Manly v Parramatta preview

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Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles v Parramatta Eels Saturday 7:35pm at Sunshine Coast Stadium, Bokarina / Kabi Kabi

Parramatta try to turn their luck around after three loses as they take on the in-form Manly Sea Eagles.

It's been a tough few weeks for Parramatta after losing three games on the trot and just when things couldn't get any harder for the Eels, they face the Sea Eagles this weekend and Melbourne and Penrith to round out the last two weeks of the competition.

It seems like a long time has passed since the Eels were sitting in second place with nine wins from their opening 10 games. Since then, the Eels have played another 10 games but this time only winning four of them.

This reality check has solidified the top three and consequently the Eels have drifted down towards the next pack of teams on the competition ladder that feature the Roosters and their opponents for the weekend, the Sea Eagles.

Over the course of their three losses, the Eels have scored just 22 points whilst conceding 80. The return of Mitchell Moses didn't help his side's fortunes on the weekend as the third placed Rabbitohs knocked off the Eels by 28 points in a fairly easy victory.

Parramatta are starting to flirt with danger and a loss this weekend could drop them outside the top four for the first time this year. On the other hand, given the Sea Eagles sit two points behind Parramatta, the Eels have the chance to write their own future and a four-point buffer over fifth place would do them a world of good given they face the Storm and the Panthers in the last two rounds.

Unfortunately, the Eels have lost their star hooker, Reed Mahoney for the rest of the season which sees Joey Lussick join the starting side in the number nine jersey. Oregan Kaufusi is being rested this week and has seen a shuffle in the forward pack Isaiah Papali'I moving to the front row with Shaun Lane lining up on the edge and debutant Makahesi Makatoa is named on the bench. Michael Oldfield comes into the side for Haze Dunster on the wing.

Meanwhile, the Sea Eagles have been making their case as potential premiership contenders after their 10-point loss to the Melbourne Storm on the weekend. It was only the sixth time this season in which the Storm haven't won by 10 points or more.

It's been an incredible season for Manly after starting with four losses on the trot to now sitting in sixth place with four rounds to go. An outing against Parramatta is exactly what the Sea Eagles are after as they push for that important fourth place spot. They defeated the Eels earlier in the season by 22 points and they'll be looking to replicate that result.

Not much has to be said about this side other than the words, Tom Trbojevic, who turned the team on its head when he returned in round six. His performances this season have been nothing short of incredible and if he continues to show this form, anything is on the cards for the Sea Eagles although he'll most likely need some help if they face Penrith or Melbourne in the finals.

Trbojevic lines up at fullback as usual and the only changes to the side are the loss of Taniela Paseka and Toafofoa Sipley who are being replaced in the 17 by Kurt De Luis and Curtis Sironen while Josh Aloiai slots into the starting line up in place of Paseka.

Last meeting: Round 11 2021 - Eels 6 Sea Eagles 28

Who to watch: The fullback depth in the NRL at the moment is incredible and we're lucky to witness another good matchup this Saturday night between two New South Welshmen, Tom Trbojevic and Clint Gutherson. Trbojevic the incumbent NSW centre has been exceptional this season and will be in for a shout to win the Dally M despite missing the first five games of the season. The 24-year-old has scored 18 tries and assisted 21 in just 12 first grade matches this season. An incredible 3.3 try involvements per game. Almost, if not unprecedented. Not only has he been damaging on the scoreboard, but Trbojevic has also broken the line on 18 occasions this season whilst averaging 214 run metres and six tackle breaks per game. Meanwhile, his opposite number in Clint Gutherson lost his NSW spot at the end of last season but has done a fantastic job with the Eels this season as arguably their most consistent performer. The 26-year-old has played in all 20 matches this season, scoring 12 tries and assisting a further 16. Not up to the numbers of Trbojevic but still impressive, nonetheless. Gutherson is averaging 3.8 tackle breaks per game whilst averaging 175 run metres per game, his second highest average of his career. A lot of his work will go unnoticed by the statistics as he is generally regarded as one of the fittest and hardest working players in the comp. He'll be key to a potential Eels victory this weekend.

The favourite: Manly are the favourite for this fixture given their form with Trbojevic in the side and the Eels recent slump in form. The Eels have generally struggled against the top sides, when it matters, over the past few seasons.

My tip: Manly are going to be too strong for the Eels this weekend. Manly have a superb chance to attempt to clinch that fourth spot and this is the perfect opportunity to do so. I couldn't imagine they'd want to waste this opportunity. Manly by 14.

1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Jason Saab 3. Brad Parker 4. Morgan Harper 5. Reuben Garrick 6. Kieran Foran 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 17. Kurt De Luis 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Martin Taupau 11. Haumole Olakau'atu 12. Josh Schuster 13. Jake Trbojevic 8. Josh Aloiai 14. Dylan Walker 15. Karl Lawton 16. Curtis Sironen 18. Moses Suli

1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Maika Sivo 3. Tom Opacic 4. Waqa Blake 5. Michael Oldfield 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Isaiah Papali'i 9. Joey Lussick 10. Junior Paulo 11. Shaun Lane 12. Ryan Matterson 13. Nathan Brown 14. Will Smith 15. Bryce Cartwright 16. Marata Niukore 17. Makahesi Makatoa 18. Ray Stone

Referees: Grant Atkins; Sideline Officials: Matt Noyen, Jon Stone; Video Referees: Ashley Klein;