Western Suburbs Magpies will look to start their 2019 campaign with a victory when they take on the Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles at Leichhardt Oval in Round 1 of the Canterbury Cup.
Formally known as Intrust Super Premiership, the New South Wales reserve-grade competition is now branded as the Canterbury Cup following the major sponsor change, with Bankwest Stadium set to host the Grand Final until at least 2023.
Western Suburbs Coach and Wests Tigers Life Member Brett Hodgson has named a strong squad for Round 1 with NRL squad members Dylan Smith, Tyson Gamble, Oliver Clark, Sam McIntyre and Robbie Rochow all named on Tuesday, while Jacob Liddle and Chris McQueen also look set to play after dropping out of the NRL squad.
Josh Reynolds and Matt Eisenhuth remain in the updated 19-man side, and it appears unlikely that they will feature in Saturday's Canterbury Cup opener.
The Magpies come in to Round 1 with two strong performances in the trials — a comfortable 18-6 win over the Bulldogs at Belmore before heading over to New Zealand to down the Warriors 20-18 despite having a drastically reduced squad.
Maarbani double seals comeback win for Magpies
Those performances will no doubt have given Hodgson's side plenty of confidence for Saturday's game, which will see the first of three matches played at home to start all the year — all of which will be played prior to the corresponding NRL fixture.
With a good crowd expected at Leichhardt Oval and a very strong squad listed, Western Suburbs will certainly fancy their chances at starting 2019 with a win today.
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MATCH DETAILS
Date — Saturday, March 16, 2019
Time — 3:15pm AEST
Venue — Leichhardt Oval
TEAM LISTS
Match: Magpies v Sea Eagles
Round 1 -
home Team
Magpies
away Team
Sea Eagles
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Magpies is number 1 Dylan SmithFullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Leva Li
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Winger for Magpies is number 2 Harrison O'TooleWinger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Abbas Miski
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Centre for Magpies is number 3 Watson HeletaCentre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Dane Aukafolau
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Centre for Magpies is number 4 Kane McquigginCentre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Alfred Smalley
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Winger for Magpies is number 5 Bilal MaarbaniWinger for Sea Eagles is number 5 John Tohi
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Five-Eighth for Magpies is number 6 Tyson GambleFive-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Luke Metcalf
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Halfback for Magpies is number 7 Kauri Aupouri-PuketapuHalfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Cade Cust
Forwards
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Prop for Magpies is number 8 Oliver ClarkProp for Sea Eagles is number 8 Andy Saunders
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Hooker for Magpies is number 23 Jacob LiddleHooker for Sea Eagles is number 19 Zach Dockar-Clay
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Prop for Magpies is number 10 Elia FaatuiProp for Sea Eagles is number 10 Kurt De Luis
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2nd Row for Magpies is number 11 Sam McIntyre2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Tyler Cassel
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2nd Row for Magpies is number 25 Chris McQueen2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Josh Martin
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Lock for Magpies is number 13 Robbie RochowLock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Sean Keppie
Interchange
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Interchange for Magpies is number 9 Braden RobsonInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 17 Charles Shepherd
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Interchange for Magpies is number 12 Jack MillerInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 18 Fred Junior Mauala
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Interchange for Magpies is number 14 Patrice SioloInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 22 Keith Titmuss
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Interchange for Magpies is number 21 Joseph RatuvakacereivaluInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 24 Denzal Tonise
Last updated:
MATCH OFFICIALS
Match Referee — Kieren Irons
Touch Judges — John Woods and Daniel Luttringer
