The Warriors have won only one in every three games against the Sea Eagles over the course of their rivalry but the tables turned after the COVID-19 stoppage of 2020.
Everyone's favourite second team in 2020, the Warriors won both clashes with Manly last season - 26-22 in round 13 and 40-28 in round 20.
And the recent trend looks all-but certain to continue on Friday at Central Coast Stadium with the Warriors showing glimpses of the form that had many expecting big things from them in 2021 while Manly are mired in an 0-4 start.
The Sea Eagles have problems all over the park and time is running out for coach Des Hasler to address them if the Sea Eagles' faint finals hopes are to keep flickering.
Warriors v Sea Eagles
Match: Warriors v Sea Eagles
Round 5 -
home Team
Warriors
10th Position
away Team
Sea Eagles
15th Position
Venue: Industree Group Stadium, Gosford
The rundown
Team news
Warriors: A late change for Nathan Brown with Paul Turner coming on to the bench in jersey 20 and Josh Curran to be the 18th man. Rocco Berry was the other player cut an hour before game time.
Addin Fonua-Blake (knee), Bunty Afoa (suspended) and Bayley Sironen (shoulder) are unavailable. Leeson Ah Mau and Tohu Harris are set to start at prop while Jack Murchie has moved from the bench into the back row.
Kane Evans has been included on the interchange to play his first match for the club after increasing his fitness through the Queensland and NSW Cups. Tom Ale has also been named on the bench.
Jackson Frei and Taniela Otukolo were cut from the squad 24 hours before kick-off.
Nathan Brown will reach the milestone of 250 games as an NRL coach.
Sea Eagles: Josh Aloiai has been promoted to the starting side an hour before kick-off with Martin Taupau going to the bench.
Utility Cade Cust is out of the Manly team with a virus and his place on the bench is taken by Tevita Funa. The other player to drop out of the squad on Thursday was Ben Trbojevic while Christian Tuipulotu was omitted an hour before game time and Zac Saddler is the 18th man.
Jack Gosiewski will come into the second row to replace the injured Morgan Boyle (shoulder). Morgan Harper is set to start at centre to replace the injured Moses Suli (back). Toafofoa Sipley has been included on the bench.
The Sea Eagles conceded 40 points in each of their past two games at Central Coast Stadium.
Match: Warriors v Sea Eagles
Round 5 -
home Team
Warriors
away Team
Sea Eagles
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Roger Tuivasa-SheckFullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Dylan Walker
-
Winger for Warriors is number 2 David Fusitu'aWinger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Jason Saab
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Centre for Warriors is number 3 Adam PompeyCentre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Brad Parker
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Centre for Warriors is number 4 Marcelo MontoyaCentre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Morgan Harper
-
Winger for Warriors is number 5 Ken MaumaloWinger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Reuben Garrick
-
Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Kodi NikorimaFive-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Kieran Foran
-
Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Sean O'SullivanHalfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Daly Cherry-Evans
Forwards
-
Prop for Warriors is number 8 Leeson Ah MauProp for Sea Eagles is number 8 Taniela Paseka
-
Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde EganHooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Lachlan Croker
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Prop for Warriors is number 10 Tohu HarrisProp for Sea Eagles is number 17 Josh Aloiai
-
2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Eliesa Katoa2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Jack Gosiewski
-
2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Jack Murchie2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Josh Schuster
-
Lock for Warriors is number 13 Jazz TevagaLock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Jake Trbojevic
Interchange
-
Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Ben Murdoch-MasilaInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 10 Martin Taupau
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Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Tom AleInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Toafofoa Sipley
-
Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Kane EvansInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Sean Keppie
-
Interchange for Warriors is number 20 Paul TurnerInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 18 Tevita Funa
Reserves
-
Reserve for Warriors is number 17 Josh CurranReserve for Sea Eagles is number 19 Zac Saddler
Match Officials
- Referee: Chris Butler
- Touch Judge: Belinda Sharpe
- Touch Judge: Wyatt Raymond
- Senior Review Official: Matt Noyen
Last updated:
Key match-up
Tohu Harris v Jake Trbojevic: With disruptions in the packs, backs and spines of both clubs, one constant for both clubs is their ever-reliable locks.
While Harris can occasionally start or spend time on an edge, both players do their best work rolling up their sleeves in the middle where their respective passing games and huge motors are vital cogs for their sides.
Trbojevic has cut a frustrated figure amid Manly's woes this year while the Warriors' best footy has coincided with Harris getting his hands on the footy as much as possible.
Stat Attack
While it might seem like defence is Manly's problem, given they have conceded an average of 39 points per game in their four losses in 2021, their shocking completion rate is just as much to blame.
The Sea Eagles rank 15th in completion rate, a measly one per cent above last-placed North Queensland and well behind the No.1 Warriors, and are No.2 for missed tackles, again just behind the Cowboys, while the Warriors trade places with them and sit 15th.
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