Sea Eagles vs Tigers Prediction: 13/2 shot for Manly to launch comeback

On their day, the Manly Sea Eagles are one of the most devastating outfits in the whole of the NRL Premiership. But the fact they head into Friday’s clash with the Wests Tigers at Brookvale Oval (18:00 local, 9:00 BST) sat in 10th spot says everything about their Jekyll and Hyde nature.

They will be looking to get back on the bike after three defeats in four, and the Tigers are among the most ideal opponents from whom to take two points. Below you will find my Sea Eagles vs Tigers predictions, complete with latest team news and Betfred’s match odds.

Sea Eagles vs Tigers Odds

Manly are heavily favoured to win this one, with Betfred quoting 1/2 for a home win. Wests are 17/10 to collect a victory that would sling them right back into the hunt for a top-eight spot.

The draw in 80 minutes is available at 18/1, with the standard two-way handicap market offering up a 7.5-point edge to the Tigers. Under those conditions, Manly are 10/11 with the visitors 5/6.

Team News

Tommy Talau’s absence with a hamstring issue means Jason Saab comes into the Manly side, while the big news is that Tom Trbojevic will play in the centres with Lehi Hopoate switching to full-back.

Reuben Garrick moves out to the wing to accommodate ‘Tommy Turbo’, while Matt Lodge and Corey Waddell are back in the pack with Haumole Olakau’atu missing due to a shoulder injury.

Lachlan Croker is under concussion protocols after failing a HIA in training.

For the Tigers, Jarome Luai is joined in the halves by Latu Fainu, while Heath Mason is in at full-back with Jahream Bula set to miss a month due to hamstring trouble.

Tony Sukkar is included on the bench, with Luke Laulilii the 18th man.

Rugby League Odds

Sea Eagles by 1-12 @ 21/10

I don’t think a side which has lost four of its last seven games is going to find this particularly easy, but I do reckon that Manly will get there in the end to pick up the two points.

Their inconsistency has been the most consistent thing about the NRL Premiership this season, so this becomes a massive game for them against a Wests side which has lost five straight but has gone down by just four points in each of their last three.

They might get there the hard way (and I’ll come on to that) but I can’t back against the Sea Eagles getting over the line in the end, with Tom Trbojevic’s switch to the centres potentially coming up trumps.

Double Result: Tigers-Sea Eagles @ 13/2

I’ve decided to go fairly big here, since this ought to be a contest which both sides believe they can win. With that in mind, I can see the Tigers coming out with a bit of fire and Manly taking a while to get the home crowd revved up.

Under Benji Marshall, Wests have been a bit of a streaky team within games, where they really make the most of periods of dominance but then can’t quite get their act together when the flow is against them.

With that in mind, I’m taking the chance that they get on top early before a period of Manly pressure inevitably sees the Tigers buckle. At 13/2 and an implied probability of 13.3% I quite fancy those odds.

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