Sunday first NRL Round 8 match is between Manly Sea Eagles and Canberra Raiders with the opening kick to commence at 2:00pm local time. 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 Canberra Raiders.
Where and when: Sunday, Apr 27, Brookvale Oval, FOX, 2:00pm
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Odds Comparison:
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| Manly Sea Eagles | 1.40 | 1.45 | 1.44 | 1.45 | 1.40 | 1.42 |
| Canberra Raiders | 3.07 | 2.85 | 2.85 | 2.85 | 3.07 | 2.95 |
All odds are subject to change. Odds listed are correct at the time of the latest update.
Preview:
The Sea Eagles left it to the last three minutes of their game against the Cowboys last week to snatch victory 26 – 21.
It was the Sea Eagles’ fifth win of the season and their fourth by 8 points or less.
For the fourth time this season, Sea Eagle centre Steve Matai opened up the scoring with a typically strong left-hand side move in the 5th minute however, the remainder of the first stanza was dominated by the Cowboys who registered three unanswered tries to lead 14 – 6 at the break.
Sea Eagles were without halfback Daley Cherry-Evans and missed the spark he provides in attack during the first half. Cherry-Evans returns this week however, his halves partner Kieran Foran will be missing with a knee injury that will keep him out of the side for up to a month.
Foran’s spot will be taken by Captain Jamie Lyon.
Also battling injury and in doubt for the match are Sea Eagles forwards Anthony Watmough and Jason King.
Canberra will field the same side that was successful against the Storm last week 24 – 22.
The Raiders were playing from behind for the entire match but toughed it out well to sill be within striking distance in the final minutes of the game.
A try to Paul Vaughan in the final minutes, who beat several poor attempts from Storm defenders, saw the Raiders hit the front when it matter the most.
It was a much needed win for the Raiders, only their third for the season and their first at home in six matches however, they need to back that effort up with another this week.
Inconsistency has been the Raiders Achilles heel over the past few season with the last time they registered successive victories, coming in round 19 and 20 of last season.
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Improving that record will be a tough task at Brookvale, where Manly have won 2 from 3 so far this year with the defeat coming in Golden Point time against Melbourne.
Adding to their challenge will be the fact that in the twelve matches between the two clubs since 2005, the Raiders have only won two. The most recent victory coming in 2010.
Although not at full strength, the Sea Eagles at home will be a tough nut to crack, especially for an inconsistent Raiders outfit who will need to be at the top of their game.
Manly 1 – 12 with Steve Matai and David Williams as the first try-scorers for Manly.
Teams:
Manly Sea Eagles:
Brett Stewart, Jorge Taufua, Peta Hiku, Steve Matai, David Williams, Jamie Lyon, 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
Ins: Jason King, Daly Cherry-Evans
Outs: Kieran Foran (knee, round 12)
Other unavailables: None
Canberra Raiders:
Anthony Milford, Reece Robinson, Jarrod Croker, Matthew Allwood, Bill Tupou, Jack Wighton, Terry Campese, David Shillington, Glen Buttriss, Brett White, Josh Papalii, Joel Edwards, Shaun Fensom. Interchange: Josh McCrone, Paul Vaughan, Dane Tilse, Shannon Boyd, Jake Foster
Ins: Jake Foster
Outs: None
Other unavailables: Edrick Lee (foot, indefinite), Sam Mataora (ribs, round 10), Jeff Lynch (knee, season)
News:
Forget the Stewart brothers’ distractions, no NRL team rises in the face of adversity better than the Manly Sea Eagles.
That’s Canberra centre Jarrod Croker’s assessment of the turmoil taking place at Brookvale Oval, with fullback Brett Stewart charged with drink driving on Monday, and older brother Glenn on Tuesday making the shock announcement he is defecting to South Sydney in 2015.
Combined, the star duo have played more than 350 NRL games for the club since 2003, and have represented both NSW and the Kangaroos.
Both have been named to play the Raiders at Brookvale on Sunday, and Croker knows his side faces a tough task stringing together their first back-to-back wins of the season after downing the Melbourne Storm on the weekend.
Manly were one of the best teams at overcoming adversity in the competition and would be even more pumped after learning key playmaker Kieran Foran (knee) would be sidelined for up to a month, Croker said on Tuesday.
“Adversity normally fires up most teams,” he said.
“They’re one of the best teams as it is, let alone with the adversity, which will bring them closer (together).”
Croker, who was man-of-the-match in his side’s thrilling comeback win over the Storm, has this weekend to impress before the NSW Country side is picked to take on City on May 4.
Croker starred on Sunday with three try-saving tackles, four goals from as many attempts, and a hand in the lead-up to two crucial tries.
“I’d love (to be picked), being a proud country boy,” he said.
“But it’s when your team is winning football games that players get picked in rep sides.
“Hopefully this weekend we can string some momentum together, and who knows from there.”