Manly play yet another Monday night game but this time, travel to Townsville to take on the Cowboys.
After losing five on the trot, the home-side recorded a much needed win against St. George in Round 14, had the Bye the following week but made consecutive wins for only the second time this year when beating Cronulla at home in Round 16 24 – 4.
Last week they had the unenviable task of travelling to Canberra and at half time were trailing 18 – 0 before being beaten 26 – 18.
They were not the first team to lose at Canberra Stadium this year and are a better side when playing at home.
Of course they’ll be without Jonathon Thurston, Brent Tate and Matt Scott which will not make their task an easy one, especially given that Manly have won the last four clashes between the two sides, three of them in convincing fashion.
Speaking of convincing fashion Manly, who hadn’t won a game since Round 11, handed Parramatta a 50 – 10 point hiding last Monday night.
It was the hit-out Manly needed at this time and allowed Kieran Foran and Brett Stewart, both recently returning from injury the opportunity to play themselves back into form.
They miss Watmough and Cherry-Evans to Origin but still name a very strong side.
Foran, whose organisational skills was sorely missed in Manly’s loss to the Roosters in Round 16, is the driving force in this side and he’ll create plenty of headaches for the Cowboys who’ll struggle to contain Manly.
Tip: MANLY 13 +
Odds comparison by NRL Odds:
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
| Nth Queensland Cowboys | 3.05 | 2.95 | 3.10 | 2.90 | 3.05 | 3.07 |
|
Manly Sea Eagles
|
1.38 | 1.42 | 1.38 | 1.42 | 1.38 | 1.39 |
Teams:
Nth Queensland Cowboys:
Clint Greenshields, Ashley Graham, Antonio Winterstein, Kane Linnett, Kalifa Faifai Loa, Ray Thompson, Robert Lui, Ricky Thorby, Anthony Mitchell, Glenn Hall, Ethan Lowe, Jason Taumalolo, Joel Riethmuller. Interchange: Rory Kostjasyn, Gavin Cooper, Tariq Sims, Scott Bolton, Michael Morgan
Manly Sea Eagles:
Brett Stewart, Jorge Taufua, Jamie Lyon (c), Steve Matai, David Williams, Kieran Foran, Peta Hiku, Brenton Lawrence, Matt Ballin, Brent Kite, Jamie Buhrer, Justin Horo, Glenn Stewart. Interchange: Richie Fa’aoso, George Rose, James Hasson, Ligi Sao
