Manly Sea Eagles vs New Zealand Warriors Predictions: 5/1 bet would take Manly to the verge of the finals

The Manly Sea Eagles will be looking to bolster their push for finals football in the NRL Premiership on Friday when they host a scuffling New Zealand Warriors at Brookvale Oval (09:00 BST, 18:00 local, live on Watch NRL).

Manly currently have a three-point buffer on the ninth-placed St George-Illawarra Dragons, and with just four games to play this is a great chance to put distance between them and the chasers. Here are my Manly Sea Eagles vs New Zealand Warriors predictions.

Manly Sea Eagles vs New Zealand Warriors Odds

Manly are huge favourites thanks to the differing form of the two sides. The play-off-chasing Sea Eagles are 1/5 to get the job done at Brookie, with the Warriors 18/5 by comparison.

You can get 25/1 on the draw in 80 minutes, while you can get 4/6 on Manly winning by 13+ points at an implied probability of 60%.

Team News

Anthony Seibold calls Josh Aloiai back into his side after a knee injury, and he’s due to start in the front row. Tolutau Koula also returns from a similar problem, but he is currently lined up to be the 18th player. Jake Arthur remains out for the season due to a foot issue.

Nathan Brown will revert to the bench to make way for Aloiai in the only likely change to the team which beat Canberra Raiders with a bit to spare last Saturday.

Warriors coach Andrew Webster makes a few alterations following the narrow loss to the Dolphins on Sunday.

Adam Pompey is back after a knee injury and will start in the centres in place of Ali Leiataua, while Te Maire Martin is replaced in the halves by the returning Shaun Johnson, who has been nursing a quad issue.

Marcelo Montoya comes onto the wing after overcoming a groin injury, with Edward Kosi making way.

Rugby League Odds

Manly by 16-20 points @ 5/1

This ought to be home win with a bit to spare, but then rugby league – particularly in the NRL – doesn’t always work like that.

The stats are all on Manly’s side. They have only lost three times to the Warriors on Australian soil in the last 17 years, and are averaging 40 points a game in their last four fixtures.

The Wahs also have a leaky defence of late, and with the Sea Eagles on song this should make for a straightforward victory for the side chasing a home qualifier in the play-offs.

Take into account the fact seven of Manly’s 11 wins this term have been by 12 points or more, including all of their last three wins (44-6 v Newcastle Knights, 38-8 v Gold Coast Titans and 46-24 v Canberra) and they ought to stretch out the scoreline again here.

With little value in the 1-12 margins market, I’m plumping for a 16-20 success and favourable 5/1 odds.

Manly to win both halves @ 10/11

Of all games this season, this should not be one of those which goes this way and that. The Warriors are all-but out of the finals reckoning despite their Round 27 bye guaranteeing them at least two points in their slim hopes of closing a five-point gap on the top eight.

The 22-22 draw between these sides earlier in the season sparked a five-game winless skid for the Wahs which turned a promising start into a forlorn hope, and I just can’t see them getting that close to the Sea Eagles again in this one.

Manly should have what it takes to build an early lead and add to it late in the piece. I like the look of the home side having the edge on both sides of the half-time break.

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