With injury and suspension hitting hard, the Dolphins head to 4 Pines Park to take on a refreshed Sea Eagles side keen to rebound from a loss to the Knights.
Wayne Bennett's side fought bravely in the face of widespread changes last week in an eventual 30-6 loss at the hands of the Warriors in Auckland.
Despite the task ahead of them against the Sea Eagles, they will take comfort from the fact that in all but one of their five losses this year they have bounced back to taste victory the following week.
Given their own mounting injury toll, Manly will have appreciated the week off in Round 14, with a chance now to reload for the second half of the season as they seek to work their way back inside the top eight.
This year the Sea Eagles have won three of five games played at 4 Pines Park, while the Dolphins have recorded victory in just one of their four games outside of Queensland.
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Team News
Sea Eagles: Ethan Bullemor will start the game and Samuela Fainu goes to the bench in a late switch an hour before kick-off. Star fullback Tom Trbojevic will play despite suffering a head knock in Origin I. The club confirmed on Tuesday that they had been given clearance by the NRL for him to play against the Dolphins and that at no stage had he been diagnosed with concussion. Reuben Garrick has shifted to the centres in place of Brad Parker with Christian Tuipulotu coming in on the wing. Josh Aloiai is back from a shoulder injury on the bench.
Dolphins: In a late switch Valynce Te Whare comes into the starting side at lock and Ray Stone goes to the bench. With Jarrod Wallace and Anthony Milford accepting three-match bans and Tom Gilbert (shoulder) out injured, Wayne Bennett has been forced into a major shake-up. Hooker Jeremy Marshall-King is back on deck after being a late scratching in Round 14 with a shoulder injury while Poasa Faamausili joins the pack for his fourth game of the season. Herman Ese'ese and Kurt Donoghue are the new faces on the bench with last week's debutant Max Plath going to 18th Man. Brenko Lee returns from a calf injury.
Match: Sea Eagles v Dolphins
Round 15 -
home Team
Sea Eagles
away Team
Dolphins
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Tom TrbojevicFullback for Dolphins is number 1 Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
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Winger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Jason SaabWinger for Dolphins is number 2 Jamayne Isaako
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Centre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Tolutau KoulaCentre for Dolphins is number 3 Euan Aitken
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Centre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Reuben GarrickCentre for Dolphins is number 4 Brenko Lee
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Winger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Christian TuipulotuWinger for Dolphins is number 5 Tesi Niu
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Five-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Joshua SchusterFive-Eighth for Dolphins is number 6 Kodi Nikorima
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Halfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Daly Cherry-EvansHalfback for Dolphins is number 7 Isaiya Katoa
Forwards
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Prop for Sea Eagles is number 8 Taniela PasekaProp for Dolphins is number 8 Jesse Bromwich
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Hooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Lachlan CrokerHooker for Dolphins is number 9 Jeremy Marshall-King
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Prop for Sea Eagles is number 10 Toafofoa SipleyProp for Dolphins is number 10 Poasa Faamausili
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2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Haumole Olakau'atu2nd Row for Dolphins is number 11 Kenneath Bromwich
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2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 16 Ethan Bullemor2nd Row for Dolphins is number 12 Connelly Lemuelu
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Lock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Sean KeppieLock for Dolphins is number 17 Valynce Te Whare
Interchange
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Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 12 Samuela FainuInterchange for Dolphins is number 13 Ray Stone
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Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Karl LawtonInterchange for Dolphins is number 14 Herman Ese'ese
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Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Josh AloiaiInterchange for Dolphins is number 15 Mark Nicholls
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Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 17 Ben CondonInterchange for Dolphins is number 16 Kurt Donoghoe
Reserves
-
Replacement for Sea Eagles is number 18 Kaeo WeekesReplacement for Dolphins is number 18 Max Plath
Match Officials
- Referee: Gerard Sutton
- Touch Judge: Peter Gough
- Touch Judge: Darian Furner
- Senior Review Official: Ashley Klein
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- Dolphins winger Jamayne Isaako has scored 22 of his side's 34 points over the past fortnight. He has scored five tries in his past three games.
- Following four of their five losses this year the Dolphins have bounced back to win the following week.
- The Sea Eagles have lost their past five games against Queensland-based teams.
- Reuben Garrick has scored a try in three consecutive games for the Sea Eagles.
- Wayne Bennett has a 5-1 record against Anthony Seibold-coached teams.
- Manly fullback Tom Trbojevic has scored seven tries in his past seven games at 4 Pines Park.
Match: Sea Eagles v Dolphins
Round 15 -
home Team
Sea Eagles
10th Position
away Team
Dolphins
9th Position
Venue: 4 Pines Park, Sydney
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
