Sea Eagles vs Roosters Prediction: Back Manly to score plenty in edgy affair

Two sides desperate to inject life into their NRL Premiership play-off campaigns meet at Brookvale Oval on Saturday (19:35 local, 10:35 BST) when Manly Sea Eagles face the Sydney Roosters in a ninth-versus-10th clash.

Both teams have shown great inconsistency this term, but with just six rounds to go now would be the time for either to put a run together. My Sea Eagles vs Roosters predictions are below, with full team news and Betfred’s match odds.

Sea Eagles vs Roosters Odds

There’s little to split these sides on the league ladder, and the bookies clearly feel the same about Saturday’s encounter. The Sea Eagles have a very slight edge as the 5/6 favourites, with the Roosters 21/20.

If you fancy the pair to duke it out all the way to golden-point extra-time, then the draw in 80 minutes is available at 18/1.

The expected closeness of this one is reflected in the handicap fields, with the regular two-way market offering the Roosters only a 1.5-point start in return for shortened odds of 20/21. Against that same setting, Manly are 5/6.

Team News

Sea Eagles boss Anthony Seibold brings in Corey Waddell in the back row, with Haumole Olakau’atu missing due to a shoulder problem. The home side do have Jake Simpkin back though, and he is listed on the bench after clearing concussion protocols.

Tommy Talau is included for the first time since featuring in the win against the South Sydney Rabbitohs four weeks ago, with Gordon Chan Kum Tong making the step down to the reserve list.

For Trent Robinson’s Roosters, Billy Smith and Hugo Savala are back following head and wrist issues respectively, with Salesi Foketi and Spencer Leniu dropping to the bench.

Sandon Smith is out under concussion regulations, while former Hull Kingston Rovers hooker Zach Dockar-Clay misses out on the 17 with Benaiah Ioelu taking his place among the interchange options.

Victor Radley is not expected to make his return from a shoulder injury, and he is listed as a reserve as a result.

Rugby League Odds

Sea Eagles by 1-12 points @ 21/10

Manly might be inconsistent, but the one thing you can normally guarantee from them is a big performance at Brookie.

They are six and three at ‘4 Pines Park’ in 2025, and have won three on the spin by the A8 highway. While the Chooks are about as unpredictable as their hosts, the Sea Eagles won’t hold too many fears over what the visitors will throw at them.

It could be a tense one though. Manly will be desperate to right a few wrongs after a 42-4 pasting by the Canterbury Bulldogs last week, and the gravity of two competition points for either side will be at the forefront of everyone’s minds.

So I don’t see there being much in it, but I have to back Manly on home turf. You have to believe that Daly Cherry-Evans and the Trbojevic trio to lead them to victory, even if not by much.

Backing them to win by any margin under 13 points at 21/10 seems like a bit of a present.

Sea Eagles over 25.5 points @ 11/10

At 11/10, I’m happy to take this one on too.

Manly have cleared 26 points in all of their six home wins this season, and even in defeat against the Melbourne Storm they registered 24. So they are not without a few points in their locker.

So if they are to win, you have to believe there’s every chance of achieving the over in this field.

That attacking quality of Cherry-Evans, Tom Trbojevic, Reuben Garrick, Toluta’u Koula should have too much for a Roosters defensive line which has shipped 24 or more in four successive fixtures.

In total in 18 games, the Chooks have conceded 26 or more nine times this term, making the 47.6% probability implied by the 11/10 odds more than generous.

You can read all our latest Rugby League Betting Tips at our dedicated Betfred Insights Rugby League content hub.