The Roosters and Sea Eagles both looked off the pace in round one, going down to impressive performances from the Knights and Panthers respectively.
The Roosters kept most of their big guns on ice through the trials, with many of them working back from injury, and it showed in round one with the team struggling for rhythm against an energetic and disciplined Newcastle.
Manly took the opposite path, giving the likes of Tom Trbojevic and Daly Cherry-Evans big minutes in the pre-season but they still had no answers to a dominant Penrith side in round one.
Sportsbet Betting preview: Roosters v Sea Eagles
The Rundown
Team news
Roosters: Drew Hutchison and Siosiua Taukeiaho will start in place of hooker Connor Watson and prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, who have moved back to the bench. Victor Radley and Billy Smith have been named despite suffering head knocks last week against the Knights.
Sea Eagles: Sean Keppie starts in the front-row in place of Toafofoa Sipley, who will be 18th man. Experienced utility Dylan Walker returns to the squad. Karl Lawton suffered a head knock against Penrith after getting his head in an awkward position while making a tackle but has been named on the bench and will be monitored.
Match: Roosters v Sea Eagles
Round 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 Jason Saab
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Centre for Roosters is number 3 Billy SmithCentre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Brad Parker
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Centre for Roosters is number 4 Joseph ManuCentre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Morgan Harper
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Winger for Roosters is number 5 Paul MomirovskiWinger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Reuben Garrick
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Five-Eighth for Roosters is number 6 Sam WalkerFive-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Kieran Foran
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Halfback for Roosters is number 7 Luke KearyHalfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Daly Cherry-Evans
Forwards
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Prop for Roosters is number 10 Lindsay CollinsProp for Sea Eagles is number 10 Martin Taupau
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Hooker for Roosters is number 14 Drew HutchisonHooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Lachlan Croker
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Prop for Roosters is number 17 Siosiua TaukeiahoProp for Sea Eagles is number 16 Sean Keppie
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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 Ethan Bullemor
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Lock for Roosters is number 13 Victor RadleyLock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Jake Trbojevic
Interchange
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Interchange for Roosters is number 8 Jared Waerea-HargreavesInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Dylan Walker
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Interchange for Roosters is number 9 Connor WatsonInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Karl Lawton
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Interchange for Roosters is number 15 Fletcher BakerInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 17 Taniela Paseka
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Interchange for Roosters is number 16 Nat ButcherInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 19 Andrew Davey
Reserves
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Replacement for Roosters is number 18 Kevin NaiqamaReplacement for Sea Eagles is number 8 Toafofoa Sipley
Match Officials
- Referee: Ashley Klein
- Touch Judge: Jon Stone
- Touch Judge: Phil Henderson
- Senior Review Official: Steve Chiddy
Last updated:
Key match-up
James Tedesco v Tom Trbojevic: Two of the best players in the sport, and arguably the two best of the raft of superstar fullbacks, were each almost totally nullified in round one. Tedesco had a possible try pulled back due to obstruction and Trbjevic still came up with a try-assist that could have proved game-breaking if Manly had kicked on in the second half, but there's no doubt each will be out for an improved effort in round two.
Stat attack
Both these sides were dominated through the middle more than we are used to seeing in round one. The Roosters were on the wrong end of a 1815-1431 run-metre tally, while the gap was even more stark for Manly as Penrith out-ran them to the tune of 2084-1379 metres.
