Canberra shocked Manly with a 30-16 upset win at 4 Pines Park in round 17 and will have to pull off another stunner if they are to maintain their finals challenge.
An ill-timed last-start loss to the Storm saw the Raiders slip just outside the eight and with a round 25 rematch with the Roosters, who thumped Canberra 44-16 in round 12, on their schedule the Green Machine cannot afford to drop another point.
Keeping relatively close to a Melbourne side that has scored points for fun this season will give Ricky Stuart's men some hope but they will be backing up against another red-hot attacking outfit with the Sea Eagles boasting threats all over the park.
Manly tore Parramatta apart, running in 10 tries in the 56-20 humiliation, with all their stars sharing in the feast of four-pointers and try assists.
Tom Trbojevic, Daly Cherry-Evans and Reuben Garrick have hogged the headlines in recent weeks but the improving form of five-eighth Kieran Foran is proving equally pivotal.
Match: Raiders v Sea Eagles
Round 23 -
home Team
Raiders
10th Position
away Team
Sea Eagles
5th Position
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
The rundown
Team news
Raiders: Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad has been named to return via the bench as Ricky Stuart looks to ease the fullback back into the game.
Stuart said he would give CNK around 20-30 minutes off the bench while playmaker Matt Frawley will also be on the interchange to help cover for the absence of Tom Starling (broken jaw) and Corey Harawira-Naera (suspended).
Veteran prop Sia Soliola is out due to personal reasons and he has been replaced on the bench by Dunamis Lui.
Trey Mooney is 18th man and Elijah Anderson was the last man cut an hour before kick-off.
Caleb Aekins was omitted from the squad 24 hours before kick-off.
The Raiders are aiming for two wins in a season against the Sea Eagles for the first time since 2016.
Sea Eagles: Superstar fullback Tom Trbojevic (cheekbone) was ruled out on Thursday and his place is taken by Tevita Funa in jersey No.19. Cade Cust was the other player to drop out of the squad 24 hours before kick-off.
Toafofoa Sipley has come into the starting side an hour before kick-off with Josh Aloai going back to the bench. Jack Gosiewski was the last man cut and Kurt De Luis is 18th man.
Brad Parker (concussion) will be rested with Moses Suli coming into the starting side.
The Sea Eagles have won six of their past eight games against the Raiders.
Match: Raiders v Sea Eagles
Round 23 -
home Team
Raiders
away Team
Sea Eagles
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Raiders is number 1 Jordan RapanaFullback for Sea Eagles is number 19 Tevita Funa
-
Winger for Raiders is number 2 Bailey SimonssonWinger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Jason Saab
-
Centre for Raiders is number 3 Sebastian KrisCentre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Morgan Harper
-
Centre for Raiders is number 4 Matthew TimokoCentre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Moses Suli
-
Winger for Raiders is number 5 Harley Smith-ShieldsWinger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Reuben Garrick
-
Five-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Jack WightonFive-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Kieran Foran
-
Halfback for Raiders is number 7 Sam WilliamsHalfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Daly Cherry-Evans
Forwards
-
Prop for Raiders is number 8 Josh PapaliiProp for Sea Eagles is number 10 Martin Taupau
-
Hooker for Raiders is number 9 Josh HodgsonHooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Lachlan Croker
-
Prop for Raiders is number 10 Joseph TapineProp for Sea Eagles is number 17 Toafofoa Sipley
-
2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 Hudson Young2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Haumole Olakau'atu
-
2nd Row for Raiders is number 12 Elliott Whitehead2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Josh Schuster
-
Lock for Raiders is number 13 Ryan SuttonLock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Jake Trbojevic
Interchange
-
Interchange for Raiders is number 14 Charnze Nicoll-KlokstadInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 8 Josh Aloiai
-
Interchange for Raiders is number 15 Emre GulerInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Dylan Walker
-
Interchange for Raiders is number 17 Matt FrawleyInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Karl Lawton
-
Interchange for Raiders is number 18 Dunamis LuiInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Curtis Sironen
Reserves
-
Reserve for Raiders is number 19 Trey MooneyReserve for Sea Eagles is number 20 Kurt De Luis
Match Officials
- Referee: Adam Gee
- Touch Judge: Darian Furner
- Touch Judge: Todd Smith
- Senior Review Official: Steve Chiddy
Last updated:
Key match-up
Jack Wighton v Kieran Foran: The Raiders pivot returned to form with three try assists against Melbourne and he will have to be at his best again this week. Sea Eagles veteran Foran has worked his way back to form and is thriving after an injury plagued five seasons away from the Northern Beaches.
He has played 19 matches in a season for the first time since he was last with Manly, scoring three tries and tallyng eight try assists - one of those coming against Canberra last time out and the latest in the towelling of Parramatta.
Stat attack
After scoring just 34 points in their opening four games, all losses, Manly's Turbo-charged surge up the table has seen them climb into third spot for points and tries behind the high-powered Storm and Rabbitohs attacks.
The Sea Eagles now sit just 45 points and three tries behind South Sydney with three rounds to play. They will like their chances of claiming second place behind Melbourne given Souths face Penrith and the Roosters in their next two outings.
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