The Wests Tigers are back in the winner’s circle, beating the Manly Sea Eagles 30-26 in a highly entertaining contest this afternoon.
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Final score
Wests Tigers 30
Manly Sea Eagles 26
The Manly Sea Eagles got their premiership campaign back on track against the Sydney Roosters last week but need to be weary of a Wests Tigers side in pretty good form. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 4pm AEST.
Despite sitting at opposite ends of the ladder, today’s clash between Manly and Wests should be a competitive affair, similar to the last meeting between the two team’s this year.
On that occasion, the Sea Eagles secured a 28-16 victory after the Tigers had unexpectedly put up stubborn resistance at Lottoland.
Fast forward a few rounds and the Tigers are playing well enough to perhaps cause an upset at home this afternoon.
The Tigers have been competitive in recent matches against finals aspirants the Parramatta Eels and Penrith Panthers and will fancy their chances of pushing Manly all the way at home.
While their top eight hopes ended a while ago, the Tigers will be desperate to avoid the wooden spoon, and a win here will go a long way to ensuring that they don’t end up with the tag of being the NRL’s worst performing side in 2017.
With perfect conditions expected this afternoon in Sydney, today’s contest could very well be a high scoring affair between two teams that love to attack with the footy.
The battle between James Tedesco and Tom Trbojevic in particular should be great to behold. Tedesco is the current NSW fullback but another strong showing from Tom this afternoon will only strengthen his claim for an Origin jersey next season.
Tedesco however has very fond memories of the last time these two sides played at Leichhardt Oval, scoring a hat-trick and setting up several tries in a one sided Tigers victory. If Manly wish to secure two priceless competition points today, keeping Tedesco quite is a must.
Prediction
The Sea Eagles have plenty to play for but the Tigers should prove dangerous opposition today given recent form. Manly at their best should get the job done but anything less could see the Tigers spring an upset.
Manly by 8
Nick
Guest
100 % no try Cherry Evans shouldn't have to worry about a defender in the line...if u take the defender out Evans would have been across 3 or 4 more steps which then realises the centre to hold longer and the wingerr to stay out as well... Point 2 is tedessco catches the ball on his inside shoulder or directly behind the decoy which all yr has been no try ??? In my mind after watching nearly every game this YR to see this given a try is very very disappointing after similar given no tries...and hearing gus penrith Gould say try....WTF Manly year destroyed on that decision for mine !!
The eye
Guest
the manly village sook..can set your watch to him..
Alex L
Roar Rookie
U mad bro?
eagleJack
Roar Guru
The good thing with Taupau is that you get far more diamond than rocks performances. Especially this year. Even today he still made the most metres amongst Manly forwards. AFB and Perrett are long term gems. Both only 21 & 22 respectively. The trouble with Lawrence is that opposition 9s always target him when he has made a tackle. He's always slow to rise and leaves a gaping hole. It's painful to watch. Not sure if it's a fitness thing or issues with his back still. But he really struggles in that area. He also runs terrible lines when lead runner.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Are you talking about DCE, the guy who has made more one on one tackles than any other player in the comp? I think his defence is fine. I don't disagree with your statement that the onus should be on the players to read the play better. But the fact is, if DCE had gone to ground it would have been a penalty. The video ref said as much stating that DCE still had an opportunity to make a tackle as he kept his feet. Last week the Tigers took 2 blatant dives against the Panthers and were rewarded with no try rulings. DCE should have hit the deck.
Fortress
Guest
Roberto and Souvalis both of u are gronks dead set haters get off this site peanuts for brains at least were in the top 8 where are they trying to hide how crap the tigers are they should of never win obstruction on the last play and a 2 meter forward pass the tab and rorting continues we will make the finals and the both of u smelly turds go back into ur rat infested holes. Manly 4 life!!!!!!!
Davico
Roar Pro
Making a bad read in defense is not obstruction! It is time that players had the responsibility put back on them to actually read the play and not rush up and try to "guess" which player is going to get the ball in order to cut off a try. The only reason he rushes up like he does is that he knows that his tackling is not good enough to stop someone one on one.
Davico
Roar Pro
Well he has milked enough over the last 2 years why not?
Tom G
Guest
Well said Tom.. always said Toms are smart
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
Not sure what that has to do with the poor performance of the touchie...
Roberto
Guest
Turbo and harbour bridge passing - not once, but twice into the same bloke... football intellect missing or not respecting the opposition. Yeah, Ok blame the touchie when Manly were 14 points up.
Renegade
Roar Guru
Taupau really is rocks and diamonds isn't he... AFB is only going to get better too. Haha yeah noticed your comments about Lawrence below, I thought he was doing well earlier in the year but yeah had a shocker today.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Except that's not a rule. And Taupau didn't swing his arm into Tedesco. Was more a grab. Pretty harmless, penalty sufficient.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Not a great one from him today Rene. Lacked a bit of energy. Put his offload away. I thought AFB was strong through the middle. Lawrence was a passenger.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
Agree. When Taupau got penalised for his decond swinging arm, he should have had a 10 minute breather.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Agree. Manly simply weren't good enough in that second half. Switched off.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Especially when that same touchie called a forward pass on Turbo which was wrong. I think it's clear the refs and touch judges don't understand the forward pass rule. But to be fair I don't think they go into this profession due to intellect.
JoM
Roar Rookie
Not happening. Manly were well up at half time and then played dumb footy
Roberto
Guest
Keep crying wolf, DCE, and you get ignored when it matters the most. The battle of avoiding the wooden spoon is getting more interesting than the top 8 battle. C'mon Knights and Tigers, keep rolling them in the coming weeks.
Renegade
Roar Guru
Agree, what you think of Taupau's performance today mate?