Sydney Roosters
26
Match Complete
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
16
| 78 |  | T. Koula | ||
| 73 | | B. Parker | ||
| J. Suaalii | | 66 | ||
| 63 |  | R. Garrick | ||
| 63 | | J. Schuster | ||
| B. Smith | | 51 | ||
| J. Suaalii | | 39 | ||
| D. Tupou | | 38 | ||
| J. Suaalii | | 23 | ||
| J. Manu | | 22 | ||
| J. Suaalii | | 19 | ||
| D. Tupou | | 18 | ||
| 9 |  | R. Garrick |
| 5 | Tries | 3 | ||
| 3 | Conversions | 1 | ||
| 0 | Penalty Goals | 1 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
Round 23 of the NRL premiership kicks off tonight when the Sydney Roosters take on the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:50pm (AEST).
Few fans at the start of the year would have picked the Roosters as 14th on the ladder this late in the season. Yet here we are. They can start planning their end of season trip whilst a win for Manly could have them in the top 8 by the end of the round.
The Roosters would have been buoyed by their win against the Titans a fortnight ago but crashed back to earth last week with a 32-10 defeat by the Broncos. The Roosters were not that bad. They were simply outplayed by a much better team.
That, in itself, is a concern for the Roosters. They remain a very strong team on paper. However, a number of them are either playing well below expectations or are past their best. Questions will be asked at the Roosters at the end of the season.
Egan Butcher will miss the match through concussion protocols and his spot is taken by Siua Wong. Drew Hutchison joins the bench with Jake Turpin dropping out of the 17.
The Sea Eagles are getting the close wins, with a 4 point win over the Sharks followed by a 6 point win over the Dragons. Neither performance would have challenged the top sides but to do it without Tom Trbojevic is commendable.
Daly Cherry-Evans is having a wonderful season and is guiding his team around the park. Having Jake Trbojevic back in the middle has solidified the Manly defence and is giving an underrated Manly backline a chance to close out games.
Christian Tuipulotu is out for a few weeks with a knee injury and is replaced by Raymond Tuaimalo Vaega. Ben Trbojevic returns from a hamstring injury and moves Sean Keppie out of the 17.
Prediction
The Roosters, at some point, have to put together a full 80 minute performance at a level that we expect. Their premiership chances are over but I expect them to put a dent in the Sea Eagles tilt tonight. Roosters by 8
Game information
Venue: Sydney Cricket Ground
Kick-off: 7:50pm (AEST)
TV: Nine. Fox Sports
Streaming: Kayo Sports, Foxtel
Odds: Roosters $1.62 Sea Eagles $2.30 – odds via PlayUp
Roosters: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Billy Smith 4. Joseph Manu 5. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii 6. Luke Keary 7. Sandon Smith 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Brandon Smith 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Siua Wong 12. Nat Butcher 13. Victor Radley 14. Drew Hutchison 15. Nathan Brown 16. Terrell May 17 Fletcher Baker 18. Corey Allan 19. Elie El-Zakhem 20. Jake Tyurpin 21. Fetalaiga Pauga 22. Dylan Napa
Sea Eagles: 1. Reuben Garrick 2. Jason Saab 3. Brad Parker 4. Tolutau Koula 5. Ray Tuaimalo-Vaega 6. Josh Schuster 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Toafofoa Sipley 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Matthew Lodge 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Kelma Tuilagi 13. Jake Trbojevic 14. Ben Trbojevic 15. Aaron Woods 16. Dean Matterson 17. Ethan Bullemor 18. Ben Condon 19. Jakob Arthur 20. Kaeo Weekes 21. Morgan Harper 22. Gordon Chan Kum Tong
Dave
Roar Rookie
"smashed Burto straight in the head with his shoulder" - I think you need look at the tackle again, that didn't happen. If it did it would have at least stunned the Manly player a little bit - he was completely unaffected by the tackle. The vast majority of the impact was chest on shoulder - which is why the manly player wasn't hurt. It was still a stupid, unnecessary and reckless tackle - it was just lucky there wasn't solid contact to the head.
watty
Roar Rookie
Commiserations on having to blog that game :unhappy: :laughing:
David Holden
Roar Guru
Thanks for joining the blog tonight. See you tomorrow night for the Panthers and Storm
watty
Roar Rookie
Under current set up and some of the players, I certainly wouldn't be worried about them
David Holden
Roar Guru
The Sea Eagles take on Penrith at 4 Pines Park next weekend. They have the Warriors following that before winnable games against the Bulldogs and Tigers
watty
Roar Rookie
I thought your boys before the game might have had our measure. Not a game to sit back and enjoy. Hopefully both improve big time for next year.
David Holden
Roar Guru
The Roosters play the Dolphins at Allianz next weekend in another must win game. They have the Eels, Tigers and Rabbits to run out the season. They probably need to win all 4
Stormy
Roar Rookie
If anyone can lipread, there are lots of unsavoury things said out on the field, in most games.
watty
Roar Rookie
Comisserations to Manly. I thought you probably would have got us. We really are terrible. This was not a good game at all. Both teams should be better than this. Hopefully both improve everything 1000% and come back better next year.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Brown’s tackle was really bad He raced out… he jumped in the air and smashed Burto straight in the head with his shoulder. Burto wasn’t falling Zero technique, zero care in the outcome
R N
Roar Rookie
When contact sports are banned in the future due to CTE and AI programs are making rugby league simulations I hope to god this game is not in the database!
Stormy
Roar Rookie
Best team won an uninspiring game. If Manly had woken up earlier, they might have made a game of it. Brave call, David, of a stop/startathon. You did a great job - thankyou.
David Holden
Roar Guru
The Roosters are long odds to play finals but they have potentially taken Manly down with them tonight. The Roosters got on top of a decimated Manly pack and Keary and Tedesco had big games as a result. Nathan Brown's send off sent a scare through the Roosters camp but they were too good in the end
Hard Yards
Roar Rookie
Great win to Easts but, would you say this has been one of the worst games of the year as far as actual professional football is concerned? A very nasty business as far as I’m concerned.
David Holden
Roar Guru
FULL TIME ROOSTERS DEFEAT SEA EAGLES 26-16
Mutley
Roar Rookie
What a terrible game ruined by penalties , six agains and lack of crowd. Roosters win but wouldn't have anyone worried.
78
David Holden
Roar Guru
80' Early shift and Koula has it. DCE goes at the line. Kick is knocked on by Tupou but time is up Roosters 26 Sea Eagles 16
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Garrick get a head knock, he’s lining the kicks up at the Hill.
JGK
Roar Guru
When Olakau’atu finally works out footy, he'll be unstoppable.