Roosters v Sea Eagles: NRL rugby league match preview and free tips

Free rugby league tips, best bets and analysis for Sydney Roosters v Manly Sea Eagles in the NRL.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Arena, 6.30am Saturday

Best bet

Sydney Roosters to win by one to 12 points
1pt 2-1 bet365
Back this tip with bet365

Betting preview

Sydney Roosters' NRL title defence got off to an inauspicious start with defeat at Penrith Panthers but the Bondi Boys are strong favourites to get back on track in round two against Manly.

NRL premiers in 2018 and 2019, the Roosters became the first side to retain the World Club Challenge in February when they beat Betfred Super League champions St Helens on their own patch.

One defeat doesn't make a bad side and the Roosters should take some solace in the fact that in each of the last two seasons they have lost in round one before tasting Grand Final glory at the end of the year.

Young scrum-half Kyle Flanagan is only going to get better alongside Luke Keary in the halves and even though they have played together only twice in competitive action, there have been signs that the combination should bear fruit as the season progresses. When that partnership clicks into top gear, the Roosters will be an extremely tough side to beat.

Manly are also looking to bounce back after an opening defeat and coach Des Hasler has backed the same 17-man squad to recover from last week's round-one loss to Melbourne.

The Sea Eagles acquitted themselves well for large parts of that contest but they were worn down in the final quarter and the same could happen again against the Roosters, who are tasked with overcoming a six-point handicap line.

Playing the Storm and then the reigning champions is probably the hardest opening to an NRL season but Manly showed last season they can still mix it with the best, beating runners-up Canberra twice and Melbourne on their own patch, so they will be extremely competitive.

With that in mind, back the Roosters to triumph by no more than 12 points.

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