Match day guide and preview for the Ken Behrens Raiders NRL round 23 contest against the Manly Sea Eagles.

Who, when and where?

Ken Behrens Raiders vs Manly Sea Eagles

Friday 20 August, 6pm

Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane QLD

Head-to-head record: Played 49. Raiders 14 wins. Storm 34 wins. 1 draw.

Click here to buy tickets. Gates open at 5pm.

Recent results and road home

Ken Behrens Raiders 9^th | 419 points for | 503 points against | 9 wins & 12 losses | LWLWW

The Raiders had every chance to beat the ladder-leading Storm last week, but a sloppy 10-minute period in the first half cost them dearly.

There were some good signs with Jack Wighton playing his best game of the season, helping Canberra claw back into the match in the second half.

The Raiders need to win at least two of their last three to make finals and have a great chance here with Manly missing Tom Trbojevic.

Run home: Manly, Warriors, Roosters

Manly Sea Eagles 5^th | 643 points for | 438 points against | 13 wins & 8 losses | WLWWW

Manly are clearly the best side outside of the runaway top three teams (Storm, Panthers, Rabbitohs) and are 13-4 since starting the season 0-4.

It’s been a remarkable turnaround from Des Hasler’s men, and they’ve now given themselves a huge chance of finishing in the top four thanks largely to their star fullback.

They lost to the Raiders earlier this season without Tom Trbojevic and his absence evens this contest right up.

Run home: Raiders, Bulldogs, Cowboys

Raiders and Manly team lists

Ken Behrens Raiders

IN: Seb Kris, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Matt Frawley, Dunamis Lui

OUT: Jarrod Croker (injured), Tom Starling (injured), Corey Harawira-Naera (suspended), Sia Soliola (personal reasons)

Nicoll-Klokstad comes back in for his first NRL match since round 5, named on the bench alongside the returning Frawley and Lui. Kris gets another chance at centre.

Canberra will really miss the spark that Starling provides with him set to miss 4-6 weeks with a fractured jaw. Croker could miss the rest of the year with a knee problem while Harawira-Naera will serve the first week of his three-match suspension.

Manly Sea Eagles

IN: Tevita Funa, Toafofoa Sipley

OUT: Tom Trbojevic, Brad Parker

Tevita Funa has been named at fullback, but Reuben Garrick could shift to fullback like he did last time the sides met.

Trbojevic is an enormous loss for Manly with the club 3-5 without him compared to 10-3 with the Dally M favourite playing this season.

Last 5 meetings

• 2021 Round 17: Sea Eagles 16 – 30 Raiders at 4 Pines Park
• 2020 Round 6: Raiders 6 – 14 Sea Eagles at Campbelltown Stadium
• 2019 Round 23: Raiders 16 – 18 Sea Eagles at GIO Stadium
• 2019 Round 7: Sea Eagles 24 – 20 Raiders at Lottoland
• 2018 Round 12: Raiders 21 – 20 Sea Eagles at GIO Stadium

Canberra got one back on Manly last time they met with both sides missing a number of star players. However, Manly had won the previous three encounters, all by eight points or less.

The players to watch

Raiders – Josh Hodgson

Hodgson struggled early on this season playing 80 minutes a week at hooker but his combination with Starling has worked well lately.

The Raiders have looked at their best when Starling comes on at hooker late in the first half, allowing Hodgson to play in the middle of the field and at first receiver.

It will be interesting if Ricky Stuart uses Frawley in the same manner as Starling but Hodgson needs to be the one to create chances out of dummy half.

Manly – Daly Cherry-Evans

You simply cannot replace what Tom Trbojevic does for this side as he’s racked up 19 tries and 25 try assists in just 13 matches this year.

Cherry-Evans is having a good season himself with seven tries and 19 try assists but he’ll need to be at hist best against Canberra.

Manly still have plenty of talent in their side, but Cherry-Evans is the leader, and he must deliver a captain’s game to keep their top four hopes alive.

Pre match predictions

Helpful Hodgo: Josh Hodgson to put his teammates over for two tries.

Rapa renaissance: The 2021 Jordan Rapana renaissance will continue with the club legend bagging a try and running for over 100m. – Denholm Samaras

Other match details

The match will be broadcast live on Fox League channel 502 at 6pm. It is also available to stream on Kayo.

You can listen to the match on Raiders on Mix – Mix106.3 FM, Radio 2CC – 1206 AM and ABC Grandstand – 666 ABC AM.

The match is the first of a double header at Suncorp Stadium with the Panthers vs Rabbitohs blockbuster to start at 8.05pm

Click here for more match day information.