With only pride left to play for, the 12th placed Sea Eagles and 15th placed Bulldogs will go head-to-head on Sunday, hoping to climb up the ladder and take some positives into next season.
Manly were right in the mix after their Round 22 victory over the Dragons but they have failed to register a win since then, with a tough run home slowly cruelling their chances of a 2023 finals campaign.
Anthony Seibold's side have stood tall against premiership contenders in the Panthers and Warriors in recent weeks but have struggled to capitalise on their early leads and have been on the wrong end of some tight contests.
Meanwhile the Bulldogs will be hoping to save face in front of their faithful when they play host at Accor Stadium after winning just three games at home this season.
After matching it with the Raiders for over 60 minutes at GIO Stadium, the Bulldogs showed some promising signs on Sunday and if they can fix up the missed tackles (47) and conceded penalties (6) they could have a real chance to upset the Sea Eagles.
The Sea Eagles were 31-6 winners when the two sides met in Round 1, and the Bulldogs have lost four of their last five meetings.
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Team News
Bulldogs: A couple more changes on game day with Luke Thompson set to start up front and Max King moving to the bench. Jayden Okunbor comes into the 17 for Kurtis Moran while there's a double change in the centres with Paul Alamoti and Hayze Perham coming into the backline with Braidon Burns out of the side. Jeral Skelton is 18th man.
Sea Eagles: There are no late changes for the visitors. Tolu Koula moves to fullback for the injured Reuben Garrick (back) with Brad Parker coming into the centres. Ben Trbojevic is also back from a head knock so Kelma Tuilagi reverts to the bench and Dean Matterson is 18th man. Gordon Chan Kum Tong is the new man on the bench and will make his NRL debut.
Match: Bulldogs v Sea Eagles
Round 26 -
home Team
Bulldogs
away Team
Sea Eagles
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Bulldogs is number 1 Jake AverilloFullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Tolutau Koula
-
Winger for Bulldogs is number 2 Blake WilsonWinger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Jason Saab
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Centre for Bulldogs is number 22 Hayze PerhamCentre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Brad Parker
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Centre for Bulldogs is number 24 Paul AlamotiCentre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Morgan Harper
-
Winger for Bulldogs is number 5 Josh Addo-CarrWinger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Raymond Tuaimalo Vaega
-
Five-Eighth for Bulldogs is number 6 Matt BurtonFive-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Jake Arthur
-
Halfback for Bulldogs is number 7 Toby SextonHalfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Daly Cherry-Evans
Forwards
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Prop for Bulldogs is number 10 Liam KnightProp for Sea Eagles is number 8 Toafofoa Sipley
-
Hooker for Bulldogs is number 9 Reed MahoneyHooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Lachlan Croker
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Prop for Bulldogs is number 15 Luke ThompsonProp for Sea Eagles is number 10 Sean Keppie
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2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 11 Viliame Kikau2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Haumole Olakau'atu
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2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 12 Corey Waddell2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Ben Trbojevic
-
Lock for Bulldogs is number 13 Harrison EdwardsLock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Jake Trbojevic
Interchange
-
Interchange for Bulldogs is number 8 Max KingInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Gordon Chan Kum Tong
-
Interchange for Bulldogs is number 14 Kyle FlanaganInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Kelma Tuilagi
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Interchange for Bulldogs is number 17 Tevita Pangai JuniorInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Aaron Woods
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Interchange for Bulldogs is number 19 Jayden OkunborInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 17 Ethan Bullemor
Reserves
-
Replacement for Bulldogs is number 21 Jeral SkeltonReplacement for Sea Eagles is number 19 Dean Matterson
Match Officials
- Referee: Liam Kennedy
- Touch Judge: Jon Stone
- Senior Review Official: Gerard Sutton
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- The Bulldogs are leading the competition in missed tackles with 899 so far this season.
- The Sea Eagles are leading the competition in 40/20 kicks with five so far this season. The Bulldogs are tying second with four.
- The Bulldogs have defeated the Sea Eagles in five of their past six clashes at Accor Stadium.
- The Sea Eagles have won eight of their past nine games against the Bulldogs at all venues.
- The Bulldogs have conceded 393 points in their past 10 games.
- Sea Eagles halfback Daly Cherry-Evans scored a hat-trick against the Bulldogs in Round 1.
- Bulldogs winger Josh Addo-Carr has scored 21 tries in 20 games at Accor Stadium.
Match: Bulldogs v Sea Eagles
Round 26 -
home Team
Bulldogs
15th Position
away Team
Sea Eagles
12th Position
Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
