Sydney Cricket Ground* will play host to Thursday's Round 23 NRL game between Sydney Roosters and Manly Sea Eagles. The game kicks off at 7:50 pm with Sydney Roosters heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the Sydney Roosters vs. Manly Sea Eagles game and give you our free tips and bets.
When: Thursday August 3, 2023 at 7:50 pm
Where: Sydney Cricket Ground*
Bet: Bet On This Match HERE
Sydney Roosters vs Manly Sea Eagles Odds
Sydney Roosters vs Manly Sea Eagles Preview
Sydney Roosters are already consigned to mathematical chances to make the finals, while Manly Sea Eagles are striving for a third straight win to stay in touch – or potentially finish the weekend in the Top 8.
The 8-11 Roosters briefly revived their hopes with a 36-18 win over the equally desperate Titans in Round 21, but they were thoroughly outplayed on both sides of the ball in a 32-10 defeat to the Broncos last Thursday – their eighth loss in 11 games and fifth by 13+.
The Sea Eagles have stayed alive by upsetting Cronulla 30-26 on the road – albeit after coming within a whisker of bottling a 30-0 lead – and holding off struggling St George Illawarra 24-18.
They enter this weekend in 10th, just one point outside the Top 8.
Siua Wong replaces Egan Butcher (head knock) and Drew Hutchison usurps Jake Turpin on the Roosters’ bench.
Raymond Tuaimalo Vaega replaces the injured Christian Tuipolotu on the wing, while Ben Trbojevic comes back into the Manly side at Sean Keppie’s expense.
The class of Daly Cherry-Evans is holding Manly together, while the side boasts an abundance of sheer speed out wide.
While they have largely struggled against in-form teams this season, the Roosters certainly don’t fit into that category.
The Sea Eagles edged the Roosters 18-16 at Brookvale just five weeks ago with Jake Trbojevic and Cherry-Evans leading the way while Joey Manu proved hard to handle in a beaten side.
It was just Manly’s third win in nine clashes with the Roosters.
The Roosters, plagued by attacking clunkiness, have lost their last three at home and look overvalued as a favourite in this clash between two below-average outfits.
Content provided by Ladbrokes
Head To Head Bet
We're tipping Sydney Roosters to win at $1.65 odds.
First Try Scorer
First Try Scorer: Daniel Tupou at $9.75.
Sydney Roosters vs Manly Sea Eagles Teams
Roosters team: 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 Turpin 21. Fetalaiga Pauga 22. Dylan Napa
Sea Eagles team: 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