In what promises to be a blockbuster Friday Night clash at Brookvale Oval, a rejuvenated Bulldogs side will be taking on a Manly outfit determined to prove that they still have something to offer in 2015.
Both sides are coming off first-up wins in Round 2, but it was the blue-and-whites who were more impressive in a clinical 32-12 defeat of the Parramatta Eels.
The Sea Eagles, who went down to the Eels 40-12 in their first game of the season, did well to overcome a fast-finishing Melbourne Storm outfit in a hard fought 24-22 win.
Key Points
– Manly will again be without five-eighth Kieran Foran, who is expected to be out for at least two more weeks with a hamstring injury.
– Both teams have named unchanged line-ups from Round 2.
– Bulldogs halfback will play his 100th first grade game this Friday night in rather ironic circumstances; against the same club he made his debut for in 2010.
– Josh Reynolds remains sidelined with a broken arm suffered in Canterbury’s Round 1 game against the Panthers.
– The battle of the fullbacks should be worth the price of admission alone. Last week, Manly dynamo Brett Stewart scored a first-half double in his side’s victory over the Storm, and was generally dangerous throughout the game. New Bulldogs recruit Brett Morris has thus far proved his worth, scoring three tries in his first two games as custodian.
History
The Bulldogs and Manly share a fierce rivalry dating back to their first clash in 1947, including the 1995 Grand Final in which the ‘Dogs upset runaway favorites Manly 17-4.
Canterbury have won four of the last six games against Manly, including a thrilling 18-17 Golden Point victory in Week 2 of last year’s Finals Series.
Although the Sea Eagles won last year’s match at Brookvale Oval, the Bulldogs have prevailed in three of the last five meetings between the two sides at Manly’s home ground.
Teams:
SEA EAGLES (Coach: Geoff Toovey)
1. Brett Stewart
2. Cheyse Blair
3. Jamie Lyon (C)
4. Steve Matai
5. Peta Hiku
6. Feleti Mateo
7. Daly Cherry-Evans
8. Luke Burgess
9. Matt Ballin
10. Willie Mason
11. Jamie Buhrer
12. Tom Symonds
13. Dunamis Lui
Interchange
14. Jesse Sene-Lefao
15. Blake Leary
16. Jake Trbojevic
17. Ligi Sao
BULLDOGS (Coach: Des Hasler)
1. Brett Morris
2. Curtis Rona
3. Josh Morris
4. Tim Lafai
5. Sam Perrett
6. Moses Mbye
7. Trent Hodkinson
8. Aiden Tolman
9. Michael Lichaa
10.James Graham (C)
11. Josh Jackson
12. Tony Williams
13. Greg Eastwood
Interchange
14. Sam Kasiano
15. David Klemmer
16. Frank Pritchard
17. Tim Browne
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles (12th) vs. Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (6th)
Time: 7:35pm (AEDT)
Venue: Brookvale Oval
Telecast: LIVE on Channel 9 (NSW), DEL 9:30pm (QLD)
The odds: Bulldogs $1.80, Sea Eagles $2.02
Tip: The Bulldogs are likely to carry on their form from last week, and should win this one by 1-12 points.
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