Josh Mercer previews the round one clash between the Sydney Roosters and the Manly Sea Eagles. This is what we have to look forward to.
Embed from Getty ImagesTEAM NEWS
Venue: Sydney Cricket Ground, Date: 13/3, Time: 5:30 (Local)
Sydney Roosters
- James Tedesco
- Daniel Tupou
- Josh Morris
- Joseph Manu
- Brett Morris
- Lachlan Lam
- Luke Keary
- Lindsay Collins
- Jake Friend
- Siosiua Taukeiaho
- Angus Crichton
- Sitili Tupouniua
- Isaac Liu
- Adam Keighran
- Jared Waerea-Hargreaves
- Nat Butcher
- Daniel Suluka-Fifita
- Matt Ikuvalu
- Fletcher Baker
- Freddy Lussick
- Sam Walker
Team Changes
IN: n/a
OUT: n/a
Manly Sea Eagles
- Dylan Walker
- Jason Saab
- Brad Parker
- Moses Suli
- Reuben Garrick
- Kieran Foran
- Daly Cherry-Evans
- Josh Aloiai
- Lachlan Croker
- Martin Taupau
- Jack Gosiewski
- Curtis Sironen
- Jake Trbojevic
- Tevita Funa
- Andrew Davey
- Morgan Boyle
- Taniela Paseka
- Josh Schuster
- Sean Keppie
- Toafofoa Sipley
- Morgan Harper
Team Changes
IN: n/a
OUT: n/a
Referee: Chris Sutton
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Sydney Roosters
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Roosters ended the 2020 season disappointingly, so they will be wanting to get off to a good start. They’ve been quiet on the recruiting front in the off-season. There is one change to the side with Luke Keary to start at halfback and Lachlan Lam at five-eighth. The Roosters form in the trials was pretty good, having wins over the Wests Tigers and Canberra Raiders, where they unearthed some talent in the form of Sam Walker. The big challenge will be how they handle being without Boyd Cordner for the first 12 rounds.
2021 Roosters Season Preview
Manly Sea Eagles
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Manly side will be without one of their stars before Round One in Tom Trbojevic, however Dylan Walker should be ok covering in the meantime. Kieran Foran will make a welcome return to the side and if he stays healthy he could be the player needed to get them to the Finals. They’ve lost some experienced in Addin Fonua-Blake and Joel Thompson, but have signed Josh Aloiai, the aforementioned Foran and Jason Saab.
2021 Sea Eagles Season Preview
PREVIEW
These two sides met in Round Two last year; their only meeting for the 2020 season. The Sea Eagles came out on top in a low scoring game, 9-8. The Roosters will be looking not to go down the same road as that loss, especially since they had led most of the game. All eyes will be on both sets of halves, Foran and Chery-Evans to see if they can recapture the magic of old, and Lam and Keary to see if that partnership has legs.
The forward battle between both sides should be a good one, Lindsay Collins gets the chance to start and is always up to doing the hard yards. He and Taukeiaho’s match up with Sea Eagles new recruit Aloiai and Marty Taupau should be worth the price of admission.
KEY STAT
Before last seasons loss, in the last six matches played between these two sides, the Rosters won 3 in a row and before that, the Sea Eagles won 3 in a row. Was last seasons win for the Sea Eagles the start of a new streak?
PREDICTION
Like last year this should be another close game but the Sea Eagles to get home in the season opener.
Manly by 2
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