NZ Warriors v Manly Sea Eagles NRL tips & odds | Round 2 preview

Warriors v Sea Eagles NRL R2 best bets

NRL Round 2: Warriors v Sea Eagles preview

The New Zealand Warriors return home to face the Manly Sea Eagles at Go Media Stadium for Round 2 of the 2025 NRL season this Friday evening.

After copping a 30-8 drubbing from the Raiders in Las Vegas to start the campaign, the Warriors will be hoping to bounce back in a big way in front of their home fans.

They face a red-hot Sea Eagles side that dismantled the Cowboys 42-12 in Round 1, showcasing one of the slickest attacking performances of the opening weekend.

Despite being backed by a sold-out home crowd, the Warriors will need significant improvement in both attack and defence.

They struggled for cohesion in Las Vegas, with new halves pairing Luke Metcalf and Chanel Harris-Tavita failing to generate momentum.

Shaun Johnson’s absence was glaring, and with limited changes to the squad, the pressure will be on their spine to step up.

The Sea Eagles, on the other hand, looked in complete control from the outset last week, blowing the Cowboys away early.

Tom Trbojevic and Daly Cherry-Evans orchestrated the attack beautifully, with Jason Saab, Reuben Garrick, and Haumole Olakau’atu all benefitting.

Manly’s challenge will be maintaining that dominance away from home fortress at Brookvale, especially as $1.38 favourites in rugby league betting odds.

The Warriors haven’t beaten Manly in their last three meetings and haven’t won their first home game of a season since 2021.

They’ll be desperate to turn things around, but Manly’s speed, attacking structures, and overall execution make them the clear favourites with BetOnline.

Warriors v Sea Eagles Rd 2 team lists

New Zealand Warriors

1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
2. Taine Tuaupiki
3. Ali Leiataua
4. Adam Pompey
5. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
6. Chanel Harris-Tavita
7. Luke Metcalf
8. James Fisher-Harris
9. Wayde Egan
10. Mitchell Barnett
11. Kurt Capewell
12. Marata Niukore
13. Erin Clark
14. Dylan Walker
15. Jackson Ford
16. Demitric Vaimauga
17. Leka Halasima

There are no changes for the Warriors after their Round 1 loss. Luke Metcalf remains at halfback despite a poor outing.

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Manly Sea Eagles

1. Tom Trbojevic
2. Jason Saab
3. Tolutau Koula
4. Reuben Garrick
5. Lehi Hopoate
6. Luke Brooks
7. Daly Cherry-Evans
8. Taniela Paseka
9. Jazz Tevaga
10. Josh Aloiai
11. Haumole Olakau’atu
12. Ben Trbojevic
13. Jake Trbojevic
14. Jake Simpkin
15. Corey Waddell
16. Ethan Bullemor
17. Toafofoa Sipley

The Sea Eagles have made only one change, with Josh Aloiai coming in at prop for the injured Siosiua Taukeiaho (knee).

New Zealand Warriors v Manly Sea Eagles betting tips

Manly were arguably the most impressive team in Round 1, and given the Warriors’ struggles on both sides of the ball, it’s hard to see this being close.
Manly’s attacking structures looked slick and well-drilled against the Cowboys, and with the Warriors still adjusting to life without Shaun Johnson, the gap between the two sides is massive. The Warriors conceded 30 points to a Raiders side not known for its attacking firepower, so the +130 at BetOnline for Manly to win by 13 points looks a good play.

Haumole Olakau’atu is a proven try-scoring forward, and with Daly Cherry-Evans targeting the Warriors’ weak edge defence, expect him to crash over at some stage. He has scored four tries in his last seven games, and his power running close to the line makes him a real threat. The top online bookmakers are offering good value at $2.55 for Olakau’atu to score at any time, while the $14 first tryscorer odds are very tempting.

While the Warriors’ attack struggled in Vegas, they should improve at home. Manly’s dominant right-side attack will put up points, and if the Warriors can manage a few tries of their own, this game could clear the total set at 48.5 total points with BetOnline. Manly games tend to be high-scoring, and with the Warriors leaking 30 points last week, expect another points-fest.

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