SUNDAY, JUNE 16th, 2024 4 PINES PARK,BROOKVALE, SYDNEY
Manly Sea Eagles and Dragons Battle for Finals Spot
The Manly Sea Eagles and St George Illawarra Dragons will aim to pull ahead of the crowded field of teams competing for a finals spot when they clash in a pivotal match on Sunday afternoon.
Teams Separated by Four Premiership Points
Grouped among ten teams separated by just four premiership points, the two Sydney rivals, who missed the finals in 2023, have shown signs of great promise along with consistent shortcomings during the first half of the season.
Manly’s Daylight Home Game Advantage
Struggling after a slump in form with only one win in over a month, the Manly Sea Eagles are hoping that a rare opportunity to play a home game during daylight hours will bring them success.
Sea Eagles Forced to Make Changes
Despite causing trouble for Penrith before ultimately losing 32-22 in an away game last Sunday, coach Anthony Seibold has been forced to make changes, with Nathan Brown starting in place of the suspended Josh Aloiai and Ethan Bullemor joining the bench.
Strong Home Record for Sea Eagles
The Sea Eagles have won four out of five matches at 4 Pines Park this season and three out of four daytime home games under coach Seibold.
Dragons Aim for Third Consecutive Win
Meanwhile, the St George Illawarra Dragons will be aiming for three consecutive wins as they make their first appearance on the northern beaches in five years.
Dragons Keep Winning Squad Intact
After posting their highest score in over a decade with a 56-14 demolition of the Wests Tigers last Friday, coach Shane Flanagan has kept the same squad, with Luciano Leilua starting ahead of Raymond Faitala-Mariner in the second row.
Historical Edge for Dragons at 4 Pines Park
The Dragons have won only one of their past six visits to 4 Pines Park, yet hold a slender advantage over the Sea Eagles in all meetings this decade with four wins from six clashes.
Team Line-ups
MANLY
1. Lehi Hopoate 2. Jason Saab 3. Tolutau Koula 4. Reuben Garrick 5. Tommy Talau, 6. Luke Brooks 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Karl Lawton , 10. Nathan Brown 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Ben Trbojevic 13. Jake Trbojevic , 14. Gordon Chan Kum Tong 15. Corey Waddell 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Toafofoa Sipley , 18. Raymond Tuiamalo Vaega 19. Jaxson Paulo 20. Jake Simpkin 21. Aitasi James 22. Aaron Schoupp
DRAGONS
1. Tyrell Sloan 2. Zac Lomax 3. Moses Suli 4. Max Feagai 5. Mathew Feagai , 6. Kyle Flanagan 7. Ben Hunt 8. Francis Molo 9. Jacob Liddle 10. Jack de Belin, 11. Luciano Leilua 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Tom Eisenhuth 14. Blake Lawrie 15. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 16. Ben Murdoch-Masila 17. Toby Couchman 18. Fa’amanu Brown 19. Michael Molo 20. Christian Tuipulotu 21. Ryan Couchman 22. Sione Finau
Referee. Peter Gough. Touch Judges, David Munro, Belinda Sharpe. Bunker, Chris Butler.
Prediction
Sea Eagles are favoured to continue their strong record at home and get the job done in the first meeting between the two sides at the venue formerly known as Brookvale Oval in five years.
But not by a lot. The Dragons have improved under Shane Flanagan with the likes of Tyrell Sloan and others hoping to upset Manly at home.
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