All eyes will be on Manly to see how they respond to last week's surprise road loss to the Warriors.
There is also a slight question mark over Daly Cherry-Evans after he soldiered through the second half last week with an ankle injury.
The Sea Eagles have usually bounced back well this year after an ordinary performance and Des Hasler has a knack for getting his team motivated to make amends.
The Tigers' top-eight plans look considerably more bleak than they did a week ago, not to mention the fact Robbie Farah's career could be over after scans confirmed a fractured tibia and Moses Mbye is battling a hip flexor injury.
Match: Sea Eagles v Wests Tigers
Round 22 -
home Team
Sea Eagles
4th Position
away Team
Wests Tigers
11th Position
Venue: 4 Pines Park, Sydney
The Rundown
Team news
Sea Eagles: Two changes forced by injury with centre Brad Parker (knee) replaced by Brendan Elliot and back-rower Curtis Sironen (hamstring) replaced by Jack Gosiewski. The two men omitted from the extended squad 24 hours before kick-off were Sean Keppie and Lloyd Perrett while Lachlan Croker and Tevita Funa dropped out an hour before game time.
Wests Tigers: In a late switch an hour before game time Matt Eisenhuth comes into the starting side and Thomas Mikaele goes to the bench. Moses Mbye's absence with a hip flexor injury opens the door for 19-year-old Tommy Talau to make his NRL debut in the centres. Jacob Liddle takes over at hooker from Robbie Farah, who fractured his tibia against the Bulldogs. Luke Garner's suspension for dangerous contact has forced a reshuffle with Chris Lawrence coming into the starting side and Chris McQueen promoted to the bench. Robert Jennings was omitted 24 hours before kick-off while Josh Reynolds and Sam McIntyre were the last two cut an hour before game time.
Match: Sea Eagles v Wests Tigers
Round 22 -
home Team
Sea Eagles
away Team
Wests Tigers
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Tom TrbojevicFullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Corey Thompson
-
Winger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Jorge TaufuaWinger for Wests Tigers is number 2 Paul Momirovski
-
Centre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Brendan ElliotCentre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Tommy Talau
-
Centre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Mosese SuliCentre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Esan Marsters
-
Winger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Reuben GarrickWinger for Wests Tigers is number 5 David Nofoaluma
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Five-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Dylan WalkerFive-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Benji Marshall
-
Halfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Daly Cherry-EvansHalfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Luke Brooks
Forwards
-
Prop for Sea Eagles is number 8 Addin Fonua-BlakeProp for Wests Tigers is number 10 Oliver Clark
-
Hooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Apisai KoroisauHooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Jacob Liddle
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Prop for Sea Eagles is number 10 Martin TaupauProp for Wests Tigers is number 14 Matthew Eisenhuth
-
2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Joel Thompson2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Michael Chee Kam
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2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Jack Gosiewski2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 17 Chris Lawrence
-
Lock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Jake TrbojevicLock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Ryan Matterson
Interchange
-
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Manase FainuInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 8 Thomas Mikaele
-
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Corey WaddellInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Elijah Taylor
-
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Morgan BoyleInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Alex Twal
-
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 17 Taniela PasekaInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 20 Chris McQueen
Match Officials
- Referee: Gerard Sutton
- Referee: Chris Butler
- Touch Judge: Todd Smith
- Senior Review Official: Steve Chiddy
Last updated:
Key match-up
Tom Trbojevic will be eager to overshadow exciting Tigers fullback Corey Thompson, while Tigers props Thomas Mikaele and Oliver Clark have a tough challenge up front against Sea Eagles brutes Martin Taupau and Addin Fonua-Blake.
For the Sea Eagles to win
Hasler will get his team re-focused on defence this week after giving up 18 first-half points to the Warriors, especially with crafty halves duo Benji Marshall and Luke Brooks heading to Brookvale. Back-rower Curtis Sironen will be up for a big game against his former club.
For the Tigers to win
It's crucial that the Tigers hold their own up front against a strong Manly pack and give their playmakers room to operate. They have to get any injury excuses out of their heads and produce one of their best defensive performances of the year. Marshall and Brooks must lead the way.
Brett Kimmorley says
Robbie Farah being out will take a fair bit of attack away from the Wests Tigers. A lot of their creativity and danger around the rucks will be gone. Maybe all the boosts of energy the Tigers got from Robbie’s 300th and his retirement announcement are gone now. For Manly, the players will be extremely disappointed with the effort last week – they haven’t had too many performance like that in 2019. Manly by 8
Stat Attack
One of the keys to Manly's success this season has been their excellent go-forward. The Sea Eagles lead the NRL in runs (3,709) and offloads (256), are third in run metres (33,037), fourth in post contact metres (9,465) and second in tackle breaks (698).
And another thing ...
It was way back in the opening round of the season when the Sea Eagles and Tigers last squared off. Manly held a 2-0 half-time lead before the Tigers scored 20 unanswered points in the second half. Sea Eagles winger Jorge Taufua crossed for his team's only try in the 79th minute, as the Tigers kicked off their 2019 campaign on a high note by claiming a 20-6 victory.
