Central Coast Stadium, Gosford, Friday 7.40pm (AEST)

Last meeting: Sea Eagles 34 bt Cowboys 14 at Townsville (round 18, 2013).

Head-to-head: Sea Eagles 14, Cowboys 7

Referees: Gavin Badger, Adam Devcich

TV: Channel 9 live (delay in Brisbane)

Ladbrokes: Sea Eagles $1.35, Cowboys $3.25

Betfair: Sea Eagles $1.40, Cowboys $3.40

Michael Chammas writes: Manly will make the trip up to Gosford, the ground where they unexpectedly dominated South Sydney in round two. The Cowboys have been disappointing to start the year, and given Manly's wake-up call against the Tigers a fortnight ago, they won't lose this game.

Tip: Sea Eagles by 12

AAP writes: Cyclone Ita disrupted the Cowboys’ travel plans following their last-round away loss to the Wests Tigers. Now it seems they have to prepare for Cyclone Matai. Or at the very least, Kiwi centre Steve Matai looks set to ensure 12th-placed North Queensland develop into a depression on Friday night in Gosford. Matai has been on fire on the left edge for the fourth-placed Sea Eagles, combining with the equally devastating Jorge Taufua in a major worry for the visitors. Matai has crossed for two tries four times in six games and is equal with Eels beast Semi Radradra for the most line breaks in the league. Manly have won their past five meetings with the out of sorts Cowboys - and the last time they played in Gosford, the Sea Eagles soared in a 38-6 shellacking in 2008.

Key: Cowboys co-captain Matt Scott. He must stand up against the likes of Jason King, Anthony Watmough and Glenn Stewart if North Queensland are any chance of winning.

SEA EAGLES: Brett Stewart, Jorge Taufua, Jamie Lyon (capt), Steve Matai, Peta Hiku, Kieran Foran, Daly Cherry-Evans, Josh Starling, Matt Ballin, Brenton Lawrence, Anthony Watmough, Justin Horo, Glenn Stewart. Interchange: James Hasson, Dunamis Lui, Jamie Buhrer, Jason King, Jesse Sene-Lefao (one to be omitted).

COWBOYS: Michael Morgan, Matthew Wright, Brent Tate, Kane Linnett, Curtis Rona, Johnathan Thurston (capt), Robert Lui, Matt Scott (capt), Rory Kostjasyn, James Tamou, Gavin Cooper, Jason Taumalolo, Tariq Sims. Interchange: Ray Thompson, Joel Riethmuller, Ashton Sims, Scott Bolton, Glenn Hall (one to be omitted).

Welcome to tonight's coverage of Manly v North Queensland.

Manly start warm favourites tonight, but without Daly Cherry-Evans at halfback things could get interesting.

The Cowboys have made their traditional slow start to the season, but they're full of internationals and Origin reps, so there's no reason for it.

Stand by for kick-off.

Peta Hika moves to the centres (his third different starting position already this season) for Manly tonight, while Jamie Lyon shuffles into five-eighth and Kieran Foran will start at halfback.

Curtis Rona is on debut for the Cowboys on the wing.

A loss tonight and the Cowboys will be sliding towards the NRL cellar - and it's a long way to the finals from there.

A healthy crowd on hand, so let's go ...

Manly look full of running here, making plenty of metres in attack. Danger signs early for the Cowboys.

6th minute: Steve Matai's scoring run continues with an early try. A simple shift to the left and he gets on the outside of his man to score untouched, his 9th try of the season. Lyon converts.

Sea Eagles 6, Cowboys 0

We're under way in Gosford.

Both teams trading sets of six here, but the Cowboys finally crack and make a mistake. Manly on the attack

17th minute: The free-running "centre" Matt Ballin (we know he's a hooker) goes close to scoring for Manly on the right after a wide shift, but the Cowboys hang on. It's still 6-0 Manly.