Round 13: Sea Eagles v Broncos preview
In the middle of the table at the midpoint of the season
A for-and-against differential of 24 points is all that separates the Manly Sea Eagles and Brisbane Broncos coming into Saturday's encounter at 4 Pines Park.
Accruing five wins, six losses and a bye respectively over the opening 12 rounds, the two sides have been riddled by inconsistency in recent weeks with emphatic wins weighed down by mediocre losses.
Sitting in ninth position with two wins from their past seven appearances, the Manly Sea Eagles will be striving to record their first win at home since the opening month of the season.
Coming off a 30-10 loss to Parramatta last Friday night without their two most experienced players, coach Anthony Seibold has been dealt a triple blow with Tom Trbojevic and Siosiua Taukeiaho ruled out and Jake Trbojevic continuing to recover from concussion.
Captain Daly Cherry-Evans has been named to back up 72 hours after captaining Queensland, while Ben Trbojevic, Josh Aloiai and Tommy Talau will come into the side.
Opening the season with three wins at 4 Pines Park only to lose their next three matches at home, a loss on Saturday evening would be the first time since the COVID-impacted 2020 season that the Sea Eagles have suffered four straight losses at home.
Holding onto eighth position as one of five teams tied on 12 premiership points, the Brisbane Broncos will make their first appearance on the northern beaches since 2014.
Enjoying their first bye of the season leading into the opening State of Origin fixture last week, coach Michael Maguire has adjusted his squad following five losses from their past six matches.
Jesse Arthars has been named at fullback for the first time in his career in a move that sees Selwyn Cobbo shift to the wing. Ben Te Kura replaces Fletcher Baker on the bench, while Patrick Carrigan and Payne Haas have been named to back up from State of Origin.
The Broncos have recorded only two wins from six visits to 4 Pines Park during the NRL era; Ben Hunt played his tenth career game as a 20-year-old utility when the side last recorded a win at the venue in 2010.
Last meeting: Round 11 2024 - Sea Eagles 12 Broncos 13
Who to watch: Providing great value to the Sea Eagles pack after making the move from New Zealand over the off-season, Jazz Tevaga will celebrate a milestone match on Saturday evening. Bringing up 150 NRL appearances nine years on from his first grade debut, the 29-year-old Samoan and Māori representative has contributed over 30 tackles each week rotating as a hooker and middle forward. Out-of-contract at season's end, despite appearing in every game this season, look for Tevaga to make his presence felt and push for his first try in maroon and white colours.
Lining up in the number one jersey for the first time in his career, Jesse Arthars will be determined to make the most of his opportunity in the coveted position. Coming off invaluable time with the Maroons as part of the extended squad, the 26-year-old has been in fine try-scoring form this season with 11 four-pointers in as many appearances. Contributing 120 running metres each week to boot, Arthars' shift to fullback may be the catalyst needed to rejuvenate the Broncos' stilted campaign.
Favourite: The Sea Eagles are favoured to get the job done despite losing their past three matches at home.
My tip: While the impact of State of Origin may cause the teams selected on Tuesday afternoon to differ greatly from the squads finalised an hour before kick-off, the likely inclusion of Daly Cherry-Evans should get the Sea Eagles over the line in a tight finish. Sea Eagles by 7.
