Manly Sea Eagles

Last year the back three finished first, second and third on the Manly try-scorers list with Trbojevic (28) just ahead of Saab (26) and Garrick (23), while the next best Manly player Daly Cherry-Evans had 9.

Garrick concedes that playing in a back three featuring the reigning Dally M player of the year makes him and Saab the envy of every winger in the competition.

“It’s awesome because they play an exciting brand of footy,” Garrick told foxsports.com.au of playing with Trbojevic and Saab.

“I think everyone loves to see it and we love playing it. It makes it fun.

Cherry-Evans is already contracted until the end of the 2023 season, but The Daily Telegraph’s Brent Read reported that he is in talks about a one-year extension.

That would blow any plans Cherry-Evans’ junior club the Dolphins have to bring him home out of the water.

NSW Origin representative Jack Wighton was the star for Canberra, scoring a try and setting up another as they fought back from 16-0 down to scored three unanswered tries.

However, the big news out of the match was the injuries to Manly's Martin Taupau (back), Haumole Olakau’atu (arm) and Dylan Walker (knee).

Olakau'atu is believed to be the most series of the injuries and will undergo x-rays for a suspected broken arm.

Centres are always crucial and even more so in big games where defence comes to the fore because those in the No.3 and No.4 jerseys control a lot defensively.

You control that line. If you want to push up and tighten things up in defence it always ends with you. As a centre, you get to make that call. It's been known as one of the toughest positions to defend and decision-making is a big part of that.

You have to be alert to what's around you. There's a lot of decisions to make in attack too if you have a two-on-one or there's any type of overlap.

All the talk in the lead-up to this semi-final meeting was around whether the Roosters could replicate Melbourne's template to silence the Manly superstar, but Trbojevic was irrepressible in a two-try, one try-assist performance in the huge 42-6 win.

Manly exploded out of the blocks with Trbojevic crossing in the right corner in the sixth minute on the back of a glut of possession.

A Roosters error coming out of yardage handed the Sea Eagles another chance with Kieran Foran backing up a Trbojevic line break from a nice pass delivered by his brother in the 13th minute.

Multiple media outlets have reported Bullemor will be released by the Broncos to take up what is believed to be a three-year deal at Narrabeen.

He came onto the NRL scene last year but has made 17 appearances for the club this season and is one of their talented young forwards.

It will add to the Sea Eagles’ depth.

The Dragons are set to sign Sea Eagles centre Moses Suli, after Manly dug their heels in over a payment they made to acquire Jason Saab from St George Illawarra last year.

Parker’s head knock and the send-off saw 18th man Moses Suli activated and the new man scored in the corner with his second touch of the ball shortly after then doubled up three minutes later following Marata Niukore’s sin-binning for a professional foul. 

Sea Eagles coach Des Hasler was unsure of Parker's availability for next Friday against the Raiders.

"He's a bit sick, a bit sore. But we'll go through the normal concussion protocols now. It's a short turnaround so at this stage it might be difficult," Hasler said.

"We'll have to see how he pulls up."

The hosts made a flying start when Mikaele Ravalawa was awarded a penalty try in the second minute – Corey Thompson shoving the Fijian to the floor as he was about to ground an in-goal kick at the end of a 70-metre run.

David Nofoaluma grabbed a clever kick from the inspired Benji Marshall, who booted eight points, to level matters but Zac Lomax went over and added his own extras to ensure the Dragons led 12-8 at the break.

The 193cm prop is into the third season of a three-year deal with the Sea Eagles and has several offers in front of him.

Reports surfaced on ABC Grandstand on Saturday that the Super League was a possible destination for the 27-year-old forward as a lucrative deal had been tabled by an unnamed club.

Manly confirmed to NRL.com on Sunday that no release had been given to Lussick.

Back-rower Joel Thompson has joined the club from the St George Illawarra Dragons but the team otherwise looks largely similar to the 2017 iteration.

NRL.com expert Jamie Soward says:

"For Trent Barrett, he's seen the blueprint that works for Manly which is having Cherry-Evans play that six role where he can run around and play on the ball and get the ball when he wants it and having the guy alongside him who can control and kick. Croker is going to be important towards that.