Sea Eagles v Dragons Preview
Big League
http://nrl.com/News/Latest/tabid/10244/default.aspx?id=51184
Brookvale Oval
Friday 7.45pm
UNUSUAL that a team sitting second on the ladder would be welcoming back just one Origin rep to the fold, while their 13th-placed opponents sweat on three key members backing up in what looms as a crucial encounter for the red-and-whites.
While the Sea Eagles are building nice momentum with six wins from their past seven games – including a flashy 38-6 demolition of the Cowboys last week – the Dragons present a major headache this week.
They are definitely Manly’s bogey side, winning eight of 11 clashes and Brookvale Oval will hold no qualms for them as they have won three of five games at the peninsula “fortress”.
The Dragons have won two from their past three, including an impressive win over, granted, a sub-quality Storm last week – but they are a team playing without luck.
Stats show their +28 points differential is sixth best in the NRL – yet they find themselves four points out of the top eight with the season midpoint rapidly approaching.
Manly are close to full strength here, with Anthony Watmough warming back to form last game, while Steve Matai at centre ensures they lose nothing in attacking strike-power with Steve Bell still on the sidelines.
Two-gamer David Williams remains in place of the injured Michael Bani; he scored a good support try off a Jamie Lyon kick last week and will be looking to put pressure on Des Hasler to retain him when Bani is deemed fit to return in a month.
Finally, luck is shining on the Dragons regarding injuries – providing Matt Cooper, Mark Gasnier and Ben Hornby get through Origin unscathed they’ll turn up with a 20-man squad, with Rangi Chase, Michael Lett and Chase Stanley forming an extended bench.
It’s a milestone game for Cooper – he plays his 150th NRL match and becomes only the third St George Illawarra player to do so.
Watch out Sea Eagles: Both sides will look to score points off kicks, with the home side scoring 11 so far in 2008 and the Dragons one more. But lurking on the left wing for the Dragons is Jason Nightingale, who tops the NRL tryscorer’s list with 8.
The home side will need to watch for cross-field bombs directed David Williams’ way, with Nightingale ready to pounce – Manly have defused just 50 per cent of these types of kicks and 15 of the Dragons’ 32 tries have been scored on their left side.
Watch out Dragons: Bouncing prop Adam Cuthbertson is building a cult-like following.
He continues to impress as an impact player and last week in a spirited 45-minute spurt cracked the Cowboys’ line twice, bagged a pair of tries, offloaded twice and made 83 metres.
Plus he made 22 tackles. Expect something to happen when Des Hasler shrewdly injects the big guy into the fray.
Where it will be won: The visitors’ chances of winning hinge on their confidence and whether they can find a groove early. For Manly, it’s all about stiffening their defences against the red-and-whites in particular.
Everyone knows they can score points, but while in 2008 they’ve conceded an average of just 13.2 points a game (least of all teams in the NRL), in their past seven games against the Dragons they’ve yielded 29.7 points a game.
They can’t afford to do that this week, against a team boasting a centre pairing of Gasnier-Cooper and with Jamie Soward jumping out of his boots having secured his future with a new two-year deal during the week.
The History: Played 11; Dragons 8, Sea Eagles 3. The Dragons have won six of the past seven encounters, but the Sea Eagles won 28-24 at Brookvale Oval in their last meeting last year. The Dragons hold a 3-2 win record at Brookvale Oval.
Conclusion: History show this game will throw up plenty of points. Both sides like to play upbeat, expansive footy and it could be a tit-for-tat scoring affair.
While the Dragons have every reason to feel confident on their bus ride north, Manly are too good to dismiss at home. Look for a great battle up front between former Dragon Brent Kite and the resurgent Dragon Jason Ryles.
Ryles remains miffed at his critics and continues to put in splendidly each week, while Kite can be counted on for a tough display to further his chances of a recall for Origin II. All things considered, it’s safer to tip the home side.
Match officials: Referee – Jason Robinson; Sideline Officials – Steve Carrall & David Abood; Video ref – Phil Cooley.
Televised: Channel Nine – Live from 7.30pm.
