Tigers vs Sea Eagles Prediction: 6/1 shot provides value pick in Saturday Magic opener

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Tigers vs Sea Eagles Odds

Wests are a 21/10 chance for the win in normal time, implying a 32.3% probability. The Sea Eagles, on the other hand, are 2/5, with the draw an 18/1 shot.

Lehi Hopoate is the 6/1 favourite to register the first try of the contest, with Jason Saab at 15/2.

Team News

Not too many changes for the Tigers, with Benji Marshall recalling Terrell May to the front row. He missed out last week due to personal issues, but his return sees Bunty Afoa step down.

Tristan Hope makes way for Latu Fainu at hooker in the only other change to the starting line-up.

Rugby League Odds

Jamal Fogarty is back for Manly in their biggest piece of team news, so Joey Walsh moves to the bench.

Brandon Wakeham is out due to suspension, so Jake Simpkin steps up and Zach Dockar-Clay is likely to be the back-up hooker on the bench.

Clayton Faulalo and Tolu Koula are lined up to start at full-back and centre respectively after they switched into those roles for the win against the Broncos.

Handicap 2-way Alt 1: Sea Eagles -15.5 @ 6/4

Until quite recently, the Tigers have looked fantastic. In winning four of their first five they marched up the standings, but after going down to a narrow loss to the Broncos and bouncing back to beat Canberra they have since gone off the boil.

Their losses to the Sharks and Storm came at the loss of 96 points in total, and that has to be a concern for Marshall.

Their 44-16 reverse to Melbourne came when the Storm had been winless in seven. And while there was mitigation in the emotional tidal wave that came with news of Craig Bellamy’s health issues, there’s no way Wests should have rolled over as they did.

Can they hit back this week? I don’t see it, personally. The Sea Eagles have been pretty sensational so far under Foran, with only the brilliant Panthers getting anything off them over the six matches since the coaching change.

And with wins of 34, 10, 32, 15 and 28 under the former half-back, I’m backing them to breach the biggest handicap margin at 6/4.