Manly's top-eight charge has been dealt a blow with winger Jorge Taufua ruled out for the rest of the NRL season with a torn ACL.
The in-form winger suffered the injury to his right knee in Sunday's golden point win over Canberra and is a bitter blow given his return to form this year.
Taufua has run for 1913 metres after 13 rounds , the seventh most in the competition and has crossed for eight tries, the sixth-most in the league.
The news could get worse for Manly, with bench forward Dunamis Lui's season in doubt after he suffered a possible ACL tear against the Raiders.
However, the Eagles - who are travelling nicely in sixth spot - are set to get fullback Tom Trbojevic back two weeks early from an leg injury.
Trbojevic injured his knee and ankle in a controversial tackle against Brisbane last month, and was originally scheduled to return in round 18.
That has now been revised to two weeks earlier against Cronulla, allowing him the chance to play one game before NSW name their team for the third State of Origin in Brisbane.
The Sea Eagles have been playing Matthew Wright at fullback, who could shift to the wing upon Trbojevic's return given Taufua's season-ending injury.
Wright ran 168 metres on Sunday, and has been impressive in his two games at the back.
