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LIVE: The Bulldogs and Sea Eagles may be well out of finals contention but there’s still plenty to play for in their final game of the season.
It’s been a disappointing season for both clubs and they will want to finish the year on a high after falling short of expectations – and for the Sea Eagles in particular, it’s Kieran Foran’s final match for the Manly club.
The rain arrived right on cue at kick-off, with a southerly making for tricky conditions at Accor Stadium. As the downpour quickly worsened, Warren Smith in commentary for Fox League described it as “monsoonal”. Steve Roach said: “They look like drowned rats!”
MATCH CENTRE: Bulldogs vs Sea Eagles live score, stats, video
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Fourth minute: Manly opened the scoring when Dylan Walker put Toafofoa Sipley through a huge hole in the Canterbury line, with plenty of Sea Eagles surging through in support. Sipley found Walker again, who handed it off to Cherry-Evans to score under the posts and convert his own try.
13th minute: Manly made it two in quick succession on the back of a repeat set, with Cherry-Evans floating the ball out wide to Christian Tuipulotu, the wide man found in an acre of space and diving through virtually untouched.
“Daly Cherry-Evans has been in everything so far,” Steve Roach declared. “His involvement’s been outstanding.”
18th minute: Martin Taupau surged through from close range to punish the Bulldogs for giving away repeat sets time and again – with Manly enjoying eight sets in a row.
Smith said: “(Taupau is) Unsigned beyond the end of this season. Making a statement perhaps, somebody who can still be a factor in 2023.”
“It’s one way traffic,” Smith added of Manly’s momentum.
PREVIEW
The Bulldogs enjoyed a late season surge under interim coach Mick Potter but have fallen back into bad habits, while Manly’s injury toll just seems keep getting worse.
It will be an important game for Manly veteran Martin Taupau who comes off contract and still has not secured a deal for next season, while the Sea Eagles will bid farewell to Kieran Foran, who joins the Titans next season.
It’s Jeremy Marshall-King’s 100th NRL game and also his last game for the Dogs before he joins the Dolphins. The club is also celebrating Raymond Faitala-Mariner’s 100th NRL game and Josh Addo-Carr’s 150th game.
In team news, Bulldogs star Tevita Pangai Junior returns after an impressive response to being dropped to NSW Cup last week, while Corey Waddell returns from his eye-gouging suspension.
For Manly, Brad Parker is out due to a hamstring injury with Ben Trbojevic replacing him in the centres. James Roumanos has joined the bench to make his NRL debut, while young gun Kaeo Weekes will play fullback, allowing Tolu Koula to shift back to the centres.
TEAMS
Bulldogs: 1. Jake Averillo 2. Jacob Kiraz 3. Aaron Schoupp 4. Braidon Burns 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Matt Burton 7. Kyle Flanagan 8. Max King 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Paul Vaughan 11. Corey Waddell 12. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 13. Josh Jackson 14. Zach Dockar-Clay 15. Joe Stimson 16. Chris Patolo 17. Tevita Pangai Junior. Replacement player: 19. Declan Casey
Sea Eagles: 1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Ray Tuaimalo-Vaega 14. Ben Trbojevic 4. Tolutau Koula 5. Christian Tuipulotu 6. Kieran Foran 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Toafofoa Sipley 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Martin Taupau 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Andrew Davey 13. Dylan Walker 15. Josh Schuster 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Kurt De Luis 18. James Roumanos. Replacement player: 19. Zac Fulton
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