2018 NRL – Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles vs Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Preview
AT A GLANCE
When? Saturday 11th August, 08:30 (UK)
Where? McGrath Foundation Stadium
What channel is it on? UK - Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles vs Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs will not be televised live in the UK
Australia - Foxtel, LIVE PASS
Where can I stream the match? UK - N/A
Australia - https://www.telstra.com.au/tv-movies-music/sports-offer
Are tickets still available? http://www.ticketmaster.com.au/manly-warringah-sea-eagles-v-canterbury-brookvale-new-south-wales-11-08-2018/event/13005386C408B7F8?artistid=1297216&majorcatid=10004&minorcatid=695
THE STATISTICS
THE LOWDOWN
SEA EAGLES
Head Coach: Trent Barrett
Starting 13: T. Trbojevic, Taufua, Suli, Kelly, Parker, Walker, Cherry-Evans, Fonua-Blake, Fainu, Taupau, Thompson, Lane, J. Trbojevic – Interchanges: Hodkinson, Tanginoa, Paseka, Winterstein – Reserves: M. Wright, Sipley
Unavailable: Curtis Sironen, Lachlan Croker, Api Koroisau, Akuila Uate, Jack Gosiewski
- Manly won a thrilling contest with Cronulla last week. In a topsy-turvy game, the scores were level at full-time but it was Daly Cherry-Evans who stepped up to seal the win for his side with his drop goal in golden point sealing a superb 32-33 win.
- Jack Gosiewski is out so Frank Winterstein receives a late call-up, coming onto the interchange bench.
- The win last week was just a second win for Manly from their last nine games and it was an important one in their bid to avoid the wooden spoon with the two teams below them – the Eels and the Cowboys – both winning too.
BULLDOGS
Head Coach: Dean Pay
Starting 13: Hopoate, B. Morris, J. Morris, Holland, R. Smith, Lewis, Marshall-King, Tolman, Lichaa, Klemmer, Jackson, Martin, Elliott – Interchanges: Brown, Fualalo, Ogden, Eastwood – Reserves: Frawley, Olive
Unavailable: Kieran Foran, Raymond Faitala-Mariner, Marcelo Montoya
- Canterbury produced arguably their best performance of the season as they defeated Brisbane last week. They were impressive on both sides of the ball and would have won by more had it not been for two consolation tries for the Broncos late on, leaving the score at 36-22.
- Greg Eastwood comes onto the bench for Chris Smith whilst Jeremy Marshall-King returns in the halves with Matt Frawley dropping out. David Klemmer is back from suspension and comes straight into the run-on side.
- The Bulldogs won their second successive game last week and will be looking to make that three here. If they can, it would be the first time they have achieved that feat this season.
THE PREDICTION
Both of these teams had impressive wins last week against in-form teams that are in the top 8 and the challenge will be for both of them to back that up this week. The Sea Eagles were golden point winners away at the Sharks whilst the Bulldogs dominated the Broncos. With neither side safe from the wooden spoon, this should be an interesting battle in which plenty of points could be scored, as was the case in their respective games last week. It’s difficult to split them based on last week’s efforts but the Bulldogs appear to have really turned things around over the last two games and just take the preference.
