Sea Eagles vs. Eels odds, tips & specials for NRL Sunday

AS if the Manly Sea Eagles didn’t have enough drama in their lives already.

With the threat of league sanctions looming over their heads, the Silvertails kicked off their 2018 NRL campaign with an agonising golden-point defeat to the Newcastle Knights.

That was enough for coach Trent Barrett to ring the changes for round two.

Brad Parker comes in for Matthew Wright at centre, while Jackson Hastings and Lloyd Perrett replace Lewis Brown and Frank Winterstein on the interchange bench.

The Parramatta Eels have made no alterations to the 17 that went down in Penrith on Sunday.

However, there is a chance Kenny Edwards and Will Smith could join a Parra bench that lacked punch against the fast-finishing Panthers.

Sea Eagles vs. Eels players to watch

Apisai Koroisau – Manly’s No.9 was immense against Newcastle and finished the night with a game-high 66 tackles. That kind of defensive pressure could prove vital against a Parra forward pack that was found out in the second half at Penrith.

Mitchell Moses – The former Tiger dominated the first half against the Panthers, but he was overrun after the break and wound up in the sin bin after losing his cool. The Eels need an 80-minute display from their star playmaker.

Josh Hoffman first tryscorer odds

Odds courtesy of Sportsbet.com.au

• First tryscorer – +1100
• Two or more tries – +700
• Anytime tryscorer – +120

Hoffman crossed for the first and the last of Parramatta’s three tries in their round-one loss to Penrith. The veteran winger will look to cash in at every opportunity while rising star Clint Gutherson is out injured.

Who wins – Manly or Parramatta?

Parramatta will need to show more spark from the bench if they wish to push for top honours this season. Manly were valiant against the Knights, but should they be favourites here? We say take the value on the Eels.

Top tip: Parramatta Eels by 1-12 points (+250 at Sportsbet)

Sea Eagles vs. Eels team lists

Manly Sea Eagles – 1 Tom Trbojevic, 2 Jorge Taufua, 3 Brad Parker, 4 Brian Kelly, 5 Akuila Uate, 6 Lachlan Croker, 7 Daly Cherry-Evans (c), 8 Addin Fonua-Blake, 9 Apisai Koroisau, 10 Martin Taupau, 11 Joel Thompson, 12 Curtis Sironen, 13 Jake Trbojevic.

Interchange: 14 Jackson Hastings, 15 Shaun Lane, 16 Lloyd Perrett, 17 Kelepi Tanginoa.
Reserves: 18 Matthew Wright, 19 Lewis Brown, 20 Jack Gosiewski, 21 Frank Winterstein.

Parramatta Eels – 1 Bevan French, 2 Josh Hoffman, 3 Michael Jennings, 4 Jarryd Hayne, 5 Kirisome Auva’a, 6 Corey Norman, 7 Mitchell Moses, 8 Daniel Alvaro, 9 Cameron King, 10 Tim Mannah (c), 11 Manu Ma’u, 12 Tepai Moeroa, 13 Nathan Brown.

Interchange: 14 Beau Scott (c), 15 Brad Takairangi, 16 Suaia Matagi, 17 Kane Evans.
Reserves: 18 Will Smith, 19 Kenny Edwards, 20 David Gower, 21 Kaysa Pritchard.
 

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