita Tatola
-
Hooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Jake SimpkinHooker for Rabbitohs is number 9 Brandon Smith
-
Prop for Sea Eagles is number 10 Kobe HetheringtonProp for Rabbitohs is number 10 Keaon Koloamatangi
-
2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Haumole Olakau'atu2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 11 David Fifita
-
2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Ben Trbojevic2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 12 Tallis Duncan
-
Lock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Jake TrbojevicLock for Rabbitohs is number 13 Cameron Murray
Interchange
-
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Brandon WakehamInterchange for Rabbitohs is number 14 Lachlan Hubner
-
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Nathan BrownInterchange for Rabbitohs is number 15 Jamie Humphreys
-
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Jackson SherebInterchange for Rabbitohs is number 16 Euan Aitken
-
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 17 Simione LaiafiInterchange for Rabbitohs is number 17 Sean Keppie
-
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 18 Josh FeledyInterchange for Rabbitohs is number 18 Matthew Dufty
-
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 19 Joey WalshInterchange for Rabbitohs is number 19 Liam Le Blanc
Reserves
-
Reserve for Sea Eagles is number 20 Blake WilsonReserve for Rabbitohs is number 20 Moala Graham-Taufa
-
Reserve for Sea Eagles is number 21 Onitoni LargeReserve for Rabbitohs is number 21 Bronson Garlick
-
Reserve for Sea Eagles is number 22 Aaron SchouppReserve for Rabbitohs is number 22 Thomas Fletcher
Sea Eagles Ins
- Aaron Schoupp
- Haumole Olakau'atu
- Onitoni Large
- Tolutau Koula
Rabbitohs Ins
- Brandon Smith
- Bronson Garlick
- Cameron Murray
- Campbell Graham
- David Fifita
- Moala Graham-Taufa
Sea Eagles Outs
- Ethan Bullemor
Rabbitohs Ins
- Adam Elliott
- Peter Mamouzelos
- Talanoa Penitani
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- The Sea Eagles have won their last three games at 4 Pines Park.
- The Rabbitohs have won eight of their last 10 games against the Sea Eagles.
- Sea Eagles fullback Clayton Faulalo has scored five tries in his last six games.
- Rabbitohs five-eighth Cody Walker has scored six tries in his last six games against the Sea Eagles.
- Sea Eagles centre Reuben Garrick has scored seven tries in his last seven games against the Rabbitohs.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
Get 25% off tickets for Manly's clash with South Sydney using the code MANLY25. Click here to get your tickets before the sell out.
