Friday first NRL Week 3 match is between South Sydney Rabbitohs and Manly Sea Eagles with the opening kick to commence at 7:45pm local time. The game is to be played at ANZ Stadium which see’s home team South Sydney Rabbitohs hold favouritism in the market. View our NRL live scores, odds and results for the game between South Sydney Rabbitohs and Manly Sea Eagles.

WHERE AND WHEN: ANZ Stadium, Friday 7:45pm AEST

Opening Odds Comparison:

South Sydney Rabbitohs	1.45	1.42	1.39	1.42	1.45	1.44
Manly Sea Eagles	2.85	2.95	3.05	2.95	2.85	2.80

Preview:

The first game kicks off on Friday night at 7.45pm, with the Rabbitohs taking on the Sea Eagles at Allianz Stadium. Most of the money will be on South Sydney to win this one, who have had a great season and will be keen to make amends after losing to the Bulldogs last year. The Rabbitohs made their first preliminary final since 1968 last season, only to have Canterbury rip their dreams apart. While Manly are capable of doing the same this weekend, they will have a tough time against what is a stronger and more confident Rabbitohs outfit.

Manly are not in the best shape going into this game, after suffering from multiple injuries over the last few weeks. They are experienced in finals football, however, and known exactly how to approach these kind of situations after winning Premierships in 2008 and 2011. The Sea Eagles are also a very dangerous side with the football in hand, ranking second in 2013 for total line-breaks including a competition-best 45 from busts. Daly Cherry-Evans has been particularly good for the Sea Eagles, and he will need to be in top form if Manly are to have any chance in this game.

Where Manly might struggle is in the forwards, with the mighty Souths pack capable of damaging an already hurting Manly outfit. The likes of Greg Inglis, Issac Luke, John Sutton, and Adam Reynolds will test Manly’s defence, and the Sea Eagles wont be able to rest for a second. If the Rabbitohs pack start to worry Manly in the first half, it might be hard for the Sea Eagles to hold on. However, Manly are no slouches at finals football, and a tight gruelling encounter all the way to the final whistle is much more likely.

Teams:

South Sydney Rabbitohs
Greg Inglis, Nathan Merritt, Bryson Goodwin, Dylan Walker, Dylan Farrell, John Sutton, Adam Reynolds, Luke Burgess, Issac Luke, Dave Tyrrell, Sam Burgess, Ben Te’o, Jeff Lima
Interchange: Jason Clark, Roy Asotasi, Chris McQueen, George Burgess, Ben Lowe, Luke Keary, Matt King (three to be omitted)

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: Richie Fa’aoso, Jamie Buhrer, Tom Symonds, George Rose, Peta Hiku, James Hasson, David Gower (three to be omitted)
Referees: Ben Cummins/Gerard Sutton

High standards the key to Manly’s success

It took Justin Horo just one day to realise the high standards expected from new recruits by Manly’s senior playing group.

Having spent all of his career with Parramatta, Horo was shown the door by the Eels at the end of last season with a year still remaining on his contract and thrown a lifeline by the Sea Eagles.

But any hopes of an easy introduction for the back-rower from his new teammates went straight out of the window on day one of pre-season when he made a mistake in a simple training drill and told in no uncertain terms to raise his game.

And that was the moment it dawned on the 26-year-old what it took to become a success in the NRL and he claims it’s the reason why the Sea Eagles sit on the cusp of a fourth grand final appearance since 2007.

“I can’t remember who it was, I think it may have been Gifty (Glenn Stewart) and Stevie Matai,” Horo told AAP.

“They didn’t get in my face or anything like that, but they made it clear that the club has high standards even in training.

“The coaches here are all outstanding, but the senior playing group are so experienced and have been brought up with a winning culture and that rubs off of everyone.”

Only Melbourne have a better recent finals record than Manly, who’ve finished in the top eight every year since 2005 and won two premierships.

It’s a remarkable achievement considering the club has one of the more unstable boardrooms in the NRL and lack the huge financial clout of Sydney rivals Canterbury and Parramatta who are backed by wealthy leagues clubs and the News Limited-funded Brisbane.

The Sea Eagles’ brains trust operate out of demountable buildings at the Sydney Academy of Sport in North Narrabeen, a far cry from the state-of-the-art Belmore complex used by the Bulldogs, now coached by the man who laid the foundations for Manly’s success, Des Hasler.

Friday’s preliminary final against a South Sydney side refreshed from a week’s break will present a massive test for Geoff Toovey’s side – one many believe will be too big for his weary players.

After backing up from their 4-0 loss to the Sydney Roosters in an epic qualifying final clash, the Sea Eagles were out on their feet in the second half of last week’s gritty 24-18 win over Cronulla.

They must now face a giant Souths pack who will look to target the likes of Lyon and Watmough who are going into the game carrying injuries.

But Horo has warned Souths that with a grand final spot at stake knowledge is power.

“There are a lot of boys here who have only played in winning sides,” Horo said.

“Matai, the Stewart boys, Matt Ballin, Jamie Lyon, Brent Kite, they’ve only known finals football every September.

“That’s huge going into a game like this. Even the younger guys like Daly (Cherry-Evans) and Foz (Kieran Foran) have won grand finals.

“We faced a tough test getting over Cronulla after the Roosters but we did it.

“Souths will also be tough but we know we have the experience and the players to get the job done.”