Round 9: Sea Eagles v Wests Tigers preview
Sea Eagles look to rise to the top against resurgent Tigers
The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles will be looking to overcome a two-match losing streak when they take on a renewed Wests Tigers outfit to kick off Super Saturday from 4 Pines Park.
Manly come into this clash after an indifferent run of recent form. Their effort last week against South Sydney was commendable when they were given a seemingly impossible task of playing a man short when Karl Lawton was marched for a horror spear tackle on South's captain Cam Murray. hat let Manly down were their effort areas, particularly not placing enough pressure on Cody Walker, who had his best game of the season controlling play and punishing Manly's weakened and troublesome right edge defence.
Their attack looked okay all things considered, but they relied heavily on Josh Schuster down the left to create a spark in the attack. Daly Cherry-Evans is playing some of the best football of his career, and with an Australian World Cup number 7 jersey on the line, you shouldn't expect anything less from the Manly captain. As far as the team news is concerned, Manly is once again decimated by injury and suspension. Karl Lawton's suspension, Brad Parker's partially torn ACL and Jason Saab's toe injury see them all ruled out of Saturday's game. Haumole Olakau'atu returns and takes the place of Lawton. Guess who's back to reignite Manly's season - Tom Trbojevic returns at fullback to provide the spark in Manly's attack. This in turn sees Reuben Garrick return to the wing to cover the loss of Saab. Ben Trbojevic is in the centres replacing Parker. Aloiai returns from a knee injury on the bench.
There's no denying that the West's Tigers have improved considerably on their efforts in the first five rounds. However, their effort last week in attack left a lot to be desired. Jackson Hastings is their most dangerous player, but it is good to see Luke Brooks playing with a more temperament and looking less stressed out on the park. Brooks has one of the best running games of half in the competition and it was on full display when he scored his team's lone try.
Their forwards are in for a rough assignment this week going up against a Manly pack who get Haumole Olakau'atu back from a one-week suspension. One significant point of emphasis for Tigers supporters has been the dummy half position, although Jacob Liddle is a solid choice, tigers fans believe Jake Simpkin is the man to wear the number nine going forward. On the team front, David Nofoaluma is out, Ken Maumalo returns and takes his wing spot. Jake Simpkin replaces Jacob Liddle at hooker, and Alex Seyfarth starts at back-row for the injured Luciano Leilua. Tyrone Peachey replaces Jock Madden as the utility and Stefano Utoikamanu returns to the side via the bench, after a six-week injury layoff.
Last meeting: Round 19 2021 - Sea Eagles 44 Wests Tigers 24
Who to watch: Manly's left-hand edge had a spark return on Friday night and it's safe to say Josh Schuster had a remarkable return from injury. Although Schuster went through the game unscathed, the concern I have is the apparent over-reliance on Schuster that the Manly attack appeared to have on him. Whenever the ball went left, Schuster got involved and had a lack of support play going with him. Up against a resurgent Tigers, expect Schuster to become involved and act as a second receiver and work the Tigers' middle.
One man who has had an indifferent start to his Wests Tigers career is UK import Oliver Gildart. It's safe to say Gildart has had a rough initiation to his NRL career, already having been dropped by Michael Maguire. But there's a world of potential for Gildart as evidenced in the matches against the Storm and the Warriors where he was one of their best. Look for Gildart to win his head to head match-up and try and steer the Tigers away from a two-match losing streak and cross for his first try of the season.
The favourite: Manly is the resounding favourite with the bookies. Wests Tigers do have a poor record at Brookvale Oval only winning 3 out of 12 clashes but two of those wins have come in 2018 and 2020.
My tip: Manly will be desperate to turn around a poor record to start the season. But if this season has told us anything, expect the unexpected. Wests have a habit of pulling off the upset against their much more fancied opposition (Parramatta & Souths). So expect an ambush early, but I'm of the view the class of Manly will over-run the Tigers in this one especially with Turbo returning. Manly by 4.
