Sunday second NRL Round 6 match is between Manly Sea Eagles and Cronulla Sharks with the opening kick to commence at 15pm. The game is to be played at Brookvale Oval which see’s home team Manly Sea Eagles hold favouritism in the market. View our NRL live scores, odds and results for the game between Manly Sea Eagles and Cronulla Sharks.

WHERE AND WHEN: Brookvale Oval, Sunday 15pm (AEST)

Odds Comparison:

Manly Sea Eagles	1.27	1.22	1.26	1.22	1.27	1.25
Cronulla Sharks	3.90	4.45	4.00	4.45	3.90	4.00

All odds are subject to change. Odds listed are correct at the time of the latest update.

Preview:

The Sea Eagles, who defeated the Roosters in a gutsy 8 – 0 in round 4, headed into last week’s match against the West Tigers at Leichhardt Oval as they warm favourites.

However the Sea Eagles’ form reflected that of the weather – miserable.

The Tigers stormed the Sea Eagles early, running in four tries in the first 30 minutes of the game and setting up a margin that the Sea Eagles would not be able to reign in.

Manly finished on the wrong side of every stat at the end of the match and with the weight of possession favouring the home-side significantly, Manly had to make almost a staggering 130 more tackles during the match.

On the rare occasion they did have the ball, silly mistakes such as failing to find touch from a penalty, a drop-out kicked out on the full and spilling the ball on their own line, just invited the Tigers to register more points.

It was a very uncharacteristic performance by the Sea Eagles and one they’ll be keen to remedy in a strong way this week against the Sharks.

The Sharks scored their first win of the season over the erratic New Zealand Warriors last week, 37 – 6.

It was not surprising to see their win coincide with the return of halfback Jeff Robson, who after suffering an injury in the pre-season, hadn’t not played a competition game.

He had an immediate impact and enabled his halves partner Todd Carney to perform at his absolute best.

The win would provide some much needed good news at the club which has been involved in off-field dramas since the pre-season.

They face a tough challenge here though to ensure the momentum continues to roll as the Sea Eagles, who generally start well anyway, will come at all guns blazing as they attempt to put last week’s embarrassing performance behind them.

The Sea Eagles have dominated the Sharks, winning eight of ten games between the two sides, since 2008 with both game last year resulted in almost an identical score-line in favour of Manly (24 – 18 and 25 – 18).

Manly to extend their dominance further 1 -12.

Teams:

Manly Sea Eagles:
Brett Stewart, Peta Hiku, Jamie Lyon, Steve Matai, David Williams, Kieran Foran, Daly Cherry-Evans, Josh Starling, Matt Ballin, Brenton Lawrence, Anthony Watmough, Justin Horo, Glenn Stewart. Interchange: James Hasson, Dunamis Lui, Jamie Buhrer, Jason King, Jesse Sene-Lefao

Cronulla Sharks:
Michael Gordon, Nathan Stapleton, Blake Ayshford, Ricky Leutele, Jonathan Wright, Todd Carney, Jeff Robson, Andrew Fifita, John Morris, Bryce Gibbs, Tupou Sopoaga, Wade Graham (c), Chris Heighington. Interchange: Isaac De Gois, Tinirau Arona, Sam Tagataese, Siosaia Vave

News:

Star playmaker Todd Carney says the bad press haunting Cronulla over the first month of the NRL season played a significant role in the Sharks’ horror start on the field.

The Sharks finally broke through for their first win of the season over the Warriors on Saturday after a troubled start in which they scored just five tries in their first four games.

Cronulla dealt admirably with the constant speculation surrounding the ASADA investigation last year to progress to the second week of the semi-finals, but Carney said the continued drama surrounding the club this year got the players down.

A number of issues including the continued spectre of the ASADA investigation, doubt over suspended coach Shane Flanagan’s role with the club, Andrew Fifita’s contract situation, talk of possible relocation and criticism of the club’s poor onfield form have dogged the Sharks early this season. Carney said it was affecting the players.

“You have to address those things,” Carney said.

“When there is so much publicity and so much criticism of the way we are playing and where the club is going and we are not scoring points it is hard and the boys read into it.

“But as players we have to try and keep a cool head and keep our spirits up, to get the two points at home is a bonus for us and we have to keep building.

“We had only won two games this time last season and when I was at the Roosters we lost four games in a row and went on to make the grand final so it can be done.

“It’s just that losing four games at the start of the season is something else.”

Carney was critical of his own early season form, after missing the first two rounds with a hamstring injury.

He said halfback Jeff Robson’s return from facial injuries for his first game of the season against the Warriors helped him find his groove.

“I thought against the Dragons (in round three) I was quite impressed with way I went,” he said.

“Last week against Newcastle I was off the pace.

“That was a reality check, I got ahead of myself but to have Robbo back this week really helped me.

“He can stick to the game plan and I know he is going to do that and I can just play off the cuff.

“He has been around first grade for a long time and is a great influence not just for myself but the team in general.”

The Sharks next face Manly at Brookvale Oval on Sunday.