The Sea Eagles enter the 2023 season on a high after winning the Pre-Season Challenge and the return of superstar Tom Trbojevic only adds to the positive vibes at Brookvale.
Trbojevic hasn't played since injuring his shoulder against Parramatta in round 11 last year but a trip to the USA to work with reconditioning specialist Bill Knowles and a solid block of training since his return has the No.1 gun ready to go.
The Bulldogs, meanwhile, enter the new season with high expectations after the recruitment of Viliame Kikau and Reed Mahoney to work alongside Matt Burton and Josh Addo-Carr, who were outstanding in 2022.
With former Raider Ryan Sutton and Englishman Luke Thompson in the middle and Kikau and Raymond Faitala-Mariner on the edges, the Dogs certainly boast the forward firepower to match it with anyone.
When the two sides met in the final round last year it was the Bulldogs taking the spoils 21-20 thanks to a Burton field goal, consigning Manly to a seventh consecutive defeat.
With a new coach in Anthony Seibold and a new Turbo in the garage after his Philadelphia tune up, Sea Eagles fans are hoping that's where the losing streak ends and 2023 is launched in style on home turf.
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Team News
Sea Eagles: Josh Aloiai has been promoted to the starting side an hour before kick-off with Sean Keppie going to the bench. Gordon Chan Kum Tong is 18th man. Fullback Tom Trbojevic will line up for his first game since May last year in a massive boost to the Sea Eagles. Kaeo Weekes was impressive at fullback in the Pre-season Challenge and will fill the utility role off the bench. The absence of first-choice five-eighth Josh Schuster (calf) will see Cooper Johns partner Daly Cherry-Evans in the halves in his first NRL game for the club. Centre Brad Parker is good to go despite suffering a broken nose against the Roosters a fortnight ago.
Bulldogs: The Bulldogs are 1-17 with no late changes. Braidon Burns is 18th man. Fa'amanu Brown takes over at lock from Luke Thompson after his mid-week injury. Max King and Ryan Sutton are the starting props with former Shark Franklin Pele and youngster Jayden Tanner coming off the bench. Hayze Perham gets the nod at fullback.
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Stat Attack
- The Sea Eagles have won seven of their past eight games against the Bulldogs.
- The Bulldogs are aiming for consecutive wins against the Sea Eagles for the first time since 2016.
- The Sea Eagles have not won in Round 1 since 2013 when they defeated the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium.
- Sea Eagles fullback Tom Trbojevic has scored seven tries in his past three games against the Bulldogs.
- Sea Eagles winger Reuben Garrick needs 12 points to reach 800 points in the NRL. The club's leading pointscorer is four-time premiership winning fullback Graham Eadie with 1917 points.
- Josh Addo-Carr scored 16 tries in 23 games for the Bulldogs in 2022 and 12 tries in five Tests at the World Cup at the end of the season.