Match Preview: Eels v Sea Eagles

Author: parraeels.com.au
Timestamp: Thu 15 Jun 2023, 09:50 AM

A new-look Eels side will tackle the Club's old foes in the Manly Sea Eagles at CommBank Stadium this Saturday.

As Parramatta celebrates the 40-year anniversary of defeating Manly in the 1983 Grand Final to complete a historic Premiership "three-peat", the Eels will look to channel the heroics of the Club's greatest players in their pursuit of an important win.

Match Highlights: 1983 Grand Final

Secure your seat for the Eels' meeting with Manly and 1980s Premiership celebrations at CommBank Stadium!

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Team News

The Eels are set to field an overhauled lineup with Origin stars missing and key players returning from injury.

Mitchell Moses and Junior Paulo are unavailable after being selected for the NSW Origin side, but Ryan Matterson and Joe Ofahengaue have been named to make timely returns from injury against Manly.

Matterson will slot into the halves with Daejarn Asi, while Ofahengaue joins the bench as Ofahiki Ogden earns a start in the front row.

Brendan Hands is set to continue as an 80-minute hooker after being named at no. 9 in the absence of an injured Josh Hodgson.

The Sea Eagles are without Tom Trbojevic and Daly Cherry-Evans due to Origin duties, and have named former Eel Jake Arthur at halfback.

Round 16 - Round 16 - Saturday 17 Jun

Full Time

Eels

Sea Eagles

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Eels is number 1 Clinton Gutherson

Fullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Kaeo Weekes
Winger for Eels is number 2 Maika Sivo

Winger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Jason Saab
Centre for Eels is number 3 Will Penisini

Centre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Tolutau Koula
Centre for Eels is number 4 Bailey Simonsson

Centre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Reuben Garrick
Winger for Eels is number 5 Sean Russell

Winger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Christian Tuipulotu
Five-Eighth for Eels is number 6 Ryan Matterson

Five-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Josh Schuster
Halfback for Eels is number 7 Daejarn Asi

Halfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Jake Arthur

Forwards

Prop for Eels is number 8 Reagan Campbell-Gillard

Prop for Sea Eagles is number 8 Taniela Paseka
Hooker for Eels is number 9 Brendan Hands

Hooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Lachlan Croker
Prop for Eels is number 10 Ofahiki Ogden

Prop for Sea Eagles is number 10 Toafofoa Sipley
2nd Row for Eels is number 11 Bryce Cartwright

2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Haumole Olakau'atu
2nd Row for Eels is number 12 Andrew Davey

2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 16 Ethan Bullemor
Lock for Eels is number 13 J'maine Hopgood

Lock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Sean Keppie

Interchange

Interchange for Eels is number 14 Luca Moretti

Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 12 Samuela Fainu
Interchange for Eels is number 15 Joe Ofahengaue

Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Karl Lawton
Interchange for Eels is number 16 Matt Doorey

Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Josh Aloiai
Interchange for Eels is number 17 Makahesi Makatoa

Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 18 Aaron Woods

Reserves

Replacement for Eels is number 18 Haze Dunster

Replacement for Sea Eagles is number 17 Ben Condon

Match Officials

Referee: Chris Butler
Touch Judge: Chris Sutton
Touch Judge: Kasey Badger
Senior Review Official: Adam Gee

Last updated: 12/8/2023 1:10:46 AM

Form Guide

The Eels have gone up a gear over the past month, winning three consecutive games to put themselves on the cusp of the top 8. A win on Saturday would see Parramatta leapfrog Manly into eighth place.

NRL Match Highlights: Bulldogs v Eels

Manly's form has been patchy in recent weeks, with big wins over the Dolphins and Raiders dampened by losses to the Knights, Sharks and Broncos.

Recent History

True to the close rivalry between the two Clubs over the past 50 years, there has been little to split the Eels and Sea Eagles in recent seasons.

Manly scored a tight victory over Parramatta in Round 3 this season, but the Eels prevailed in both of their meetings with the Sea Eagles in 2022.

Match Highlights: Eels v Sea Eagles

Key Stat

The Eels are just one competition point behind the Sea Eagles heading into this match.

Parramatta have also won seven games this season to Manly's six, but trail on the ladder having had one less bye.

A win will put them above the Sea Eagles with a bye in hand.

Key Match-Up

With both sides missing their regular halfback, former teammates Daejarn Asi and Jake Arthur will go toe-to-toe in a battle of stand-in no. 7s.

Asi and Arthur have each made just one appearance for their team this season, with Asi enjoying an impressive Eels debut against the Bulldogs last week.

The two friends will turn foes for 80 minutes at CommBank Stadium in what shapes to be an intriguing match-up.