NRL Round 20 Preview and Prediction - St.George Illawarra Dragons v Manly Sea Eagles @ WIN Stadium

St. George Illawarra Dragons (8th) v Manly Sea Eagles (3rd) @ WIN Stadium
 
Preview - The Dragons desperately need a win to revive their stuttering campaign as they take on the high flying Sea Eagles in a crucial Round 20 match up at WIN Stadium in Wollongong on Sunday. After winning 7 from their opening 9 matches, the Dragons have now lost 6 from their past 8 matches and are in danger of dropping out of the Top 8 if their poor form continues. Whilst they were gutsy last week, and perhaps unlucky to lose 18-14 to the Raiders in Golden Point, the Dragons’ attack has gone off the boil and, without an injection of points, they will soon find themselves outside the Top 8 looking in. The Sea Eagles were far from their best but did enough to come from behind to beat the Tigers 28-16 in a an unconvincing performance last week at Lottoland. The Sea Eagles are sitting in 3rd spot and look set to complete a remarkable transformation after they finished 13th with largely the same squad last year. 
 
History - Earlier this season, the Dragons ran roughshod over Manly winning 35-10 at Lottland in the midst of their purple patch of form in April. Manly have won 4 of their past 6 clashes against the Dragons, however they have an awful record at WIN Stadium having won just once there since 2003. Overall, the Dragons have won 16 from 25 against the Sea Eagles at all venues.
 
St. George Illawarra Dragons’ Scouting Report - The Dragons get some much needed troops back on deck for this crucial game with Tyson Frizzel back from a rib injury, while Euan Aitken is also fit to return in the centres. Enforcer Russell Packer misses out with a rib injury, with both Kurt Mann and Tariq Sims going back to the bench, while Jack de Belin returns to the starting side.
 
Manly Sea Eagles’ Scouting Report - The Sea Eagles have been hit with a double injury blow leading into this game, with both Apisai Koroisau and goal-kicking winger Matt Wright both ruled out. That sees Trent Barrett giving an opportunity to Brad Parker who come on to a wing, Cameron Cullen goes into the hooking role, while Jackson Hastings comes on to the bench after being given limited opportunities in the top Grade this season. 
 
Verdict - Dragons by 1-6
 
This is the hardest game of the round to call for mine by far. Manly deserve favouritism, given they have won 6 from their past 7 and sit in 3rd spot on the ladder. However, they were from their best last week against the Tigers, and look to have hit a bit of a flat spot after a sparkling run of form.  I think they will miss Korisao in particular at hooker and, with the Dragons getting back Frizzel, De Belin and Aitken, I think they might prove hard to toss here. The Dragons always play well in Wollongong, so I expect them to really lift for this game against a Manly side that has only lost 1 game on the road all season. They actually played quite well in Canberra last week and were unlucky to lose the game in Golden Point. The Dragons Top 8 spot is now in jeopardy with a host of teams starting to go on late season runs, so I think they will be very desperate to win this game at a ground they enjoy playing at. I think this game could be quite low scoring and physical and go right down to the wire, however I fancy the Dragons to secure somewhat of an upset at home given the fact I think they might be a little more desperate.