NRL 2020: Dragons v Sea Eagles round nine match preview – NRL.COM

St George Illawarra will be looking to build on a dogged performance against last season’s grand finalists Canberra when they take on the Sea Eagles.
The Dragons fought back from 22-0 down with three late tries and will be intent on carrying that momentum into their clash with Manly to give themselves every chance of notching their third win of 2020.
Manly find themselves outside the eight after a frustrating loss to the Knights at Lottoland in which their defence looked its old self after an uncharacteristically sloppy showing against the Sharks but their attack failed to fire in the absence of Tom Trbojevic.
With all the pressure on skipper Daly Cherry-Evans to produce points he will be looking for play-making help from Lachlan Croker and Cade Cust.
The Rundown
Team news
Dragons: Tariq Sims is back from a wrist injury in the second row, pushing Tyrell Fuimaono to the bench and Korbin Sims to the reserves. Ben Hunt starts at hooker with Cameron McInnes in the No.13 jersey and Trent Merrin back to the bench. Jordan Pereira replaces Jason Saab on the wing. The Dragons have won four of their past five games against the Sea Eagles.
Sea Eagles: Taniela Paseka starts at prop for the suspended Addin Fonua-Blake with Morgan Boyle the new name on the bench. Coach Des Hasler has a 7-2 record against the Dragons Paul McGregor.
Team Lists

• Fullback for Dragons is number 1
  Matthew Dufty
  1
  Fullback for Sea Eagles is number 1
  Reuben
  Garrick
• Winger for Dragons is number 2
  Jordan Pereira
  2
  Winger for Sea Eagles is number 2
  Jorge
  Taufua
• Centre for Dragons is number 3
  Euan Aitken
  3
  Centre for Sea Eagles is number 3
  Brad
  Parker
• Centre for Dragons is number 4
  Zac Lomax
  4
  Centre for Sea Eagles is number 4
  Moses
  Suli
• Winger for Dragons is number 5
  Mikaele Ravalawa
  5
  Winger for Sea Eagles is number 5
  Tevita
  Funa
• Five-Eighth for Dragons is number 6
  Corey Norman
  6
  Five-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6
  Lachlan
  Croker
• Halfback for Dragons is number 7
  Adam Clune
  7
  Halfback for Sea Eagles is number 7
  Daly
  Cherry-Evans

• Prop for Dragons is number 8
  Blake Lawrie
  8
  Prop for Sea Eagles is number 8
  Taniela
  Paseka
• Hooker for Dragons is number 9
  Ben Hunt
  9
  Hooker for Sea Eagles is number 9
  Danny
  Levi
• Prop for Dragons is number 10
  Paul Vaughan
  10
  Prop for Sea Eagles is number 10
  Martin
  Taupau
• 2nd Row for Dragons is number 11
  Tyson Frizell
  11
  2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11
  Joel
  Thompson
• 2nd Row for Dragons is number 12
  Tariq Sims
  12
  2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12
  Curtis
  Sironen
• Lock for Dragons is number 13
  Cameron McInnes
  13
  Lock for Sea Eagles is number 13
  Jake
  Trbojevic

• Interchange for Dragons is number 14
  Trent Merrin
  14
  Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 14
  Cade
  Cust
• Interchange for Dragons is number 15
  Josh Kerr
  15
  Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 15
  Jack
  Gosiewski
• Interchange for Dragons is number 16
  Tyrell Fuimaono
  16
  Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 16
  Sean
  Keppie
• Interchange for Dragons is number 17
  Jackson Ford
  17
  Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 17
  Morgan
  Boyle

• Reserve for Dragons is number 18
  Timoteo Lafai
  18
  Reserve for Sea Eagles is number 18
  Corey
  Waddell
• Reserve for Dragons is number 19
  Tristan Sailor
  19
  Reserve for Sea Eagles is number 19
  Brendan
  Elliot
• Reserve for Dragons is number 20
  Jason Saab
  20
  Reserve for Sea Eagles is number 20
  Abbas
  Miski
• Reserve for Dragons is number 21
  Korbin Sims
  21
  Reserve for Sea Eagles is number 21
  Haumole
  Olakau’atu

Dragons Ins

• Jordan
  Pereira
• Tariq
  Sims
• Timoteo
  Lafai
• Tristan
  Sailor

Sea Eagles Ins

• Abbas
  Miski
• Brendan
  Elliot
• Corey
  Waddell
• Haumole
  Olakau’atu
• Morgan
  Boyle

Dragons Outs
Sea Eagles Ins
Key match-up
Matt Dufty v Reuben Garrick: Dufty has been one of the few bright spots for the battling Dragons, hailed by coach Paul McGregor for his blossoming partnership with Cameron McInnes and rookie half Adam Clune, while former Dragon Garrick has been given the job of filling the very large boots of Tom Trbojevic. The Dragons custodian was in the thick of St George Illawarra’s fightback against the Raiders while Manly’s No.1 showed significant improvement against the Knights after a difficult outing in their Sharks loss.
Stat attack
The Dragons lead the NRL in kick metres, with 5132 over the opening eight rounds. While that may suggest they struggle to get out of their own half when given possession, the next three teams on the list (Canberra, Penrith and Parramatta) are all enjoying strong starts to 2020.

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