Round 7 Match Preview: Sea Eagles vs Sharks
Two great rivals will clash again at Pointsbet Stadium on Thursday night when the mighty Manly Warringah Sea Eagles tackle the Cronulla Sharks.
We take a look at the Round 7 Telstra Premiership match through our maroon and white glasses, and also reflect on our great history over the Sharks.
The Form
Coach Des Hasler and his Sea Eagles will be looking to make it five consecutive wins after recovering from a slow start to the season. The Sea Eagles have lost Martin Taupau (Covid), Sean Keppie (concussion protocols), and Josh Aloiai (shoulder) for the match. It now presents a great opportunity up front for props Taniela Paseka and Toff Sipley to lay the early platform.
The Sharks are coming off a last start loss to the Melbourne Storm and will be without Dale Finucane (concussion) and Braden Hamlin-Uele (pectoral).
Seventh heaven
This is worth the price of admission alone! Cronulla half-back Nicho Hynes taking on Manly's champion number seven in captain Daly Cherry-Evans.
Both players have been in great form with the boot in recent weeks and whoever dominates with their kicking game will go a long way towards victory.
It doesn't seem that long ago that Hynes was at the Sea Eagles as part of the NYC U20s team where he looked up to DCE.
The year was 2015. His team-mates at Manly included current NRL players Tom Trbojevic, Jesse Ramien, Liam Knight and Luke Garner.
Points galore
If you go off the last two games between these two clubs, it could well be another high scoring affair.
Could it 40-22 for the third straight year? Yes, that's right. The last two matches produced the same scoreline. Manly won 40-22 in Brisbane last year and the Sharks won 40-22 in Gosford in 2020.
What would be the Pointsbet odds for that?
Head to Head
Played 94: Manly 67, Cronulla 25, drawn 2
A decade of dominance
Manly has won 12 of the 15 matches played against Cronulla since 2012. Cronulla’s last win against Manly on their home ground was a 20-12 victory in 2016.
The Sea Eagles' last win over the Sharks in Cronulla was a 24-14 victory in 2019.
Honouring a Great Man
Outside of the vital two premiership points, the two clubs will again play for the annual Steve Rogers Memorial Trophy.
Named after former Cronulla, NSW and Australian player Steve Rogers, the trophy is played for each time Cronulla and Manly meet in a premiership match.
Rogers had many great friends at Manly including the late Immortal Bob Fulton, Max Krilich and Paul McCabe.
Manly has won 20 of the 25 premiership matches contested for the Steve Rogers Memorial Trophy, including eight of the last 10 games played.
A great record
'And another thing
I've been wondering lately'
It’s an impressive record that even great Aussie band, the Hoodoo Gurus, would enjoy!
Of the 33 games played since 1998, the Sea Eagles have won 23. Now that's worth singing 'What's my scene? (I gotta know)They say, yeah, they say'
Maybe not...after all, The Hoodoo's lead singer Dave Faulkner is a mad Sharks fan. So let's sing the NRL remake then.
'And another thing
I'm discovering lately
I'm a bit crazy
For my Rugby League team'...(the mighty Sea Eagles)
Grand Final Glory
The Sea Eagles claimed their second premiership title with a 10-7 victory over the Sharks in the 1973 Grand Final.
Two superb tries to brilliant centre Bob Fulton proved the difference in a match that will always be remembered for its vicious brawls.
Five years later, the Sea Eagles inflicted more pain on the Sharks, winning 16-0 in the 1978 Grand Final replay after a 11-all draw three days earlier.
Most tries vs Sharks
Our late Immortal Bob Fulton heads the tryscoring list against the Sharks with 12.
Should Kieran Foran cross for a try on Thursday night, he will join Max Brown, Michael O’Connor, Craig Hancock, Steve Matai and Jorge Taufua as Manly players to have scored five tries in their careers against the Sharks.
Sea Eagles alternate jersey
The Sea Eagles will wear a bold new alternate jersey for the match at PointsBet Stadium.
The bold new design is predominantly black, whilst also still incorporating the traditional maroon and white colours of the Club.
Replica versions of the new Sea Eagles 2022 alternate jersey are available now. Click here to shop now.
