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Manly Sea Eagles vs Melbourne Storm: NRL live scores, blog

15th March, 2020
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Sea Eagles

4

Match Complete

Storm

18

80
SEA4 : 18STO

Brendan Elliot of the Sea Eagles (R) celebrates with Reuben Garrick (L) after scoring a try during the NRL Elimination Final match between the Manly Sea Eagles and the Cronulla Sharks at Lottoland on September 14, 2019 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
Roar Guru
15th March, 2020
143
1188 Reads

Sea Eagles

4

Match Complete

Storm

18

74T. Eisenhuth
65C. Smith
63S. Vunivalu
62C. Smith
60S. Vunivalu
R. Garrick38
R. Garrick34
6C. Smith

0
Tries
3
0
Conversions
2
2
Penalty Goals
1
0
Field Goals
0

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The Manly Sea Eagles begin their 2020 campaign at home with a grudge match against archrivals the Melbourne Storm at Sydney’s Lottoland. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 4:00pm (AEDT).

After a torrid 2019 on the injury front, Sea Eagles fans will rejoice at the sight of both Trbojevic brothers, skipper Daly Cherry-Evans, star back-rowers Joel Thompson and Curtis Sironen and metre-eaters Addin Fonua-Blake and Martin Taupau all taking the field at the same time.

Dylan Walker starts the season in the six jersey after finishing last season in that position. With Cade Cust, Lachlan Croker and the now-retired Kane Elgey all partnering Cherry-Evans in the halves at various points last year, coach Des Hasler will be hoping Walker is the man who can provide stability in the five-eighth role and can remain there injury-free for the bulk of the season.

With Apisai Koroisau’s departure to the Penrith Panthers and Manase Fainu’s suspension, Danny Levi comes down to the Northern Beaches from Newcastle to fill the dummy-half role. A strong runner of the ball – much like Koroisau and Fainu – Levi should fit in well at the Sea Eagles.

This is a fantastic opportunity for him to cement a starting spot after being shown the door by the Knights.

It should be business as usual for the Storm. Like the Sea Eagles, they have managed to keep together nearly their entire starting side from last season, the only changes being in the centres with Marion Seve and Justin Olam taking over from Will Chambers and Curtis Scott respectively.

There are big question marks surrounding the Storm’s 18th man Nelson Asofa-Solomona. A regular member of the Storm’s top 17 since debuting in 2015, the New Zealand international has supposedly been dropped after failing to shed the kilograms he put on during the offseason.

Fijian Tui Kamikamica is the man tasked with stepping up in Big Nelson’s absence. Kamikamica will do the job, but there’s no doubting Melbourne are a better side with Asofa-Solomona fit and ready to go.

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Prediction
In 17 seasons as a first-grade coach, Craig Bellamy has never lost a Round 1 fixture. That’s an astounding record.

No doubt a Sea Eagles side at Lottoland boasting both Trbojevic brothers and Daly Cherry-Evans and coached by Hasler is probably one of the tougher challenges Bellamy has faced in Round 1 over the years.

But it’s a brave man who bets against Bellamy’s Round 1 streak. I’m simply not willing to make that call, no matter how strong the Sea Eagles side looks on four per.

Storm by 4 in a tight one.

Don’t forget to join The Roar for live scores and commentary about the game from 4pm (AEDT).

Game information

Where: Lottoland, Sydney
When: 4:05pm AEDT
TV: Channel Nine, Fox League
Streaming: 9Now, NRL Digital Pass, Kayo Sports

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Squads

Sea Eagles
1. Tom Trbojevic, 2. Jorge Taufua, 3. Brad Parker, 4. Moses Suli, 5. Reuben Garrick, 6. Dylan Walker, 7. Daly Cherry-Evans (C), 8. Addin Fonua-Blake, 9. Danny Levi, 10. Martin Taupau, 11. Joel Thompson, 12. Curtis Sironen, 13. Jake Trbojevic, Interchange: 14. Lachlan Croker, 15. Sean Keppie, 16. Morgan Boyle, 17. Haumole Olakau’atu, Reserves: 18. Toafofoa Sipley, 19. Brendan Elliot, 20. Tevita Funa, 21. Zac Saddler

Storm
1. Ryan Papenhuyzen, 2. Suliasi Vunivalu, 3. Marion Seve, 4. Justin Olam, 5. Josh Addo-Carr, 6. Cameron Munster, 7. Jahrome Hughes, 8. Jesse Bromwich, 9. Cameron Smith (C), 10. Tui Kamikamica, 11. Felise Kaufusi, 12. Kenneath Bromwich, 13. Dale Finucane, Interchange: 14. Harry Grant, 15. Tino Faasuamaleaui, 16. Max King, 17. Tom Eisenhuth, Reserves: 18. Nelson Asofa-Solomona, 19. Brenko Lee, 20. Ryley Jacks, 21. Darryn Schonig

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