Saturday, Central Coast Stadium, 7.30pm
Referee: Shayne Hayne

The Sea Eagles have had a dream run through the State of Origin series. Despite riding high on the competition table they have lost only one player - fullback Brett Stewart - to that cause. They played much more weakened teams, the Cowboys and Roosters, at home before Origins I and II respectively and won both games easily, and now, in a home game they have taken to Gosford, they play a Knights side that has lost fullback Kurt Gidley, hooker Danny Buderus and prop Ben Cross to the representative cause. There is also drama over the revelation Sea Eagles centre Jamie Lyon shunned selection for NSW in Origin II and was not considered because of that for the third game, yet has not been forced to stand down from any club games. The bottom line is that the Sea Eagles are in great shape going into another pre-Origin game, while their opposition will have to do without several stars. More than anything else, that is a result of the NRL's ridiculous scheduling through the representative period.

The Sea Eagles are in terrific form. After performing poorly in a narrow loss at home to the Dragons, they have responded with three straight wins. The Knights won two in a row before losing narrowly at home to the Roosters last weekend. The circumstances heavily favour the Sea Eagles.

LATE MAIL
Manly five-eighth Jamie Lyon is expected to play against Newcastle tomorrow night despite a shoulder injury - not to mention the storm over his Origin snub - while Steve Matai is in doubt with a neck injury.

Knights centre Adam MacDougall missed training yesterday with the flu but is expected to play, with no changes expected to the Newcastle side.
Glenn Jackson

SEA EAGLES: Michael Robertson, Michael Bani, Steve Bell, Steve Matai, David Williams, Jamie Lyon, Matt Orford (capt), Brent Kite, Matt Ballin, Josh Perry, Anthony Watmough, Glenn Stewart, Luke Williamson. Interchange: Heath L'Estrange, Glenn Hall, Mark Bryant, Steve Menzies, Nick Bradley-Qalilawa, Adam Cuthbertson (two to be omitted).

KNIGHTS: Wes Naiqama, James McManus, Junior Sau, Adam MacDougall, Cooper Vuna, Chris Bailey, Jarrod Mullen, Steve Simpson (capt), Matt Hilder, Jesse Royal, Chris Houston, Cory Paterson, Zeb Taia. Interchange: Daniel Tolar, Richard Faaoso, Danny Wicks, Scott Dureau.