Monday will see the last NRL Round 9 match which is between Manly Sea Eagles and Sydney Roosters with the opening kick to commence at 7pm local time. The game is to be played at Brookvale Oval were we see home team Manly Sea Eagles hold slight favouritism in the market. View our NRL live scores, odds and results for the game between Manly Sea Eagles and Sydney Roosters.
WHERE AND WHEN: Brookvale Oval, Monday @ 19:00
Opening Odds:
Manly Sea Eagles $1.85 vs Sydney Roosters $1.95 at Sportsbet Australia
Manly Sea Eagles $2.05 vs Sydney Roosters $1.80 at Luxbet Australia
Preview:
The Manly Sea Eagles play the Roosters in the last match of the round, with this game kicking off at Brookvale Oval on Monday night at 7.00pm. The Roosters are playing great at the moment, and have the stats to back them up. Not only do they lead the competition in attack with great point scoring form, they also lead it in defence. While this fact alone sees them labelled as premiership favourites early on, some people are more than ready to remind them that only one of their wins has been against a top eight side. The Roosters will be a big challenge for Manly this weekend, and a true test to see if they have what it takes in 2013.
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: James Hasson, Tom Symonds, Jamie Buhrer, George Rose, Esi Tonga (one to be omitted)
Sydney Roosters:
Anthony Minichiello (c), Daniel Tupou, Michael Jennings, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, James Maloney, Mitchell Pearce, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Jake Friend, Martin Kennedy, Mitchell Aubusson, Sonny Bill Williams, Boyd Cordner.
Interchange: Daniel Mortimer, Frank-Paul Nuuausala, Aidan Guerra, Luke O’Donnell
Referees: Matt Cecchin/Henry Perenara
Video Referee: Ashley Klein/Justin Morgan
Our chance to silence doubters: Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters know what the critics are saying – that their path to the top four has been forged by beating up on the NRL’s lesser lights – and that Monday’s clash with Manly is a chance to silence those claims.
The Roosters came into this weekend’s round nine with the best attack and defence in the competition and a 6-2 record with losses to South Sydney and Canberra.
After some very astute off-season recruitment the Roosters have been one of the big movers of 2013 and have emerged as a genuine premiership contender.
But critics of the eastern suburbs-based team claim they are yet to be truly tested with their six wins coming over the Warriors, Brisbane, Parramatta, Canterbury, St George Illawarra, and Penrith – all sides that sat outside the top eight at the start of the weekend.
Prop Martin Kennedy moves into a starting position for the Roosters after an ankle injury to Sam Moa and the big Queenslander said the Sea Eagles at Brookvale Oval loom as the Roosters’ biggest test of the season to date.
“We are not deaf to what people have been saying that we haven’t been playing the greatest football at the start of they year and this is a chance to step it up,” Kennedy told AAP.
“If we don’t we will be very sore losers on Monday.
“We have been working very hard. It is a big game for us … a very big test.
“They have been a consistently good footy side over the last few years and have some very good senior players so we will have to be galvanised across the park.”
The Roosters have an atrocious record at Brookvale having won on just 11 of 45 visits.
Roosters enforcer Jared Waerea-Hargreaves said the team knows a win over the Sea Eagles at Brookvale Oval will enhance their premiership aspirations.
“We have played only two teams in the top eight so this Monday is going to be a great challenge for us,” said Waerea-Hargreaves who played six games for Manly in 2009 before moving to Bondi Junction.
“It will be a great test of where we are at the moment and of where we need to improve. As a team we are all really looking forward to it. It is a great opportunity for us.”
Former New Zealand international Frank Paul Nuuausala comes into Kennedy’s bench spot.
For Manly, Jorge Taufua is likely to take Brett Stewart’s (back) fullback spot with either Peta Hiku or Esi Tonga to play on the wing.
Steve Matai returns from suspension for Manly and Sea Eagles back-rower Tom Symonds plays his first match against his old club in Anthony Watmough’s 250th NRL game.
