Round 25: Warriors v Sea Eagles preview
The Warriors are continuing to edge towards a top four finish, whilst the Sea Eagles final hopes continue to fade right before their eyes.
New Zealand currently sit in third place and are four competition points away from equal first placed Panthers and Broncos. Considering the home run for these three teams, it is highly likely that the Warriors will finish in either third or fourth place on the ladder.
The Warriors defeated the Wests Tigers with a 30-22 score line, to make it five consecutive wins in a row, giving the team momentum as we come to the final three rounds. However, Webster's team has some work to do defensively, as they have conceded 40 points in the last two rounds against the Tigers and Titans, and that isn't something you considerably want in the home stretch.
After missing last week's match due to concussion protocols, Warriors fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad returns the side. Wayde Egan has been named despite suffering a knock against the Tigers which left him hospitalised over the weekend. Bunty Afoa takes the place of front rower, Mitch Barnett, who required stitches for a below-the-knee laceration following the New Zealand sides' win last weekend.
The Sea Eagles are coming off a brutal loss to the Panthers, which marks their 11th loss of the season. Manly's final hopes and dreams are now holding on by a thin thread, with them sitting three competition points out of the eight, with every one of their final three games a much-needed win.
Both Brad Parker and Ben Trbojevic will miss this weekend's clash due to concussion protocols following their loss against Penrith. Morgan Harper replaces Parker in the centres, whilst Kelma Tuilagi starts in the back row. Jake Arthur also joins the starting side on the bench.
Manly certainly have history on their side, winning their past three games against the Warriors, and winning 11 out of 15 games against the Warriors in Auckland.
New Zealand are chasing an almost fairy-tale finish to the year, where they will highly likely finish in the top four and have a good shot throughout their finals campaign. They are aiming for a sixth consecutive win this weekend, which will be the first time they have done so since 2002 when they won eight in a row between Round 7 and 14.
Last meeting: Round 13 2022 - Sea Eagles 44 Warriors 12
Who to watch: Potential Dally M medal winner of 2023, Shaun Johnson has been a powerhouse for the Warriors this year. He is currently sitting on 24 try assists this season, which is a career high, along with scoring eight of his own tries, two of which were doubles. Johnson is a shining star for the Warriors, and I would love to continue to see his ball playing skills as we start to wrap up the regular season.
One of Manly's most experienced and senior players, Daly Cherry-Evans is an integral spine player to the team. This year he has scored seven of his own tries, plus assist with 14, along with leading the Sea Eagles side for most linebreak assists totalling 19. If Manly wish to scrape into the finals they will be looking towards DCE for guidance, leadership and game play.
Favourites: Warriors are favoured to claim victory at home and consolidate a top four position.
My tip: The Warriors are on a high and are looking to make their first finals appearance since 2018, they will be ready to go for this Friday night match back at home in Auckland. Manly have struggled with consistency this year, along with a string of injuries. As the season nears a close, they are fighting to make finals, but I think they'll just fall short. Warriors by 14.
