Sea Eagles v Raiders preview

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Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles v Canberra Raiders Sunday 6:15pm at 4 Pines Park, Brookvale / Cammeraygal

Sunday afternoon takes us to Brookvale as a battered Manly Sea Eagles look to take on the high flying Canberra Raiders to finish round 3 of the 2025 Telstra Premiership. 

We are only through two completed rounds of the 2025 season and yet, both sides have been involved in some wild results. 

Manly traveled across the ditch to get shell shocked by the New Zealand Warriors at Go Media Stadium, flying home not only with their wings clipped but injury concerns to their two most influential players. 

A sloppy, unconvincing performance in Auckland had fans wondering how the Sea Eagles would continue the season without Tom Trbojevic if he had suffered yet another hamstring. Whilst scans have cleared him of damage, the question remains as to how fit Tommy Turbo really is, while also dealing with the back spasms that took Daly Cherry-Evans out for the last twelve minutes of the game.

The Raiders, on the other hand, are now two from two, having opened up their home campaign with a wild and wonderful 32-22 win against the underwhelming Brisbane Broncos. The Raiders contained superstar Reece Walsh to 101 total running metres and four errors, something they will have to look to do this weekend against Manly and their superstar fullback - be it Tom Trbojevic, Tolu Koula or Lehi Hopoate come Sunday. 

Canberra come into the game looking to buck history, having won less than 33% of their games against Manly since 2004, while the Sea Eagles are 15/21 at home since the start of 2023. 

Manly welcome back Tolu Koula and Siosiua Taukeiaho to the starting line-up, with both players having missed round 2. Clayton Faulalo moves to the reserves while Toafofoa Sipley is out of the 21. Tom Trbojevic and Daly-Cherry Evans have been named to play, with coach Anthony Seibold claiming that he will give his starrs every possible chance to prove their fitness for Sunday night. 

The Raiders have lost Zac Hosking to a broken hand, with Morgan Smithies starting and Trey Mooney coming onto the bench. Xavier Savage returns from suspension, which sees Albert Hopoate dropped to the reserves. 

Last meeting: Round 23 2024 - Raiders 24 Sea Eagles 46

Who to watch: Seemingly finding a new lease on life, Tom Starling has finally showcased what we have seen glimpses of over the last few seasons. Having finally been given the starting role and the freedom to run, he has terrorized the Warriors and Broncos in the first two weeks out of dummy half. Coming up against a Manly side who allowed Wayde Egan to run for nearly 150 metres (98 dummy half metres), it makes for a very simple game plan - get the quick play the ball and let Starling create off the back of his front rowers. 

Tom Trbojevic, should he end up playing, had a very unhappy trip across the Tasman last week. Whilst he did score a try and have two line break assists, he also had four errors, only 120 running metres and all thing considered, was kept extremely quiet. Coming back home to Fort Brookvale, Tommy Turbo will look to put the hurt on a red hot Raiders side that he has scored against in his last four appearances against. 

Favourite: Despite a last-start loss and the prospect of key players missing the contest, Manly are favourites on the back of their home-ground advantage.

My tip: A cracking game to finish round three, this is a tough one to tip. You've got a Manly side that wants to re-create their opening round antics at home, while the new and improved Raiders look to take another scalp back to the Capital. While it is quite tempting to take the home side, it is the Raiders who will upset Manly in a very close affair… possibly, a golden point affair. Raiders by 1.

1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Jason Saab 3. Tolutau Koula 4. Reuben Garrick 5. Lehi Hopoate 6. Luke Brooks 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Jazz Tevaga 10. Siosiua Taukeiaho 11. Haumole Olakau'atu 12. Ben Trbojevic 13. Jake Trbojevic 14. Jake Simpkin 15. Corey Waddell 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Josh Aloiai 18. Tommy Talau 19. Clayton Faulalo 20. Jakob Arthur 21. Nathan Brown 22. Raymond Tuiamalo Vaega

1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Savelio Tamale 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Xavier Savage 6. Ethan Strange 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papali'i 9. Tom Starling 10. Corey Horsburgh 11. Hudson Young 12. Matt Nicholson 13. Morgan Smithies 14. Owen Pattie 15. Simi Sasagi 16. Trey Mooney 17. Ata Mariota 18. Danny Levi 19. Albert Hopoate 20. Pasami Saulo 21. Jed Stuart 22. Ethan Sanders

Referees: Grant Atkins; Sideline Officials: David Munro, Matt Noyen; Video Referees: Ashley Klein;