VENUE & TIME: ANZ Stadium, Saturday August 23, 5:30pm (AEST)
COVERAGE: Fox Sports
LAST TIME: Sea Eagles 34 - Tigers 4 at Brookvale Oval, round 17, 2007.
WALKING WOUNDED: After losing prop Todd Payten to a three-week suspension after round 22, the Tigers are down another front-rower following Corey Payne's one-match ban for a senseless grapple tackle on Jarryd Hayne. Manly has a full contingent to choose from, with the notable exception of Jamie Lyon.
FORM: Coach Tim Sheens rated his side's loss to Parramatta on Monday night as the worst performance of the year. The Tigers were simply dreadful and didn't play like a team with its semi-final place on the line. The Sea Eagles have lost three of their last four, including a scarcely believable slip-up against Souths last start. But don't go mentioning the nasty 'slump' word around Brookvale.
WHO'S HOT: Manly hooker Matt Ballin read with interest that the Sea Eagles would be an inferior product this year after Michael Monaghan's departure. A trained personal instructor, Ballin simply said 'watch this space' and has gone on to kill 'em. To twist an old line, this bloke is built like Tarzan but doesn't play like Jane. He wants to stay in maroon and white next year but there is still no contract on the table.
WE THINK: This could be a case of two coaches in denial. Both Tim Sheens and Des Hasler have been quick to defend their teams against criticism in the wake of recent losses. While admitting the Tigers have been erratic, Sheens has refused to give the opposition credit for working his side out. He believes it's a case of the Tigers shooting themselves in the foot rather than rivals playing better than them. Hasler insists there is no need for panic despite three defeats in four weeks. If they go down here, he will surely have the worry beads out. Manly by 14
Wests Tigers: Brett Hodgson [c], Taniela Tuiaki, Dean Collis, Chris Lawrence, Beau Ryan, Benji Marshall, Robbie Farah, Keith Galloway, John Morris, Bryce Gibbs, Dene Halatau, Chris Heighington, Liam Fulton.
Inter: Tevita Metuisela, Bronson Harrison, Ryan O'Hara, Ben Te'o, Daine Laurie (one to be omitted).
Manly: Brett Stewart, Michael Robertson, Steve Bell, Steve Matai, David Williams, Steve Menzies, Matt Orford (c), Brent Kite, Matt Ballin, Josh Perry, Anthony Watmough, Glenn Hall, Glenn Stewart.
Inter: Heath L'Estrange, Luke Williamson, Adam Cuthbertson, Mark Bryant, Jason King (one to be omitted).