Dragons vs Sea Eagles Prediction: 23/10 Manly win won’t help finals bid

It would take a minor miracle now for the Manly Sea Eagles to reach the NRL Finals, but they can retain a slim outside chance on Saturday by beating St George Illawarra Dragons at Jubilee Stadium (17:30 local, 08:30 BST).

Manly need to win their last two by reasonable margins and hope the Roosters take a pummelling from the Rabbitohs after the Chooks astonishing second-half performance in Melbourne on Friday. My Dragons vs Sea Eagles predictions don’t foresee the points-fest Manly need, but they follow below with the latest team news and Betfred’s match odds.

Dragons vs Sea Eagles Odds

There’s not much in this one according to the bookies, with Betfred’s oddsmakers having both sides odds-on for the match win.

Manly are only slight favourites at 10/11, with the Dragons 20/21 for the 80-minute success.

You can get 18/1 for the draw, while the regular two-way handicap bracket offers Manly only a 0.5-point start. In that context, the Dragons remain 20/21 but the Sea Eagles are 5/6.

Team News

After beating the Dolphins 58-30 to record a first win in five last week, Manly head coach Anthony Seibold will likely send out the same 17. That means Tommy Talau continues at centre in place of Reuben Garrick with Aaron Schoupp on the bench.

Joey Walsh is the 18th player once again as the highly-rated 19-year-old awaits a first taste of the NRL action.

Dragons chief Shane Flanagan has been boosted by the returns this week of Hame Sele, Jack de Belin (both concussion) and Jaydn Su’A (knee). The latter pair have been named among the starting 17, while Sele is a probable interchange option.

To make way for Su’A, Luciano Leilua switches to the bench. Damien Cook will revert back to his natural position of hooker for De Belin to come in at loose forward, moving Jacob Liddle to substitute.

Tyrell Sloan comes in on the wing for Corey Allan, who is listed among the reserves.

Rugby League Odds

Sea Eagles by 1-12 points @ 23/10

The Sea Eagles may need far more than this, but if the reality hasn’t already hit after the Roosters’ miracle second half against the Storm on Friday, then it will midway through this game.

Manly need to win twice and overturn a 96-point deficit with the help of the South Sydney Rabbitohs, and to call it a long shot is quite the understatement.

So while I think they will come out of the traps well and eventually win this game, there is bound to be a spell in which the Dragons claim some supremacy and takes points away from a leaky Manly defence.

Seibold hasn’t been able to get a convincing tune out of his side for most of the season, but especially so over the last month.

And while they should have enough to see off the Dragons, it’s all going to be too little too late. I’m backing the too little part here at an implied probability of 30.3%.

Sea Eagles-Sea Eagles @ 17/10

As I’ve said previously, Manly should come out of the blocks with a bit of purpose. They should be at least holding up the pretence that they can make the top eight.

But reality will kick in and the Dragons will keep them close without ever taking the lead from their visitors.

St George haven’t been good for a long time, with just two wins in their last eight games. And while they came against Premiers-elect Canberra and sixth-placed Cronulla, they were the exceptions to prove the rule.

Expect to see a response to last week’s 40-0 loss to Souths, but without them actually causing the Sea Eagles too many palpitations.

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