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Manly Sea Eagles vs Gold Coast Titans: NRL highlights, live scores, blog

17th August, 2018
Kick-off: 6pm (AEST)
Venue: Lottoland, Brookvale
TV: Live, Fox League
Online: Live, Foxtel app, Foxtel now, NRL Digital Pass
Betting: Sea Eagles $1.45, Titans $2.75
Overall record: Played 17, Sea Eagles 10, Titans 7
Last meeting: Round 5 - Titans 32 defeat Sea Eagles 10 at Marley Brown Oval, Gladstone
Last five: Sea Eagles 3, Titans 2
Record at venue: Played 6, Sea Eagles 4, Titans 2
Referees: Chris Butler, Gavin Reynolds

Manly Sea Eagles
1 Tom Trbojevic, 2 Jorge Taufua, 3 Moses Suli, 4 Brian Kelly, 5 Bradley Parker, 6 Dylan Walker, 7 Daly Cherry-Evans (c), 8 Addin Fonua-Blake, 9 Manase Fainu, 10 Martin Taupau, 11 Joel Thompson, 12 Shaun Lane, 13 Jake Trbojevic
Interchange: 14 Trent Hodkinson, 15 Kelepi Tanginoa, 16 Frank Winterstein, 17 Lloyd Perrett, 18 Matthew Wright, 19 Thomas Wright, 21 Toafofoa Sipley, 22 Taniela Paseka

Gold Coast Titans
1 AJ Brimson, 2 Anthony Don, 3 Konrad Hurrell, 4 Brenko Lee, 5 Phillip Sami, 6 Kane Elgey, 7 Ashley Taylor, 8 Jarrod Wallace, 9 Nathan Peats, 10 Ryan James, 11 Kevin Proctor, 12 Keegan Hipgrave, 13 Jai Arrow
Interchange: 14 Mitch Rein, 15 Moeaki Fotuaika, 16 Jack Stockwell, 17 Will Matthews, 18. Brednan Elliot, 19 Jai Whitbread, 20 Leilani Latu, 21 Bryce Cartwright
Sea Eagles players react after conceding a try during the Round 13 NRL match between the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles and the North Queensland Cowboys at Lottoland in Sydney, Thursday, May 31, 2018. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
Expert
17th August, 2018
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It’s been a tumultuous week off the field for the Manly Sea Eagles, but they will still enter their Round 23 match against the struggling Gold Coast Titans as favourites. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 6pm (AEST).

The Sea Eagles have gone from problem to problem during the week. While speculation has been rampant around the status of coach Trent Barrett for weeks, it was reported early this week he will walk from the club at the end of the season.

With that being the case, Manly’s on-field performances seem unlikely to perform.

It’s been a poor season to say the least for the men from the northern beaches. Despite high expectations, they sit in 12th place on the ladder and are still a viable chance of picking up the wooden spoon.

Injuries haven’t helped, and their bench have let them downs at times, but with names like Jake Trbojevic, brother Tom and Daly Cherry-Evans running around, 12th place is unacceptable and highlights bigger issues at the club.

They are coming into this match on the back of two straight wins against the Sharks and Bulldogs, with the shock upsets sending them on a run of form towards the end of the season which may help them to avoid the spoon. A win tonight will guarantee it.

On the other foot though, the Titans are in all sorts.

They sit on the same number of points as the Sea Eagles, but have the worst for and against of all the sides still in contention for the spoon and no clear path to a victory.

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With the Bulldogs, Eels and Cowboys gaining pace behind them, the Titans almost appear favourites for the spoon. They have lost five of their last six, with their defence and concentration in games letting them down time and time again.

AJ Brimson was solid at fullback last week and remains there this time around, but it won’t be anywhere enough to reverse the clubs fortunes after letting in two tries in a matter of minutes last week to allow the Panthers to take them into extra time.

It was an embarrassing couple of minutes for the Gold Coast and they will come into this week down on confidence and momentum because of it.

Prediction
Despite all the off-field happenings for the Sea Eagles, the Titans defence simply isn’t good enough to stop the strike weapons their opponents possess across the field.

Sea Eagles by 10.

Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of this NRL match from 6pm (AEST) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.

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