Sea Eagles vs Raiders NRL Rd 4 betting tips – Saturday, April 2

Saturday’s Round 4 clash between the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles and Canberra Raiders in Mudgee shapes up as an enormously important contest for the immediate future for both NRL clubs.

Manly have been far from the team many expected them to be in 2022, and an ugly win over the Bulldogs in their last start did little to win back the faith.

In previous seasons they’ve started terribly and started to find their groove by their fourth or fifth game, so if they’re to do anything in season 2022, this game should be a good indicator of the journey the Sea Eagles will take.

Canberra have become one of the hardest teams to read. They were begging to be beaten in Round 1 but hung on, got flogged in Round 2, and in Round 3 they produced the biggest comeback in club history.

Was the comeback against the Gold Coast last week a blip on the radar, or a sign of what they actually are in 2022?

The changes to the ‘six again’ rules have had the greatest effect on Manly. Tom Trbojevic can no longer abuse players who are too tired like he did in 2021, and the playing field has levelled up significantly.

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Coach Des Hasler would be working feverishly to try and find ways to open up the field for ‘Turbo Tom’, but is it just a case that Manly don’t have enough class to win in other ways?

The Sea Eagles have won seven of their last nine clashes with the Raiders, but they feel very short as the $1.45 betting favourite with online bookmakers. Even if Canberra have been indifferent themselves, this feels closer to a coin toss.

Manly’s best options to score tries are the usual suspects in Reuben Garrick and Jason Saab on the wing, but the second-rower on the left side is the man to back. Canberra have given up a try to the back rower on that side of the field in every game so far this year, so at $5.50, how can you not put a few bucks on Andrew Davey scoring for the Sea Eagles?

Despite a rollercoaster season thus far, the Raiders at the +6.5 line are terrific value. The back five for the Green Machine will win the yardage battle with Nick Cotric returning and Jordan Rapana playing his second game, and it will put the likes of Jack Wighton on the front foot.

Canberra also look a little stronger on the edges with the likes of Hudson Young and Corey Harawira-Naera. Defensively Manly have been a little shaky in those same positions, and when Wighton runs at Haumole Olakau’atu, he will create space for Matthew Timoko and Hudson Young.

Wighton feels like the best option to get some value in the anytime tryscorer market at $3.20, but don’t rule out Young at $6.

Sea Eagles vs Raiders predictions & best bets

Manly get another ugly win but the Raiders cover the +6.5 line in a game where they will squander a few chances to win.

Sea Eagles vs Raiders NRL same-game multi

The Raiders at the line with Jack Wighton and Andrew Davey to each score a try gets you $24.72 with BetOnline.

More NRL betting tips