Sea Eagles ready for semi-final showdown with Roosters
The self-belief and confidence is high and the mighty Manly Warringah Sea Eagles will be ready to fire at Allianz Stadium on Saturday night.
It's going to be a huge occasion when the Sea Eagles tackle the Sydney Roosters in the Telstra Premiership Elimination Semi-Final, with a spot in the preliminary final against Melbourne on the line.
With the Sea Eagles Supporter Bays sold out, Manly fans are encouraged to buy tickets into the Northern End (Bays 20-30).
Team News
Coach Anthony Seibold has named the same starting 17 that beat the Bulldogs 24-22 in the Elimination Final at Accor Stadium last Sunday.
Match: Roosters v Sea Eagles
Finals Week 2 -
home Team
Roosters
away Team
Sea Eagles
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Roosters is number 1 James TedescoFullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Tom Trbojevic
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Winger for Roosters is number 2 Daniel TupouWinger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Tommy Talau
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Centre for Roosters is number 3 Joseph-Aukuso Sua'ali'iCentre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Tolutau Koula
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Centre for Roosters is number 4 Joseph ManuCentre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Reuben Garrick
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Winger for Roosters is number 5 Dominic YoungWinger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Lehi Hopoate
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Five-Eighth for Roosters is number 6 Luke KearyFive-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Luke Brooks
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Halfback for Roosters is number 7 Sandon SmithHalfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Daly Cherry-Evans
Forwards
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Prop for Roosters is number 8 Jared Waerea-HargreavesProp for Sea Eagles is number 8 Taniela Paseka
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Hooker for Roosters is number 9 Connor WatsonHooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Lachlan Croker
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Prop for Roosters is number 10 Lindsay CollinsProp for Sea Eagles is number 10 Matthew Lodge
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2nd Row for Roosters is number 11 Angus Crichton2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Haumole Olakau'atu
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2nd Row for Roosters is number 12 Sitili Tupouniua2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Karl Lawton
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Lock for Roosters is number 22 Victor RadleyLock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Jake Trbojevic
Interchange
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Interchange for Roosters is number 13 Naufahu WhyteInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Ben Trbojevic
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Interchange for Roosters is number 15 Spencer LeniuInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Josh Aloiai
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Interchange for Roosters is number 16 Nat ButcherInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Ethan Bullemor
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Interchange for Roosters is number 17 Terrell MayInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 17 Nathan Brown
Reserves
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Replacement for Roosters is number 18 Zach Dockar-ClayReplacement for Sea Eagles is number 18 Clayton Faulalo
Match Officials
- Referee: Grant Atkins
- Touch Judge: Phil Henderson
- Touch Judge: Matt Noyen
- Senior Review Official: Chris Butler
Last updated:
Form Guide
Ladder position: Sea Eagles 7th (33 points); Roosters 3rd (38 points)
Head to Head since 1998 (NRL era): Played 42: Sea Eagles 22, Roosters 20
Past five games record: Sea Eagles 3 wins, Roosters 3 wins
Points scored: Sea Eagles 658, Roosters 748
Points conceded: Sea Eagles 543, Roosters 493
Previous Meetings
Both teams head into the semi-final showdown with one win apiece against each other this season.
The Sea Eagles took care of the Roosters 21-14 in front of a sold out crowd at 4 Pines Park in round two.
Manly led 12-10 at half-time with Reuben Garrick's goal kicking proving vital before a Daly Cherry-Evans field goal got the Sea Eagles home.
The Roosters returned serve in round 21 with a 34-30 win in an 11-try thriller at Allianz Stadium after Manly missed the kick early before fighting back late after losing Jason Saab and Garrick to concussion in the first half.
Try time for Talau
There's been plenty of talk about buys of the years. Surely, Manly winger Tommy Talau is in the top three.
Talau has been absolutely outstanding in his debut season for the Sea Eagles. The change of scenery and a happy life off the field has done wonders for this well spoken and polite young man.
And as for his form, it speaks for itself, with Talau scoring 12 tries in his past 13 games. At just 24, Talau is only going to get better and better for the Sea Eagles.
Finals Flashback
The last time Manly met the Sydney Roosters in a semi-final was in the COVID-affected 2021 season when the Sea Eagles advanced to the preliminary final following a 42-6 victory in Mackay.
Manly ran in seven tries to one with full-back Tom Trbojevic scoring a double and winger Reuben Garrick kicking seven from seven.
Nine players from that winning Manly team will line up on Sunday against the Roosters in Tom Trbojevic, Garrick, Daly Cherry-Evans, Josh Aloiai, Lachlan Croker, Haumole Olakau'atu, Jake Trbojevic, Karl Lawton and Taniela Paseka.
101 and counting
The Sea Eagles will pass South Sydney's record of most finals appearances when they take on the Roosters.
Last week, Manly became just the fourth club to play 100 finals game behind Easts/Roosters (116 games), St George Dragons (109) and South Sydney Rabbitohs (100).
Bring on final number 101, and may there be many more great Manly wins!
Manly fans, take a bow!
We might have been outnumbered on Sunday against the Bulldogs in terms of crowd support, but one can never question the passion and loyalty of Sea Eagles fans. A big thank you to all who travelled.
So, now we need to show up again, and there is no doubt Manly fans DO TRAVEL.
Our players often talk about the passion and the energy Manly fans bring each game and it's truly appreciated by everyone. There's nothing like seeing a sea of maroon and white. so let's outnumber the Roosters fans this time on their home turf.
Let's get that famous 'M.A.N.L.Y, M.A.N.L.Y' chant echoing around the ground.
See you there for another cracking finals game. Go Manly!
