VENUE & TIME: Sydney Football Stadium, Monday, March 15, 9.05pm (NZDT).
COVERAGE: Fox Sports
HEAD TO HEAD: Played 13 – Sea Eagles 8, Tigers 5.
LAST TIME: Round 21, 2009 – Tigers 19-18.
MATCH ODDS TAB NZ: Tigers $1.75, Sea Eagles $2
WALKING WOUNDED: Benji Marshall has overcome an ankle injury sustained in the Foundation Cup trial and will play, while Lote Tuqiri still has to convince Tim Sheens he has recovered from jetlag and is right – both mentally and physically – to play his first game in the NRL in eight years. The Sea Eagles are without centre Ben Farrar (thigh) but are otherwise at full strength.
FORM: The Tigers were ordinary in the Foundation Cup loss to the Roosters but spanked Cronulla 36-12 a week later. The Sharks are not a terrific benchmark but there was a lot to like about the Tigers, especially in defence. Manly also did it relatively easy against Cronulla before playing out a draw with the Warriors. Some of their training sessions at Narrabeen have look almost as intense as an NRL match so there is no risk Des Hasler's men are going into the season on a soft preparation.
WHO'S HOT: The Roosters offered Kieran Foran everything bar Bondi Breach to lure him east but the kid wants to stay at Brookvale. There was a lot of speculation over summer about who would inherit the No.7 from Matt Orford but there was never any real doubt in Hasler's mind. Foran is a real class act and tough to boot. He may be lacking in NRL experience but he plays like he has been there for years. Foran was just 12 the last time Lote Tuqiri played league. The dreadlocked winger will make his way out onto the SFS for his first game of 13-a-side since 2002 and is likely to be as rusty as some of those heaps sitting in car yards outside WT HQ at Concord. While we don't think the ex-Wallaby will kick out on the full from his own quarter (as Hasler helpfully suggested), it will no doubt take some time for him to find his groove. At 30, has he still got the magic?
WE THINK: Manly has been quoted at around 15/1 to win the premiership. Good odds if you can get them. Yes, they have lost Orford but there are still nine internationals in their squad. They will surely be up there again when it counts. The Tigers haven't made the finals since winning the '05 comp and it's time to deliver. In Farah and Marshall they have two of the best attacking weapons in the NRL. Tuqiri may be talked of in the same breath if he can recapture his form of yesteryear. This match should be a beauty but Manly will get the cash. Sea Eagles by 8
TEAMS:
Tigers: Tim Moltzen, Lote Tuqiri, Blake Ayshford, Chris Lawrence, Beau Ryan, Benji Marshall, Robert Lui, Bryce Gibbs, Robbie Farah [c], Keith Galloway, Liam Fulton, Gareth Ellis, Chris Heighington.
Interchange: Jason Cayless, Junior Moors, Mark Flanagan, Daniel Fitzhenry.
Sea Eagles: Brett Stewart, Michael Robertson, Tony Williams, Steve Matai, David Williams, Jamie Lyon [c], Kieran Foran, Jason King [c], Matt Ballin, Josh Perry, Anthony Watmough, Chris Bailey, Glenn Stewart.
Interchange: Terence Seu Seu, Brent Kite, George Rose, Shane Rodney.