NRL Live Scores: Manly Sea Eagles vs Cronulla Sharks

Friday’s first NRL game for Week 2 is between Manly Sea Eagles and Cronulla Sharks with the opening kick to commence at 7:45PM local time. The game is to be played at Allianz Stadium with the favourite for the match being Manly Sea Eagles. View our NRL live scores, odds and results for the game between Manly Sea Eagles and Cronulla Sharks.

WHERE AND WHEN: Allianz Stadium, Friday, 20/09, 7:45PM

Opening Odds Comparison:

Manly Sea Eagles 1.30 1.30 1.28 1.30 1.30 1.33
Cronulla Sharks
3.65 3.65 3.80 3.65 3.65 3.40

 

Preview:

We are well and truly into the NRL finals this week, after a cracking and sometimes controversial start to the action last weekend. Just like many people anticipated, the Roosters and Rabbitohs are having a break this weekend, with four sides battling it out for one of two chances to meet them next week. The first game on Friday night sees the Manly Sea Eagles play the Cronulla Sharks, 7.45pm at Allianz Stadium. This do-or-die game is the next chapter in one of the strongest rivalries in rugby league, with earlier chapters including the 1973 Grand Final, 1978 Grand Final with replay, and 1996 Elimination Semi-Final.

The Sea Eagles will go into this match as pretty big favourites, with the winner of this game going on to face South Sydney next weekend. Manly definitely have the historical advantage going into this game, with 56 victories from 81 matches and only one finals loss against Cronulla in 1978. History means very little in games of this magnitude, however, and both sides do have what it takes to win here if they are hungry enough.

The Sea Eagles are coming off one of the most hard fought matches ever witnessed against the Roosters last week, in a game the Roosters managed to win by a lowly four points. The shear physicality of that game will see Manly bruised and saw this weekend, and this might be the Sharks’ biggest advantage. To be fair though, Cronulla also fought a hard contest last week against North Queensland, overcoming controversy to win in a nail-biter. While it is easy to see why Manly are favourites here, this latest chapter in the ongoing rivalry between these two sides is looking like one of the best.

Teams:

Manly Sea Eagles:
Brett Stewart, Jorge Taufua, Jamie Lyon, Steve Matai, David Williams, Kieran Foran, Daly Cherry-Evans, Brenton Lawrence, Matt Ballin, Brent Kite, Anthony Watmough, Justin Horo, Glenn Stewart. Interchange: Richie Fa’aoso, Jamie Buhrer, Tom Symonds, George Rose, Peta Hiku, James Hasson, David Gower

 

Cronulla Sharks:
Michael Gordon, Sosaia Feki, Ben Pomeroy, Jonathan Wright, Beau Ryan, Luke Lewis, Jeff Robson, Andrew Fifita, John Morris, Sam Tagataese, Jayson Bukuya, Wade Graham, Paul Gallen. Interchange: Isaac De Gois, Chris Heighington, Anthony Tupou, Bryce Gibbs, Ben Ross

Stewart to miss NRL do-or-die final

Manly’s hopes of an NRL premiership have been dealt a huge blow, with fullback Brett Stewart to miss Friday night’s semi-final against Cronulla after succumbing to a hamstring injury.

Stewart, who also missed last week’s finals loss to the Sydney Roosters with the injury, did not train on Thursday and failed a fitness test on Friday morning.

Manly rookie of the year Peta Hiku is his likely replacement for the do-or-die clash at Allianz Stadium.

While Hiku has been a standout substitute in the No.1 jersey in recent weeks, the Sea Eagles have struggled without Stewart, who has not played since round 25.

Of the eight games he has missed this season, Manly have won twice and drawn once – a win-rate of just 25 per cent.

But that record triples with custodian Stewart, the Sea Eagles victorious 13 times in the 17 matches he did play (76 per cent).

In those games, they averaged 26.5 points and conceded just 13. That compares to the average 17 points for and 19 points against without their prolific tryscorer.

The Sharks are also set to be without one of their stars, playmaker Todd Carney, who has all but been ruled out with hamstring trouble.

Captain Paul Gallen on Thursday said Cronulla denied Manly would be easier to beat with Stewart on the sidelines.

“The young bloke (Hiku) who played there last week did really well,” he said.

“They’ve got strike all over the field and it is going to be a big game.”

The match kicks off at 7.45pm (AEST).

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