Saturday second NRL Week 1 match is between Sydney Roosters and Manly Sea Eagles with the opening kick to commence at 7pm local time. The game is to be played at Allianz Stadium with the home team Sydney Roosters vs Manly hold favouritism in the match. View our preview and teams for the game between Sydney Roosters and Manly Sea Eagles.

Allianz Stadium

Saturday 7pm

Sydney Roosters $1.85 vs Manly Sea Eagles $2.00 at Sportsbet Australia get a $250 FREE BET on this match

Sydney Roosters $1.81 vs Manly Sea Eagles $2.00 at Luxbet Australia get a $500 FREE BET on this match

Odds Comparison by NRL Odds:

Sydney Roosters	1.85	1.75	1.81	1.75	1.85	1.78
Manly Sea Eagles	2.00	2.12	2.00	2.12	2.00	2.00

Preview:

In a quality first week of finals football, this clash could be the pick of them.

Sydney finished atop of the ladder and claimed the minor premiership last week with a good win over South Sydney.

It was much needed return to form for the Roosters who had been beaten in the previous fortnight by Gold Coast and Cronulla.

They went back to what had made them a force to be reckoned with all year – good defence and strong forward play.

They held Souths to 12 points and made good ground when on the attack right through the middle of the ruck.

After producing arguably their best performance of the season against Melbourne in round 25, Manly fell 10 point short against the Panthers last week.

Admittedly they were without several big names but the Sea Eagles may have been looking too far ahead and not paying enough attention to last week’s opponents.

They’ll be back and focused this week and a similar effort to that that they produced against Melbourne, will see them represent exceptional value at $2.00, especially when given that Sydney power-house forward Jared Waerea-Hargreaves missing due to suspension.

His absence in what will no doubt be a physical clash, could prove vital.

Manly have won four of their last six games against the Roosters but more importantly, the Roosters have won both clashes this year – by 12 points in round 4 and in round 16 at Brookvale, 6 points.

There was little in both games and interestingly, in both games, Manly were never in front at any stage.

This will be a beauty and with three of the past four matches between the two resulting in a total match score of 30 or less, a similar result will be on the cards here.

Teams:

Sydney Roosters:
Anthony Minichiello, Daniel Tupou, Michael Jennings, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, James Maloney, Mitchell Pearce, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Jake Friend, Sam Moa, Mitchell Aubusson, Sonny Bill Williams, Frank-Paul Nuuausala. Interchange (from):Daniel Mortimer, Aidan Guerra, Isaac Liu, Dylan Napa, Luke O’Donnell, Martin Kennedy

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 (from): Richie Fa’aoso, Tom Symonds, David Gower, George Rose, James Hasson.

Manly lean on experience in NRL title tilt

September is Manly time, and as they gear up for a ninth straight NRL finals campaign, the Sea Eagles believe playoff experience could prove the difference in the race for the title.

Along with Melbourne the pre-eminent force of the last decade, the Sea Eagles maintain they are serious premiership contenders thanks to a `been there, done that’ philosophy.

“We know what’s expected of us and each individual and we know what has to be done to win a game,” back-rower Anthony Watmough said of the Sea Eagles’ finals experience.

“… that’s a bonus for us.

“We had a slip-up on the weekend (against Penrith) but we really like to come into these things and take it up another level.”

The Sea Eagles will need to against a Sydney Roosters side they failed to beat in two meetings this year, when they again lock horns in Saturday night’s qualifying final at Allianz Stadium.

Both previous matches were brutal encounters dominated by the big men, the rival packs amongst the most fearsome in the competition.

“It’s going to be a big game – there’s going to be some big hits and some big runs – that’s no exception to any semi-final,” Watmough said.

Added Sea Eagles coach Geoff Toovey:

“They’ve beaten us twice this year, obviously they’ve got the wood on us, we’d like to turn that around.

“They’ve been two tough games against them, both games very physical.

“Our players will be up for it.”

Toovey can be sure of that thanks to the finals experience littered throughout his side.

The Sea Eagles boast 143 games of finals experience, almost double that of the Roosters with 75.

Several players such as the Stewart brothers, Brent Kite, Steve Matai and Watmough have been there throughout the nine straight years of finals play.

They’ve had some success when they’ve got there too – with two premierships and another grand final appearance to show for their efforts.

“(Manly) are a class team,” Roosters utility Mitch Aubusson said.

“They’re a proven team in the finals … so we’re going to have to be on our game all over the park and individual match-ups.”

Added centre Shaun Kenny-Dowall when quizzed about Manly’s biggest threat:

“Their whole team.

“Because they’ve got that experience, the finals experience.

“They’ve all been playing finals football for a number of years now so they’ve got that confidence right across the park.”

Which is why the Sea Eagles are not too perturbed about the last round loss to Penrith – a match which Watmough (knee), Brett Stewart (hamstring), Brenton Lawrence (back) and winger Jorge Taufua (suspended) all missed.

The Sea Eagles had achieved their goal of a top four finish – now was the time to prepare for the next task at hand.

And it’s why Watmough says there’s little chance of him missing this game.

“No doubt, I’ll be playing,” he said.

“It’s one of them games – you play 26 rounds, it’s another season, it’s a great way to finish off the year.

“We’ve come a long way this year, we’re going to look at building on it.”