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Match Preview: Eels v Sea Eagles

A new-look Eels side will tackle the Club's old foes in the Manly Sea Eagles at CommBank Stadium this Saturday.

As Parramatta celebrates the 40-year anniversary of defeating Manly in the 1983 Grand Final to complete a historic Premiership "three-peat", the Eels will look to channel the heroics of the Club's greatest players in their pursuit of an important win.

Match Highlights: 1983 Grand Final

Secure your seat for the Eels' meeting with Manly and 1980s Premiership celebrations at CommBank Stadium!

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Team News

The Eels are set to field an overhauled lineup with Origin stars missing and key players returning from injury.

Mitchell Moses and Junior Paulo are unavailable after being selected for the NSW Origin side, but Ryan Matterson and Joe Ofahengaue have been named to make timely returns from injury against Manly.

Matterson will slot into the halves with Daejarn Asi, while Ofahengaue joins the bench as Ofahiki Ogden earns a start in the front row.

Brendan Hands is set to continue as an 80-minute hooker after being named at no. 9 in the absence of an injured Josh Hodgson.

The Sea Eagles are without Tom Trbojevic and Daly Cherry-Evans due to Origin duties, and have named former Eel Jake Arthur at halfback.

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Eels is number 1 Clinton Gutherson
    Fullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Kaeo Weekes
  • Winger for Eels is number 2 Maika Sivo
    Winger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Jason Saab
  • Centre for Eels is number 3 Will Penisini
    Centre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Tolutau Koula
  • Centre for Eels is number 4 Bailey Simonsson
    Centre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Reuben Garrick
  • Winger for Eels is number 5 Sean Russell
    Winger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Christian Tuipulotu
  • Five-Eighth for Eels is number 6 Ryan Matterson
    Five-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Joshua Schuster
  • Halfback for Eels is number 7 Daejarn Asi
    Halfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Jake Arthur

Forwards

  • Prop for Eels is number 8 Reagan Campbell-Gillard
    Prop for Sea Eagles is number 8 Taniela Paseka
  • Hooker for Eels is number 9 Brendan Hands
    Hooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Lachlan Croker
  • Prop for Eels is number 10 Ofahiki Ogden
    Prop for Sea Eagles is number 10 Toafofoa Sipley
  • 2nd Row for Eels is number 11 Bryce Cartwright
    2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Haumole Olakau'atu
  • 2nd Row for Eels is number 12 Andrew Davey
    2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 16 Ethan Bullemor
  • Lock for Eels is number 13 J'maine Hopgood
    Lock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Sean Keppie

Interchange

  • Interchange for Eels is number 14 Luca Moretti
    Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 12 Samuela Fainu
  • Interchange for Eels is number 15 Joe Ofahengaue
    Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Karl Lawton
  • Interchange for Eels is number 16 Matt Doorey
    Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Josh Aloiai
  • Interchange for Eels is number 17 Makahesi Makatoa
    Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 18 Aaron Woods

Reserves

  • Replacement for Eels is number 18 Haze Dunster
    Replacement for Sea Eagles is number 17 Ben Condon

Match Officials

  • Referee: Chris Butler
  • Touch Judge: Chris Sutton
  • Touch Judge: Kasey Badger
  • Senior Review Official: Adam Gee

Last updated:

Form Guide

The Eels have gone up a gear over the past month, winning three consecutive games to put themselves on the cusp of the top 8. A win on Saturday would see Parramatta leapfrog Manly into eighth place.

NRL Match Highlights: Bulldogs v Eels

Manly's form has been patchy in recent weeks, with big wins over the Dolphins and Raiders dampened by losses to the Knights, Sharks and Broncos.

Recent History

True to the close rivalry between the two Clubs over the past 50 years, there has been little to split the Eels and Sea Eagles in recent seasons.

Manly scored a tight victory over Parramatta in Round 3 this season, but the Eels prevailed in both of their meetings with the Sea Eagles in 2022.

Match Highlights: Eels v Sea Eagles

Key Stat

The Eels are just one competition point behind the Sea Eagles heading into this match.

Parramatta have also won seven games this season to Manly's six, but trail on the ladder having had one less bye.

A win will put them above the Sea Eagles with a bye in hand.

Key Match-Up

With both sides missing their regular halfback, former teammates Daejarn Asi and Jake Arthur will go toe-to-toe in a battle of stand-in no. 7s.

Asi and Arthur have each made just one appearance for their team this season, with Asi enjoying an impressive Eels debut against the Bulldogs last week.

The two friends will turn foes for 80 minutes at CommBank Stadium in what shapes to be an intriguing match-up.

Match Details

Acknowledgement of Country

Parramatta Eels respect and honour the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.

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