2023 NRL Preview Round 18: Sea Eagles Vs Roosters

June 29, 2023

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Josh Mercer previews the Sunday afternoon clash between the Sea Eagles and the Roosters.

MATCHDAY NEWS

MATCHDAY SCHEDULE

Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Vs Sydney Roosters
Venue: 4 Pines Park, Sydney
Date: Sunday, July 2, 4:05 pm

MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS

Sea Eagles: 1. Reuben Garrick 2. Jason Saab 3. Brad Parker 4. Tolutau Koula 5. Christian Tuipulotu 6. Josh Schuster 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Toafofoa Sipley 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Kelma Tuilagi 13. Jake Trbojevic 14. Ben Trbojevic 15. Josh Aloiai 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Aaron Woods 18. Jakob Arthur 19. Morgan Harper 20. Ray Tuaimalo-Vaega 21. Karl Lawton 22. Sean Keppie

Roosters: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Billy Smith 4. Joseph Manu 5. Joseph Suaalii 6. Luke Keary 7. Sandon Smith 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Jake Turpin 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Victor Radley 12. Naufahu Whyte 13. Nathan Brown 14. Drew Hutchison 15. Terrell May 16. Siua Wong 17. Fletcher Baker 18. Junior Pauga 19. Corey Allan 20. Zach Dockar-Clay 21. Nat Butcher 22. Dylan Napa

Referee: Gerard Sutton

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MATCHDAY PREVIEW

After getting off to a good start against the Storm, the Sea Eagles let the Victorians overrun them and get the win. They now face a battle to make the top eight.

Daly Cherry-Evans’ kicking in the first half was sublime: he set up a try for Haumole Olakau’atu in the 14th minute. However, that would be the last time in the game they would lead.

The Storm aimed their attack at the Sea Eagles’ left side, where they had the most success in the first half and the start of the second. Storm five-eighth Jonah Pezet laid on two brilliant tries for Xavier Coates to finish the game.

Josh Schuster and Tolutau Koula made some poor reads in defence; they will need to fix that up to make any run to the finals. Cherry-Evans and Olakau’atu can’t do it all themselves – they need support.

The Roosters are also battling to make the top eight at the back end of the season. They have delivered little for a team that people should produce so much.

It looked grim for them on Sunday night when the Raiders ran out to an 18-nil lead. They were lucky that Joey Manu was able to score just before half-time. They almost came storming home in the second half, but it wasn’t meant to be.

The Roosters are down on some key personnel, but that is no excuse for the way they have been playing. Luke Keary and Joseph Manu have been trying hard, which is good, but others have let them down. If they are any hope to make the eight, their run must start this weekend.