Check out the match preview and prediction for the 2025 National Rugby League round 13 clash between the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles and the Brisbane Broncos.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Vs Brisbane Broncos
Venue: 4 Pines Park, Sydney
Date: Saturday, May 31, 7:35 pm (ADST)
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Sea Eagles: 1. Lehi Hopoate 2. Jason Saab 3. Tolutau Koula 4. Reuben Garrick 5. Tommy Talau 6. Luke Brooks 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Ethan Bullemor 9. Jake Simpkin 10. Josh Aloiai 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Ben Trbojevic 13. Jazz Tevaga 14. Lachlan Croker 15. Corey Waddell 16. Nathan Brown 17. Matthew Lodge 18. Clayton Faulalo 19. Jakob Arthur 20. Michael Chee Kam 21. Toafofoa Sipley 22. Caleb Navale
Broncos: 1. Jesse Arthars 2. Selwyn Cobbo 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Gehamat Shibasaki 5. Deine Mariner 6. Ezra Mam 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Patrick Carrigan 9. Cory Paix 10. Payne Haas 11. Xavier Willison 12. Jordan Riki 13. Kobe Hetherington 14. Billy Walters 15. Corey Jensen 16. Brendan Piakura 17. Benjamin Te Kura 18. Tyson Smoothy 19. Josiah Karapani 20. Blake Mozer 21. Jaiyden Hunt 22. Fletcher Baker 23. Va’a Semu
Referee: Adam Gee
Bunker: Chris Butler
MATCHDAY PREVIEW
Manly fans could be forgiven for thinking their side was going to run up a big score against Parramatta when Lehi Hopoate scored the first try. However, that’s not how the next 71 minutes of football unfolded. While both sides were missing key players, the Eels looked the better of the two sides. Highlights for the Sea Eagles were few and far between, but Hopoate scoring two tries was as good as it got in the game, as the system Jason Ryles has put in place at the Eels is starting to take shape.
Tom Trbojevic is out with a corked thing. Hopoate takes his place at fullback. Tommy Talau returns from a hamstring injury on the wing. Josh Aloai and Ben Trbojevic both return from injury. Siosiua Taukeiaho is out with a calf injury, while Jake Trbojevic is being given another week to recover from a concussion. Daly Cherry-Evans has been named to back up from Origin.
The Broncos had the bye last week, but their last game against the Dragons is one they should have won. Ezra Mam made his return to the top grade and got the Broncos off to a good start by setting up a try for Gehamat Shibasaki. Mam then scored a nice solo try to extend the Broncos’ lead. From there, the Broncos allowed the Dragons to get back into the game with Tyrell Sloan and Clint Gutherson scoring tries. The lead would change a couple of times before the Dragons got out to a 10-point lead. The Broncos came home with a wet sail, but it wasn’t enough to get the win in the end.
Jesse Arthars has been named at fullback, with Selwyn Cobbo moving to the wing. Both Pat Carrigan and Payne Haas have been named to back up from Origin. Ben Te Kura has been named on the bench, with Fletcher Baker moving to the reserves.
The halves from both sides will need to stand up this weekend if their team can win. Luke Brooks struggled without Cherry-Evans last week; he will be happy to have him back. Mam is only one game back from suspension, and showed he can still go. Once he gets some more games under his belt, he will go back to the game-breaking five-eighth the Broncos need.
One of the more fascinating battles will be between the two fullbacks. Hopoate has shown that he is a good fullback and the heir apparent once Trbojevic’s career comes to an end. While everyone knows that Arthars is at fullback due to Reece Walsh being out, this gives Arthars a chance to show what he can do in the position and be the back up fullback to Walsh.
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Sea Eagles by 10 points.
Check out our round 13 predictions here.
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