Match Preview: Round 3 vs Raiders
The Sea Eagles return to 4 Pines Park to take on the Raiders on Sunday in Round 3 of the Telstra NRL Premiership.
Match: Sea Eagles v Raiders
Round 3 -
home Team
Sea Eagles
4th Position
away Team
Raiders
10th Position
Venue: 4 Pines Park, Sydney
For Manly it’s back to ‘the fortress’ where they whipped the Cowboys in Round 1, while the Raiders are aiming to open their season with three wins in a row.
The Sea Eagles made the job in Auckland more difficult than it needed to be, making far too many errors, including a dozen or so set restarts.
The Raiders on the other hand enjoyed a 32-22 victory over the Broncos last weekend in Canberra which followed a comfortable win over the Warriors in Vegas.
A key match up in the forwards is that between props Taniela Paseka and Josh Papali'i, who between them have clocked up a total of 543 run-metres in the opening two rounds.
While Manly have won seven of their past 10 games against Canberra, the Raiders were one of only two teams to leave 4 Pines with the two points last season.
In team news the home side welcomes prop Siua Taukei’aho back into the pack and centre Tolu Koula into the backline with Clayton Faulalo and Toafofoa Sipley dropping out of the side.
The Raiders are still without suspended forward Joseph Tapine while Xavier Savage returns from a one-match suspension to replace Albert Hopoate on the wing.
In the forwards Zac Hosking is out with a hand injury, with Morgan Smithies moving into the starting side at lock.
Match: Sea Eagles v Raiders
Round 3 -
home Team
Sea Eagles
away Team
Raiders
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Sea Eagles is number 5 Lehi HopoateFullback for Raiders is number 1 Kaeo Weekes
-
Winger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Jason SaabWinger for Raiders is number 2 Savelio Tamale
-
Centre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Tolutau KoulaCentre for Raiders is number 3 Matthew Timoko
-
Centre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Reuben GarrickCentre for Raiders is number 4 Sebastian Kris
-
Winger for Sea Eagles is number 19 Clayton FaulaloWinger for Raiders is number 5 Xavier Savage
-
Five-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Luke BrooksFive-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Ethan Strange
-
Halfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Daly Cherry-EvansHalfback for Raiders is number 7 Jamal Fogarty
Forwards
-
Prop for Sea Eagles is number 8 Taniela PasekaProp for Raiders is number 8 Josh Papalii
-
Hooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Jazz TevagaHooker for Raiders is number 9 Tom Starling
-
Prop for Sea Eagles is number 10 Siosiua TaukeiahoProp for Raiders is number 10 Corey Horsburgh
-
2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Haumole Olakau'atu2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 Hudson Young
-
2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Ben Trbojevic2nd Row for Raiders is number 12 Matty Nicholson
-
Lock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Jake TrbojevicLock for Raiders is number 16 Trey Mooney
Interchange
-
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Jake SimpkinInterchange for Raiders is number 13 Morgan Smithies
-
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Corey WaddellInterchange for Raiders is number 14 Owen Pattie
-
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Ethan BullemorInterchange for Raiders is number 15 Simi Sasagi
-
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 17 Josh AloiaiInterchange for Raiders is number 17 Ata Mariota
Reserves
-
Replacement for Sea Eagles is number 22 Raymond Tuaimalo VaegaReplacement for Raiders is number 19 Albert Hopoate
Match Officials
- Referee: Grant Atkins
- Touch Judge: Dave Munro
- Touch Judge: Matt Noyen
- Senior Review Official: Ashley Klein
Last updated:
Stat Zone
- The Sea Eagles have won seven of their past 10 games against the Raiders.
- The Raiders have won their last two games at 4 Pines Park.
- Tom Trbojevic has scored 15 tries in 12 games against the Raiders.
- Raiders prop Josh Papalii will move to outright second on the club’s all-time appearance list behind Jason Croker.
- Jason Saab has scored a try in his last five games at 4 Pines Park
- Manly have won 40 of the 65 contests with Canberra since 1982 and 19 of the 31 games played at Brookvale.
