2024 NRL: Round 2 Preview, Sea Eagles Vs Roosters
Check out the match preview and prediction for the round 2 clash between the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles and the Sydney Roosters.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Vs Sydney Roosters
Venue: 4 Pines Park, Sydney
Date: Sunday, March 17, 4:05 pm
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Sea Eagles: 1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Tommy Talau 3. Tolutau Koula 4. Reuben Garrick 5. Jaxson Paulo 6. Luke Brooks 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Josh Aloiai 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Ben Trbojevic 13. Jake Trbojevic 14. Karl Lawton 15. Corey Waddell 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Nathan Brown 18. Jakob Arthur 19. Raymond Tuiamalo Vaega 20. Aaron Woods 21. Brad Parker 22. Jamie Humphreys
Roosters: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii 4. Joseph Manu 5. Dominic Young 6. Luke Keary 7. Sam Walker 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Brandon Smith 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Siua Wong 12. Sitili Tupouniua 13. Victor Radley 14. Sandon Smith 15. Naufahu Whyte 16. Nat Butcher 17. Terrell May 18. Connor Watson 19. Fetalaiga Pauga 20. Egan Butcher 21. Zach Dockar-Clay 22. Angus Crichton
Referee: Todd Smith
Embed from Getty ImagesMATCHDAY PREVIEW
The men from the Northern Beaches had quite the start to their season, beating the Rabbitohs under the bright lights of Las Vegas. It was important for the Sea Eagles to win in round 1 after a dismal 2023 season, though few thought they would beat the Rabbitohs.
Debuting for his new club in the first round, former Tiger Luke Brooks had a good game and, with the pressure off, it looks like he may have a big year. There would be no better win for him than against the Roosters.
The bad news for the Sea Eagles is that speed machine Jason Saab will miss six weeks with a hamstring injury. Tommy Talu will take his place on the wing. Karl Lawton suffered an ankle injury against the Rabbitohs, and Jake Arthur was the 18th man.
Like their opponents, the Roosters won in Sin City against last year’s grand finalists. They looked good, with Joey Manu and James Tedesco at their best to start the season. With players moving on at the end of the year and rumours of others possibly leaving, this is maybe the last chance these players have the opportunity to win a title together.
There were some injury concerns in the first round for the Roosters with Billy Smith and Dominic Young not playing against the Broncos. Young will debut this Sunday while Smith is still out. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves makes his return to first grade.
The Sea Eagles have the wood over the Roosters in head-to-head meetings, having won 21 games to the Roosters’ 19. However, a stat that is in favour of the Roosters is that they have won three of their past four games at 4 Pines Park.
Head-to-head stats can be found at Round 2 Number Crunch.
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Roosters by 4 points.
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