Match Preview: Round 22 vs Roosters

Author: Manly Media
Timestamp: Thu 31 Jul 2025, 11:17 AM

No doubt about it, this is a crunch game for both teams who are fighting for a place in the finals.

Manly enters Round 22 in ninth position on the ladder on 24 points after nine wins and nine losses while the Chooks are in tenth spot on 22 points with 10 wins and eight losses.

Keep in mind the Dolphins, who are currently occupying eighth place on the ladder, are equal with Manly on 24 points but ahead on for-and-against.

Koula on a seven-game try scoring streak at 4 Pines Park

The Sea Eagles three-game winning streak came to an end last Sunday when beaten 42-4 by the Bulldogs at the Roosters' home ground, Allianz Stadium. After being right in the contest at half time, Manly conceded five unanswered tries in the second half.

The Roosters head to Brookvale on the back of two narrow defeats. Last round they suffered a 34-30 loss to the Storm which followed a 31-18 loss to the Sharks at Cronulla.

The Roosters don’t have a great winning record against Manly at Brookie over the years, winning just 16 of 58 contests.

Their recent form against Manly, however, irrespective of venue, stacks up well. Five of the past seven contests have been won by the tricolours.

A huge occasion of course for Luke Brooks who will make his 250th NRL appearance. Luke looks right at home on the northern beaches, playing in every game since arriving to club last year following 11 seasons at the Tigers.

Brooks 250: Loving life on the northern beaches

This game is also a chance for Manly to lift the Gotcha4Life Cup for a first time having lost the previous three G4L Cup contests.

In team news for Manly, Corey Waddell comes back into the second row for the injured Haumole Olakau’atu, as he did for the previous three matches while Haumole was out.

Also back on deck is Jake Simpkin following a head knock in Melbourne, while Tommy Talau is added to the bench for his first game since Round 18.

Billy Smith returns from concussion for the Roosters and will take his place in the centres, while Hugo Savala returns from a wrist injury replacing Sandon Smith (HIA protocol) at five-eighth.

Round 22 - Round 22 - Saturday 2 Aug

Full Time

Sea Eagles

Roosters

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Lehi Hopoate

Fullback for Roosters is number 1 James Tedesco
Winger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Jason Saab

Winger for Roosters is number 2 Daniel Tupou
Centre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Tolutau Koula

Centre for Roosters is number 3 Billy Smith
Centre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Tom Trbojevic

Centre for Roosters is number 4 Robert Toia
Winger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Reuben Garrick

Winger for Roosters is number 5 Mark Nawaqanitawase
Five-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Luke Brooks

Five-Eighth for Roosters is number 6 Hugo Savala
Halfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Daly Cherry-Evans

Halfback for Roosters is number 7 Sam Walker

Forwards

Prop for Sea Eagles is number 8 Matthew Lodge

Prop for Roosters is number 8 Naufahu Whyte
Hooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Jazz Tevaga

Hooker for Roosters is number 14 Benaiah Ioelu
Prop for Sea Eagles is number 10 Siosiua Taukeiaho

Prop for Roosters is number 10 Lindsay Collins
2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Corey Waddell

2nd Row for Roosters is number 11 Angus Crichton
2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Ben Trbojevic

2nd Row for Roosters is number 12 Siua Wong
Lock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Jake Trbojevic

Lock for Roosters is number 17 Spencer Leniu

Interchange

Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Jake Simpkin

Interchange for Roosters is number 9 Connor Watson
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Tommy Talau

Interchange for Roosters is number 13 Egan Butcher
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Ethan Bullemor

Interchange for Roosters is number 16 Salesi Foketi
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 17 Toafofoa Sipley

Interchange for Roosters is number 22 Victor Radley