Friday’s only NRL Round 17 match is between Canterbury Bulldogs and Manly Sea Eagles with the opening kick to commence at 19:50 local time. The game is to be played at ANZ Stadium which see’s away team Manly Sea Eagles hold favouritism in the market. View our NRL live scores, odds and results for the game between Canterbury Bulldogs and Manly Sea Eagles.
Where and when: 19:50 | Friday 04/07/2014 @ ANZ Stadium
Preview:
The Bulldogs snapped a three game losing streak when the welcomed back their Origin halves Trent Hodkinson and Josh Reynolds and defeated Canberra 22 – 14 in round 15.
The Bulldogs, who were still missing several key members of their back-line in Josh Morris, Chase Stanley and Sam Perrett, made the most of their opportunities to score the much needed win.
It wasn’t it the Bulldogs at their best but it showed how they can grind out a win when they need to – which will have to be the case this week against Manly.
The above backs a still missing despite the advantage of last week’s bye, and also out of the team this week will be Hodkinson and Reynolds who will be preparing for the final Origin match.
Captain and regular hooker Michael Ennis has been named at half-back with Josh Jackson at five-eight whilst the hooking role will be filled by Damian Cook.
It leaves the Bulldogs with a very unfamiliar back line for this clash and with Manly in strong form, one that’ll face plenty of pressure.
The one plus for the Bulldogs is that Aidan Tolman returns from injury to the forwards.
MANLY
The Sea Eagles maintained their position at the top of the ladder with a solid and testing win over the Roosters, who had won seven of their last eight, 24 – 16 at Brookvale last week.
In front of a big home crowd, Manly were the first to score and for the majority of the match, had their noses in front. Some stout defence in the second half repelled a number of the Roosters’ attacking raids and would’ve pleased coach Geoff Toovey immensely.
It was Manly’s third win in a row and seventh from their past nine outings, and has them well placed and full of momentum heading into the business end of the season.
The only change for the Sea Eagles line-up this week is the absence of Daly Cherry-Evans through Origin duty otherwise, Manly name a very formidable looking line-up – one similar to that who accounted for the Dogs as recently as round 13, 32 – 10.
HEAD TO HEAD
When the two sides last met, the Bulldogs had Hodkinson and Reynolds in the team although they were backing up from the first State Of Origin.
The Bulldogs scored first but then Manly dominated the remainder of play, running in five tries to only another one to the Bulldogs.
This week, the Bulldogs are without their halves and a number of back who were involved in the round 13 clash. It’s hard to see the Bulldogs having enough to hold out a Manly side in hot form with so many changes to their line-up.
In the round 13 clash, Brett Stewart scored a double. He also finished a nice set move last week, which there should be plenty more of this weekend, so any betting involving him as a try-scorer is a better than average chance.
Tips : MANLY 13 +
Tems:
BULLDOGS: Mitch Brown, Corey Thompson, Krisnan Inu, Timoteo Lafai, Drury Low, Josh Jackson, Michael Ennis, Aiden Tolman, Damien Cook, James Graham, Greg Eastwood, Tony Williams, Dale Finucane. Interchange: Sam Kasiano, Tim Browne, Lloyd Perrett, Reni Maitua, Pat O’Hanlon.
MANLY: Brett Stewart, Jorge Taufua, Jamie Lyon, Steve Matai, Peta Hiku, Kieran Foran, Jack Littlejohn, Josh Starling, Matt Ballin, Brenton Lawrence, Jamie Buhrer, Justin Horo, Dunamis Lui. Interchange: Jesse Sene-Lefao, James Hasson, Tom Symonds, Jason King.
News:
For Greg Bird, returning to Queensland after every State of Origin series defeat had become something he’d become used to dreading.
The Gold Coast back-rower has been one of the Titans’ most-consistent players since joining the club in 2009 following a short stint with Super League club Catalans Dragons.
The 30-year-old, who debuted in 2007, has been a regular member of the Blues’ side since Game III in 2010 – the last time there was a series whitewash in favour of the Maroons.
The three series that followed all finished 2-1 in favour of Mal Meninga’s side and, although the gap was closing, Bird admitted hearing constantly just how great Queensland were each year was becoming almost impossible to bear.
So, returning ‘home’ from the 6-4 victory in Game II in Sydney last month, after wrapping up a first series success since 2005, he admits life’s become more bearable.
“It was a bit of a relief really,” Bird said.
“You go back after the third, the fourth, the fifth (series loss), then it tends to get a bit more embarrassing and shameful every time.
“You don’t really want to go out and show your face. But it was good to go back after game two and hold my head high.”
Bird’s Titans teammates Nate Myles, Dave Taylor and Ashley Harrison have frequently been on the other side during Origin but he says there’s always been respect shown between players from both sides in the throes of victory.
“Mylesy has always been great to me, post-Origin – it’s not the players on the field,” he said.
“They are always quite respectful; it’s the people off it who want to heckle you.
“The players are much more professional than to have a go at you after the game has finished.”
Victory in Brisbane on July 9 would allow the Blues to chalk up their first clean sweep in 14 years and Bird said it would eclipse the win in Sydney, which he credited as the highlight of his career.
“I haven’t won a great deal apart from the World Cup last year overseas,” he said.
“We’ve been on the bad end of eight losses in a row – it’s been embarrassing for us.
“There has been a whitewash … and to put a bit of embarrassment back on them would be pretty good.”
Canberra centre Jarrod Croker joined the Blues’ squad in Coffs Harbour on Thursday but team officials said it was not as official 18th man but to give the 23-year-old experience of being in camp.