Tonight’s NRL Round 7 match is between Manly Sea Eagles and South Sydney Rabbitohs. The opening kick is set to commence at 7:45pm local time with the game to be played at Brookvale Oval. The home team Manly are the current favourites for the match in the market. View our preview and teams for the game between Manly Sea Eagles and South Sydney Rabbitohs.
Brookvale Oval
Friday @ 19:45
Featured Bookmakers:
Manly Sea Eagles $1.69 vs South Sydney Rabbitohs $2.20 at Sportsbet Australia get a $500 FREE BET on this match
Manly Sea Eagles $1.67 vs South Sydney Rabbitohs $2.20 at Luxbet Australia get a $500 FREE BET on this match
Odds Comparison:
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
| Manly Sea Eagles | 1.69 | 1.66 | 1.67 | 1.66 | 1.69 | 1.68 |
|
South Sydney Rabbitohs
|
2.20 | 2.25 | 2.20 | 2.25 | 2.20 | 2.20 |
Preview:
The only Friday night game scheduled for Round 7 deserves stand only status – it’ll be a beauty!
Manly host South Sydney with both sides boasting five wins and one loss thus far in season 2013.
Manly hold a 4-1 record over the Bunnies since 2010 and won both clashes between the two sides last year in good style 36-22 and 23-6 however, the Bunnies of 2013 appeared to be an improved unit compared to last year with the benefit of a finals campaign from last season now under their belt.
The Bunnies pushed the Storm all the way a fortnight ago in their most recent match before coming up seven points short and toughed wins out against the Warriors and Bulldogs previously, games they may not have been able to hold on to in the past.
The Sea Eagles only loss this year was a narrow and surprising one when, as short priced favourites, they went down 16-14 to the Titans in round three.
They have since beaten the West Tigers, Bulldogs and Sharks only conceding a combined total of 24 points in the process.
Should be a great game but being at home, Manly gets the slight advantage and that may be enough to prove the difference.
Teams:
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, Tom Symonds.
Interchange: Richie Fa’aoso, Joe Galuvao, Jamie Buhrer, Jason King
Rabbitohs:
Greg Inglis, Nathan Merritt, Beau Champion, Bryson Goodwin, Andrew Everingham, John Sutton, Adam Reynolds, Dave Tyrell, Issac Luke, Roy Asotasi, Chris McQueen, Ben Te’o, Sam Burgess
Interchange: Nathan Peats, Jeff Lima, Ben Lowe, George Burgess, Michael Crocker, Justin Hunt, Jason Clark (three to be omitted).
Manly as good as Storm
Defeating Manly is the equal of tackling defending NRL premiers Melbourne as the game’s most difficult challenge, according to South Sydney.
And taking them down on their home turf might just be the hardest task of all – especially for a South Sydney squad that has tasted success at Brookvale Oval just once since 2004.
The walls of Fortress Brookvale are being rebuilt, following a 2012 season in which the Sea Eagles were defeated at home on three occasions.
But with back-to-back home wins to start 2013, including a shutout of Newcastle in round two, the Sea Eagles’ feared home ground advantage is beginning to resemble their 2011 undefeated record which ultimately delivered a premiership.
It’s a confronting trip South Sydney know all too well, having tallied just three wins from their past 17 visits to Manly’s home turf.
And while it’s not encroaching on hoodoo territory just yet, NSW State of Origin hopeful Nathan Merritt says it would be an enormous victory should the Rabbitohs prevail.
“To win a match like this would be huge. Huge for our confidence,” said Merritt, who has just one win from seven attempts at Brookvale.
“You know they’re a great side and to get a win against them brings a lot of confidence to your squad. It can do wonders for the rest of the season.”
As a smaller, suburban ground, fans are able to get up close and, occasionally, personal with opposition players.
Rabbitohs centre Bryson Goodwin says he enjoys the intimate nature on offer.
“I actually enjoy playing at Brookvale,” he said.
“The fans are really close so the atmosphere is really good.”
The Rabbitohs insist playing Manly, who boast the game’s best defensive record in 2013, is an equal challenge to tackling the defending premiers Melbourne.
“Of course. They’re just as good as Melbourne,” Merritt said.
“They’ve competed with Melbourne the last couple of years, they’ve won comps the last couple of years.
“They’ve shown everyone they’re a premiership-winning team.
“It’s going to be a great challenge for us this week. It’s going to be a test.
“… Whatever they’re doing, it’s working for them.”