Pre-Game Discussion - Storm V Manly [Round 20, 2025]

[Jethro]

Storm V Manly [Round 20, 2025]


MATCH DAY

Saturday 19 July 2025.

Venue:.... AAMI Park, Melbourne, VIC

Gates Open:.... 6:00pm.

NRL Kick Off Time:.... Melbourne Storm V Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles: ]7:35pm.


TICKETING

VS

Click here

https://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/Show.aspx?sh=STORM2025

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Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles

Team List etc. will be updated on Tuesday Afternoon (15/07/25)

Replacement:

TBA.


Reserves:

TBA.


Out:

TBA.


Available But Not Selected:

• TBA.

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From the Manly Sea Eagles website, here is the ' Injury Update: Taniela Paseka' released on Tuesday, 25 March 2025:

Sea Eagles prop Taniela Paseka has undergone surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles tendon.

The 27-year-old suffered the injury midway through the first half of the Round 3 victory over the Raiders.

Taniela is aiming to be available to play in Round 25 this season following a 16–20-week recovery period.

Injury Update: Taniela Paseka

Sea Eagles prop Taniela Paseka has undergone surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles tendon.

www.seaeagles.com.au

From the 'NRL 2025, Injuries, Suspension Return Dates, Casualty Ward and Key Information for the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership Season' web page, Here is the Latest NRL Injured or Unavailable Update:

* * * (Updated: Friday, 27 June 2025) * * *

Sea Eagles forward, Nathan Brown suffered a biceps issue and failed to finish the Round 17 clash against the Tigers at 4 Pines Park.

Coach Anthony Seibold said he would need scans to confirm the injury.

Manly forward Haumole Olakau'atu will be sidelined for up to six weeks after dislocating his shoulder in the act of reaching out to score a try in the Round 15 loss to the Titans.

Olakau'atu underwent scans and the Sea Eagles reported in a medical update that the Origin second-rower he would be sidelined for four-to-six weeks.

Fellow Sea Eagles Lachlan Croker (concussion) and Tommy Talau (hamstring) missed Friday's Round 17 game against Wests Tigers.

Manly Sea Eagles

• Nathan (Biceps, TBC)
• Tommy Talau (Hamstring, TBC)
• Lachlan Croker (Concussion, Round 18)
• Haumole Olakau'atu (Shoulder, Round 20-21)
• Josh Aloiai (Shoulder, TBC)
• Taniela Paseka (Achilles, Round 26)

NRL Casualty Ward: Metcalf's season over; Surgery for Brown

Warriors playmaker Luke Metcalf will miss the rest of the season after scans confirmed he ruptured his ACL against the Broncos while Manly forward Nathan Brown has undergone surgery to repair a ruptured biceps tendon.

www.nrl.com

Also, from the Official NRL Casualty Ward & Injury Information, Manly hub page, there are slight variations to the information regarding the unavailable or injured players and their return periods:

• Lachlan Croker (Concussion, Round 18)
• Haumole Olakau'atu (Shoulder, Round 21)
• Taniela Paseka (Achilles, Round 25)
• Josh Aloiai (Shoulder, TBC)
• Nathan (Biceps, TBC)
• Tommy Talau (Hamstring, TBC)

Casualty Ward

Check the Official NRL Casualty Ward, which players are injured, and who is expected to make their way back onto the field and in the game.

www.nrl.com

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[mickqld]

Reckon we'd be better going with a backline of
1. Turbo
2. Loppa
3. Koula
4. Talau
5. Garrick.
Storm will target Turbo's questionable defense at centre. Talau better defensively.

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

This is clearly a big step up from where we are and it’s away , the Drizzle will be raging hot favourites.

I’m not sure we can stay with them but I think the identical approach to the last two games is the way to go , try and hold ( or win ) the middle in the first 20 minutes.

Who knows we might get lucky because at some stage we are going to cause the mother of all upsets, I can feel it coming.

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

Manly big underdogs - but might be hard for Storm's Origin players not to be a bit underwhelmed about the Sea eagles challenge. Take it easy you lot, it's only Manly.
Drag them down to our pedestrian level, then surprise them with one or 2 flukey moments of brilliance. Manly wins!
(but probably best the Knights don't spring an upset this week!)

 

[Phobia]

Am I insane for thinking we are a chance?

Melbourne were pretty garbage for that first half against the Knights. If they're complacent after getting that win, we could surprise them.

This is wholly dependent on Lodge & TKO winding back the clock to 2019 form. Very unlikely, but to quote a great man "you're telling me there's a chance?"

 

[Rafferty]

Am I insane for thinking we are a chance?

Melbourne were pretty garbage for that first half against the Knights. If they're complacent after getting that win, we could surprise them.

This is wholly dependent on Lodge & TKO winding back the clock to 2019 form. Very unlikely, but to quote a great man "you're telling me there's a chance?"

They were ordinary, then Hughes and Grant stepped up in the second half, if you can shut Grant down or limit his game, that’s the key, it’s been done, it works and would work again, doing it is the hard part.

Then if you can cut his game down, limit his service, Hughes will be less effective, so the boys can then pressure him off his game, Munster might have his own struggles, but work the other 2 over and you never know.

Seems outrageous even thinking it, but I kind of feel we could be well rested and up for the challenge, while they might be feeling the pinch somewhat, would I place my cash on it? No way, do I think there’s a sneaky chance? For some strange reason like you, l do. I think I must be losing it.

 

[Ron E. Gibbs]

Am I insane for thinking we are a chance?

Melbourne were pretty garbage for that first half against the Knights. If they're complacent after getting that win, we could surprise them.

This is wholly dependent on Lodge & TKO winding back the clock to 2019 form. Very unlikely, but to quote a great man "you're telling me there's a chance?"

You are not insane. I also think we're a chance. In fact, I have more faith that we'll put in a good performance (not that we'll necessarily win) against a team like the Storm than I would if we were playing the Titans, Tigers or Bunnies. I mean, if you can't get a up for a game against the Storm or the Panthers, what's the point of even competing in the NRL?

And the Storm could take us lightly. Why wouldn't they? There is nothing to suggest they should be worried about anything we can throw at them.

Also, we have won our last two games - admittedly against hot garbage, but a win is a win and two wins is two wins. That might just give us some confidence and freedom.

So yes, it is not impossible that we could jag a win. Which is about as confident as I get about Manly's chances against anyone these days.

 

[Jimmie]

Am I insane for thinking we are a chance?

Melbourne were pretty garbage for that first half against the Knights. If they're complacent after getting that win, we could surprise them.

This is wholly dependent on Lodge & TKO winding back the clock to 2019 form. Very unlikely, but to quote a great man "you're telling me there's a chance?"

Agree…if our forwards can win the middle then it takes time and space away from grant and Munster.munster does not have a great long kicking game either.Complete and win the middle and our backs will take care of the rest.

 

[Dingo]

Am I insane for thinking we are a chance?

Melbourne were pretty garbage for that first half against the Knights. If they're complacent after getting that win, we could surprise them.

This is wholly dependent on Lodge & TKO winding back the clock to 2019 form. Very unlikely, but to quote a great man "you're telling me there's a chance?"

I hope you're right, I think it depends what Storm we get.

We couldn't even compete with them earlier in the year at home in front of a packed crowd on a Sunday arvo, lucky not to concede 50 in that one (albeit our first difficult opposition after the DCE news which was still fresh at the time). Melbourne were very switched on in that one though, unfortunate timing we got them right after an embarrassing loss to the Dargs, they did everything right. However you definitely can catch them off at times this year, it's not something they do every game. I just can't see us doing much better in Melbourne though, rivalry game at home they'd be up for it you'd think. Not to mention we already struggle to string 2 wins in a row together, let alone 3! I do hope we use that big loss early in the season to fuel us.

I am not exactly looking forward to it, but it makes the loss less painful when you have zero faith in us winning lol. Anything half decent on Saturday will be a bonus for me, i'll go and put 60 on them when the new Rugby League video game drops on Thursday 😂