Match Preview – Sea Eagles vs Eels (Round 2)
Date: Sunday 18th of March 2018
Venue: Lottoland
Kick off: 4:10pm (NSW cup 1:45pm)
Head Referee: Matt Cecchin
Assistant Referee: Alan Shortall
Head to head: Played 137, Sea Eagles 82, Eels 51, drawn 4
Head to head odds: Sea Eagles ($ 1.80), Eels ($ 2.05)
Broadcast: Live Fox Sports and Channel 9 – Coverage from 3:30pm
Last four encounters:
01. Eels 20, Sea Eagles 12 at Lottoland (2017)
02. Eels 10, Sea Eagles 9 at Pirtek Stadium (2016)
03. Eels 22, Sea Eagles 10 at Lottoland (2016)
04. Eels 20, Sea Eagles 16 at Brookvale Oval (2015)
Warm Up:
This round two, Sunday afternoon encounter will see the 9th placed Manly Warringah Sea Eagles do battle with the 13th placed Parramatta Eels.
Both the Sea Eagles and Eels enter this match as last start losers, with the Eels going down to the Panthers in a 10 point loss, whereas the Sea Eagles were edged out in golden point against last season’s wooden spooners, the Newcastle Knights.
This is sure to be a very interesting encounter with both teams aiming to notch up their first win of the season.
I can guarantee the win will be even more sweeter given the fact it came against a bitter rival.
Having a Bet: My value bet in this one is for the Eels to claim the win against the Sea Eagles. The Eels are currently paying $2.05 on Sportsbet.
The first try favourites are listed below:
Manly: Tom Trbojevic – $9.50
Manly: Akuila Uate – $11
Eels: Bevan French – $11
Eels: Josh Hoffman – $12
Feed Your Footy Brain:
The blue and golds have won the past 6 matches between the two clubs.
Tracking: Bevan French.
This game shapes as a big one for Eels fullback Bevan French. The Eels fullback had a solid game in the Eels last start loss against the Panthers but there have been early calls for the Eels to put Jarryd Hayne at the back given Hayne’s size and experience in the role.
Things may become interesting for both French and Hayne when Clint Gutherson returns from injury in a couple of weeks. Many believe Gutherson to be the best fullback on the Eels roster.
If French can display some strong form at fullback in the coming weeks he will go a long way towards silencing the doubters and making the fullback position his own
Danger man:
This week’s danger man is Sea Eagles halfback and captain Daly Cherry Evans.
The man they call DCE was by far and away the Sea Eagles best player in the loss against the Newcastle Knights. As the Sea Eagles marquee man, their current team is built around him. This year will prove more challenging for Cherry Evans as he is playing alongside a rookie half – Goulburn junior, Lachlan Croker.
Although he’s best served with a game management five eighth outside him, DCE will need to take a stronger role in steering the Sea Eagles around the park.
Team lists:
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles (9th coming into the round)
01. Tom Trbojevic
02. Jorge Taufua
03. Brad Parker
04. Brian Kelly
05. Akuila Uate
06. Lachlan Crocker
07. Daly Cherry Evans (C)
08. Addin Fonua Blake
09. Apisai Koroisau
10. Martin Taupau
11. Joel Thompson
12. Curtis Sironen
13. Jake Trbojevic
14. Jackson Hastings
15. Shaun Lane
16. Lloyd Perrett
17. Kelepi Tanginoa
18. Matthew Wright
19. Lewis Brown
20. Jake Gosiewski
21. Frank Winterstein
Coach: Trent Barrett
Late mail: No late changes expected for the Sea Eagles, expect them to run out 1 through 17 come kick off Sunday afternoon.
Parramatta Eels (13th coming into the round)
01. Bevan French
02. Josh Hoffman
03. Michael Jennings
04. Jarryd Hayne
05. Kirisome Auva’a
06. Corey Norman
07. Mitchell Moses
08. Daniel Alvaro
09. Cameron King
10. Tim Mannah (C)
11. Manu Ma’u
12. Tepai Moeroa
13. Nathan Brown
14. Beau Scott (C)
15. Brad Takairangi
16. Suaia Matagi
17. Kane Evans
18. Will Smith
19. Kenny Edwards
20. David Gower
21. Kaysa Pritchard
Coach: Brad Arthur
Late mail:
Gower and Pritchard played for Wentworthville yesterday. Late changes have been tipped for the Eels
Bragging Rights Clash:
Brian Kelly vs Jarryd Hayne:
This is a battle of the centres as the Sea Eagles Brian Kelly squares off against Eels superstar Jarryd Hayne.
On paper, it’s Hayne, a superstar of the game and former two time Dally M medal winner against Kelly, a promising young player whom most of your average NRL supporters would know little about.
Hayne played his 200th NRL game last weekend, and whilst he didn’t get the win he was fairly impressive in his return game for the Eels. “The Plane” didn’t see much ball and when he did he was heavily marked by the Panthers.
Defensively, Hayne was outstanding. He delivered a number of bone crushing tackles including one try saving tackle when he drove his opposing centre Tyrone Peachey into touch and a big impact collision on Panthers big man Regan Campbell Gillard.
Given the fact Hayne will have a fairly inexperienced, albeit talented, player marking him it’s a fair bet the Eels will try and get Hayne as much ball as possible. Kelly himself can be difficult to mark, so Hayne will need to be at his defensive best again.
A likely play could see Hayne swapping positions with Bevan French. Having Hayne switch with French now and then throughout a game was always seen as a potential option for Brad Arthur. I believe Hayne could be in for a big game this weekend, and a smokey for first try scorer.
And The Winner Is:
I see an Eels victory come Sunday afternoon.
The Eels just have too much class throughout the park not to get the chocolates in this one. They are a much better team with both Mitchell Moses and Corey Norman on the park and last Sunday against the Panthers Moses was forced to spend at least 20 minutes off the park through HIA and a sin binning.
With Moses more than likely to play the full 80 minutes, I see the Eels being too strong for the Sea Eagles.
Put me down for an Eels victory, Eels 22 – Sea Eagles 10.
Man of the match: Mitchell Moses or Jarryd Hayne
Enjoy the game, GO THE EELS !!!
Nathan
It’s a brave person who bets against Manly at home. They’re used to playing in that dump.
If we can be more assertive in attack, we’ll go well. It’s a shame Kenny “rolled his ankle”
I was more confident of our chances last week than I am this week. I feel a golden pointer coming on in ridiculously hot conditions.
I hope not, I hate golden point!
I think Manly’s team isn’t even close to Penrith’s for quality. But it’s only round two, so a bit of a lottery regardless.
The best I can say is. Oh Dear!