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Sea Eagles v Storm: Hopoate to debut; Hughes set to return

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The Sea Eagles are back on home turf at 4 Pines Park and looking to snap a three-game losing streak when they host the Storm on Friday night.

Manly's losses to the Raiders, Dolphins and Broncos have seen them drop from fourth to 10th on the ladder but the total losing margin across the three games is just seven points so it's not all doom and gloom at Brookvale.

The Storm sit in second after wiping the Eels off the park at Magic Round but a recurrence of a groin injury to star playmaker Cameron Munster could prove to be a pivotal moment in their season.

that Munster would miss 8-10 weeks while halfback Jahrome Hughes is no certainty to return from a calf injury that has kept him out of the past two games.

Hughes and Munster have played just five games together this season while the Sea Eagles' main men Daly Cherry-Evans and Luke Brooks have played every game, fine tuning a combination the club hopes can lead them back to the finals after a two-year absence.

The Sea Eagles have won three of four at home this season and will be hoping a bumper crowd at 4 Pines Park can help turn them turn three narrow losses into a morale-boosting victory.

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Team News

Sea Eagles: Tolutau Koula has been ruled out with a shoulder issue and is replaced by rookie Lehi Hopoate for his NRL debut. Jason Saab (shoulder) has been named to return earlier than expected. Nathan Brown has been named on the bench. Jaxson Paulo has dropped out of the squad an hour from kick-off. 

Storm: Jahrome Hughes has been named to return from a calf injury and replaces Cam Munster (groin), pairing up with Tyran Wishart with Grant Anderson on the bench. Bronson Garlick is the 18th player, with Joe Chan dropping from the squad an hour from kick-off.

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Sea Eagles is number 21 Lehi Hopoate
    Fullback for Storm is number 1 Sualauvi Faalogo
  • Winger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Jason Saab
    Winger for Storm is number 2 Will Warbrick
  • Centre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Tommy Talau
    Centre for Storm is number 3 Reimis Smith
  • Centre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Reuben Garrick
    Centre for Storm is number 4 Nick Meaney
  • Winger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Raymond Tuaimalo Vaega
    Winger for Storm is number 5 Xavier Coates
  • Five-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Luke Brooks
    Five-Eighth for Storm is number 6 Tyran Wishart
  • Halfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Daly Cherry-Evans
    Halfback for Storm is number 7 Jahrome Hughes

Forwards

  • Prop for Sea Eagles is number 8 Taniela Paseka
    Prop for Storm is number 8 Tui  Kamikamica 
  • Hooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Karl Lawton
    Hooker for Storm is number 9 Harry Grant
  • Prop for Sea Eagles is number 10 Josh Aloiai
    Prop for Storm is number 10 Christian Welch
  • 2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Haumole Olakau'atu
    2nd Row for Storm is number 11 Shawn Blore
  • 2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Ben Trbojevic
    2nd Row for Storm is number 12 Eliesa Katoa
  • Lock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Jake Trbojevic
    Lock for Storm is number 13 Josh King

Interchange

  • Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Gordon Chan Kum Tong
    Interchange for Storm is number 14 Trent Loiero
  • Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Corey Waddell
    Interchange for Storm is number 15 Grant Anderson
  • Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Ethan Bullemor
    Interchange for Storm is number 16 Nelson   Asofa-Solomona
  • Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 17 Nathan Brown
    Interchange for Storm is number 17 Alec MacDonald

Reserves

  • Replacement for Sea Eagles is number 18 Aaron Woods
    Replacement for Storm is number 18 Bronson Garlick

Match Officials

  • Referee: Ashley Klein
  • Touch Judge: Wyatt Raymond
  • Touch Judge: Chris Sutton
  • Senior Review Official: Grant Atkins

Last updated:

Stat Attack 

  • The Sea Eagles have beaten the Storm in their last two clashes at 4 Pines Park.
  • The Storm have won three in a row away from Melbourne.
  • Sea Eagles centre Reuben Garrick has scored five tries in his past four games.
  • Storm prop Tui Kamikamica will make his 100th NRL appearance.
  • Sea Eagles coach Anthony Seibold has won only two of seven encounters with Craig Bellamy.

Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the . 

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