3 minute read
Manly Sea Eagles are on course to play finals this season and another win over the New Zealand Warriors on Friday night will take them a step closer.
The Sea Eagles sit in sixth spot on the ladder, three points clear of the Dragons in ninth, while they are also the same difference away from the top four.
A top-four finish is not out of the question, but there can be no room for error. They are priced at 5.50 to make it.
The Warriors have had a disappointing season and finals is now out of the question.
However they have pride to play for and will also be keen to finish the season strongly for Shaun Johnson.
The club legend retires at the end of the season and the Warriors will want to send him out on a high.
. What: Manly Sea Eagles v New Zealand Warriors
. Where: 4 Pines Park, Sydney
. When: 18:00 (AEST), Friday 16th August
. How to watch: Kayo, Foxtel
. Odds: Manly Sea Eagles 1.18, New Zealand Warriors 5.00
Sea Eagles on a roll
The Sea Eagles have won four out of the last five games, including an emphatic victory over the Raiders in Canberra last week.
They ran in five tries in 18 minutes to smash the Raiders 46-24 and should still be on a high heading into the game with the Warriors.
Manly are also back on home soil and 4 Pines Park has been something of a fortress for them this season.
Indeed they have won eight of the past nine games at the venue, while the Warriors have won just once in the last five visits.
It all points to a Sea Eagles victory and they can be backed at 1.75 to put on another big score and win by 13+ points.
Manly have s side packed with quality, but Tommy Talau is in red-hot form at the moment.
The centre has scored 10 tries in his last nine games and is priced at 2.40 to score another at anytime on Saturday.
Warriors look to bounce back
The Warriors have won just one game in the last five to put an end to any hopes of playing finals in 2024.
Just to rub salt into the wounds they put in solid performance against the Dolphins last week, only to lose the game on golden point.
Now they will be out to bounce back against the Sea Eagles and should be boosted by the return of Shaun Johnson.
The playmaker missed the game with a quad injury, but is expected to take his place in the side on Friday night.
Johnson can be backed at 4.75 to cap his return by scoring a try at anytime.
If the Warriors are to cause an upset, it will be close, and they can be backed at 6.00 to win by 1-12 points.
