The Manly Sea Eagles could run up a score if they are able to play for the full 80 minutes when they host a struggling Newcastle Knights outfit at Brookvale. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 6pm (AEST).
The Sea Eagles came out of the gates firing last week against the Canberra Raiders, running up 20 points in a dominant first half display.
While they faded and dramatically went off the boil in the second half, having to settle for a Daly Cherry-Evans field goal in golden point, the key for them is now reciprocating the first half for a full 80 minutes week in and week out.
In a lot of ways, it’s been a weird sort of season for the Sea Eagles, who have just struggled to be consistent from week to week. They have impressed at times, especially in attack but it’s all fallen apart too often.
However, they have now won a few on the trot and without Tom Trbojevic, it seems they may have turned a corner, moving into the top eight with seven wins from 12 games.
Trbojevic may be due for a return this week as well, named on the reserves and not culled 24 hours before kick-off. Even without him though, Cherry-Evans, alongside hooker Apisai Koroisau have been the key men, while Jake Trbojevic and Martin Taupau have been among the form forwards in the competition.
Newcastle, on the other hand, have struggled as many expected they would in 2017. In saying that, they are far from the side we saw in 2016, who regularly got handed beatings week in and week out.
After picking up their second win of the season in Round 10 over the Raiders, they have lost a few on the trot, including a blowout against the Storm last weekend, where they had 40 points put on them.
Their defence was torn to shreds by the veterans leading Melbourne around the park, and again Newcastle were caught out, having so little in the way of experience.
While Dane Gagai has been the key man for them, proving dangerous with the ball in hand, he just hasn’t been able to carry a forward pack getting dominated more often than not.
With Manly’s strength in the forwards, the way this one could play out is pretty ugly – essentially, Manly could average 60 or 70 metres a set and be on the attack more often than not due to their dominance up front.
Casting aside all the talk about form, Manly have won an incredible 15 of 17 at Brookvale between the two sides, including all of the last six.
Prediction
Manly will win this – question is, by how much? Newcastle will probably hang in early, but the Sea Eagles should skip away comfortably in the second half.
Sea Eagles by 18.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of this Round 14 game from 6pm (AEST) and don’t forget to add your own comments throughout the course of the coverage.
Oto shark
Guest
Unliucky knights, but looks like manly might be slowly building a strong team again.
Jason Hosken
Roar Guru
3 cheers Matty Wright's 2 sideline strikes.
Johnybulldog
Guest
Well played Ej
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks Rob - as do I. Thanks for tuning in!
eagleJack
Roar Guru
2 points and no injuries. That's all Manly should take from the game. Well done to the Knights. Not a lot of luck out there for them.
Johnybulldog
Guest
Knights.....totall respect well done,heads up.
Rob
Guest
Great call Scott. Feel sorry for the Knights players and fans.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me here on The Roar for our live coverage of the 2017 NRL Season as the Manly Sea Eagles got the better of the Newcastle Knights in atrocious conditions at Brookvale Oval. Hopefully you enjoyed the call. Right now, it's time to flick it over to our coverage of the Brisbane Broncos and South Sydney Rabbitohs with Zachary Gates. I'll be live in about an hour for the French Open men's semi-finals, with Andy Murray taking on Stan Wawrinka and Rafael Nadal playing Dominic Thiem. Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts on the game Roarers?
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME That'll do it. Newcastle with a couple of plays, but they can't get anything going. Newcastle put up a huge fight at Brookvale, but it's Manly picking up their fifth win in six weeks. Manly Sea Eagles 18 Newcastle Knights 14
Scott Pryde
Expert
80' - The Sea Eagles now working it away through Wright and Lawrence with a strong run before Taupau makes some metres after contact, standing in the tackle and walking to halfway. Rain easing off a fraction once more as Fonua-Blake goes inside 40. Jake Trbojevic on another one-out play and the simple set ends with a Cherry-Evans kick to the sideline that doesn't find the sideline. Sea Eagles 18 Knights 14
Cadfael
Roar Guru
Sympathise there. Normal referee ruling, a dropped ball is an automatic knock on.
Scott Pryde
Expert
79' - The dropout rolls towards the sideline and Mata'utia brings it away before Starling goes into the middle. Feeney now passes from right to left for Lamb who beats one, finds Gagai and he beats a few, passes left and here is an offload for Saifiti. They looked lost here. Maybe because they couldn't see through the rain. This rain is incredibly heavy. Sea Eagles 18 Knights 14
Scott Pryde
Expert
77' - Here comes the rain again! This is really, really heavy. They come over halfway in two plays before they spread left for Saifiti. Gagai down the left edge now before they come back to the middle from Lamb to Daniel Saifiti and he is tackled 20 out. Feeney with a grubber on the last and it sits up on the last, just inside the corner with Uate waiting till the last possible second to kick it touch in goal. Dropout. Sea Eagles 18 Knights 14
Scott Pryde
Expert
76' - Well, after a sloppy game we are set for a grandstand finish. The kick-off rolls down towards the corner and the set starts with Starling and Daniel Saifiti bringing it back, the later getting a penalty. Sea Eagles 18 Knights 14
Scott Pryde
Expert
CONVERSION SUCCESSFUL by BROCK LAMB Sea Eagles 18 Knights 14
Scott Pryde
Expert
75' - TRY KNIGHTS, DANNY LEVI Jacob Saifiti with the first run of this set and he gets a quick play the ball. Levi, who is back out there after passing his HIA goes straight through the line running from dummy half, dummies and goes straight through a gap in the line to score. What an effort from the Newcastle hooker. This one isn't over yet. Sea Eagles 18 Knights 12
Scott Pryde
Expert
74' - The Sea Eagles struggling to get out of their own end now. Saifiti smokes Matthew Wright with a big hit on the fourth before Lawrence picks up ten or so metres. The kick will still have to come from within 30, but it's a charge down - not played at and Manly will be called for offside as they come up with it. Sea Eagles 18 Knights 8
Scott Pryde
Expert
73' - Gagai brings it away from the scrum with a strong run and they quickly work it over halfway before Feeney takes on the run to the right. Daniel Saifiti goes inside 30 now before Lamb looks to run on the last, throws a ball out the back and Matty Wright comes up with it for the Sea Eagles. Sea Eagles 18 Knights 8
Scott Pryde
Expert
72' - Kelly brings it away from the scrum before Walker goes over halfway. Taupau through the middle now before they spread right and Walker drops it. Sea Eagles 18 Knights 8