Rd 15 NRL Preview: Sea Eagles vs Cowboys

Author: Wayne Cousins
Timestamp: Wed 15 Jun 2022, 09:30 AM

It’s going to be Sea Eagles 'flags at 10 paces' when the sharp shooting Cowboys ride into 4 Pines Park this Friday night.

We take a look at the game through our maroon and white glasses ahead of the mouth-watering round 15 Telstra Premiership match.

Team changes

Manly captain Daly Cherry-Evans has been named to return from a quad injury sustained in Origin 1 after missing last Sunday’s 30-4 win over the Wests Tigers. Kieran Foran returns to his regular five-eighth spot with Josh Schuster moving back to the interchange bench.

The Form

The Sea Eagles have recorded two wins from their past five matches to sit in ninth place on the ladder but equal on 14 points with the eighth-placed Sydney Roosters. Manly will be gunning for their third straight victory following wins over the Wests Tigers and the Warriors.

The Cowboys have won four of their past five matches in fine style, including a 36-6 demolition job on the Melbourne Storm to sit third on the ladder. They also will be chasing their third consecutive win after easily taking care of the Dragons and the Titans.

Head to Head

Played 31: Sea Eagles 18, Cowboys 13

It’s Cherry time!

Look out for a big game from a hungry Cherry-Evans who will be keen to back up his superb performance from Queensland.

His kicking game was missed against the Tigers with the Sea Eagles working hard against a very strong wind in the second half in what was one of Manly’s best wins of the season.

"Kicking into that wind was so hard. We never had to kick long because we were always down their end by running hard and playing shape,'' said hooker Lachlan Croker.

"I was so proud of our performance in the second half. We had a massive wind in our face. The game shouldn’t have gone like that."

Expect the brilliant Manly half-back to pull out plenty of attacking artillery against a Cowboys outfit that has only conceded little over three points per second half all year.

Climate Change for Cowboys

The Cowboys have won five of their seven games away from Townsville this season but they have only travelled to Sydney once in 2022 for a loss to premiers Penrith.

It could well be a shock to their system when they arrive at a chilly 4 Pines Park - a far cry from their tropical warmth of Townsville.

Protect the 'Fortress'

Calling on all passionate Sea Eagles supporters!

The Cowboys would love nothing better than to break in and steal Manly's unbeaten record at 4 Pines Park this season.

So, let's make it even harder for them with a 'warm' welcome in front of a roaring Manly faithful crowd.

Why you need to be here to stop our Ranch being stolen!

Last time at 4 Pines

It will be just over a year since Manly played the Cowboys at 4 Pines Park on a Friday night game at 6pm.

On that night, Haumole Olakau’atu and Brad Parker scored two tries each in a huge 50-18 win on June 11.

Full-back Reuben Garrick crossed for a try and kicked 7/9 goals for a personal haul of 18 points. And of his 23 tries scored last season, that try was Garrick’s favourite.

“One of my good mates from my junior days, Reece Robson, put in a grubber kick and sprinted through chasing the ball,'' Garrick said.

“I picked it up and stepped him to run 100 metres down the sideline. The hill was going off. To score that try was pretty special.”