The Roar
The Roar

Advertisement

Sydney Roosters vs Manly Sea Eagles Highlights: NRL scores, blog

31st March, 2017
Kick-off: 6pm (AEDT)
Venue: Allianz Stadium, Sydney
TV: Live, Fox League
Online: Live, NRL League pass and Foxtel Go
Betting: Roosters $1.42, Sea Eagles $2.95
Overall record: Played 128, Sea Eagles 82, Roosters 44, drawn 2
Last meeting: Round 4, 2016 - Sea Eagles 22 defeat Roosters 20 at Allianz Stadium
Last five: Sea Eagles 3, Roosters 2
Referees: Ben Cummins and Chris Butler

Sydney Roosters
1. Michael Gordon 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Latrell Mitchell 4. Joseph Manu 5. Shaun Kenny-Dowall 6. Luke Keary 7. Mitchell Pearce 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Jake Friend 10. Dylan Napa 11. Boyd Cordner 12. Mitchell Aubusson 13. Aidan Guerra
Interchange: 14. Isaac Liu 15. Zane Tetevano 16. Ryan Matterson 17. Connor Watson 18. Paul Carter 19. Chris Smith 20. Blake Ferguson 21. Kane Evans

Manly Sea Eagles
1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Jorge Taufua 3. Dylan Walker 4. Brian Kelly 5. Akuila Uate 6. Blake Green 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Brenton Lawrence 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. Martin Taupau 11. Frank Winterstein 12. Curtis Sironen 13. Jake Trbojevic
Interchange: 14. Lewis Brown 15. Jackson Hastings 16. Nate Myles 17. Addin Fonua-blake 18. Shaun Lane 20. Matthew Wright 21. Jarrad Kennedy 22. Lloyd Perrett
Rugby league has had some success in Perth. (AAP Image/Richard Wainwright)
Expert
31st March, 2017
148
6240 Reads

The Sydney Roosters will look to keep their undefeated start to the season going when they host one of the competition’s surprise packets, the Manly Sea Eagles. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 6pm (AEDT).

Even with a couple of close calls against the Canterbury Bulldogs and Penrith Panthers in Rounds 2 and 3, Trent Robinson’s men have been the form team, sitting alongside the Melbourne Storm at the top of the ladder, and look well on their way to the finals after a lean 2016.

Most impressive has been the combination of Luke Keary and Mitchell Pearce directing the side around the park, while the forwards have crushed anyone standing in their path.

It’s meant the Roosters have picked up some big victories and held their nerve to win under pressure. A clash against the surprisingly red-hot Sea Eagles will need to bring out the Roosters’ best though.

Manly might have started with a pair of losses, but they were a different team taking big victories over North Queensland and holding Canterbury scoreless.

The win against the Cowboys might have been against an understrength opponent, but the Sea Eagles were missing plenty of players themselves and to win in Townsville is always a daunting task.

After putting up 30 points against North Queensland, Trent Barrett’s men hit their best in Round 4, beating the Bulldogs 36-0. While Canterbury didn’t throw much, Blake Green and Daly Cherry-Evans led Manly in a complete team effort.

Whoever can spend more time on the attack will win, and that’s going to come down to a strong long-range kicking game, as well as effort and intensity in the chase.

Advertisement

Keary has a huge role to play with the close-range game as well, given Manly’s goal line defence this season.

In 128 meetings between the clubs, Manly hold an impressive 82 victories.

Prediction
It’s difficult to tip against the Roosters, but I’m going to anyway. Their win streak has to end somewhere and Manly’s form and record might be just enough.

Sea Eagles by 4.

Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage from 6pm (AEDT) and don’t forget to drop a comment in the section below.

close