The NSWRL holds its first Regional Magic Round at Tamworth’s Scully Park this weekend with five Round 10 games from The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup, and six matches from across the local Group 4 men’s and women’s competitions. Here’s a preview from the fourth of five NSW Cup matches at Scully Park.
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles v Sydney Roosters - 1pm Sunday 11 May
The Sea Eagles need to put their poor away record behind them as they head to Tamworth to face a Sydney Roosters side finely balanced on the ladder with four wins and four losses.
The Sea Eagles are 0-3 in away games this season, but their three wins from nine rounds were all at 4 Pines Park at Brookvale. From their five losses, two matches were decided by a single goal.
The Roosters have won two games on the road down at Canberra (34-26) against the Raiders and at Redfern Oval over the South Sydney Rabbitohs (24-10).
The Brett Morris-coached side is coming off a good 38-31 win over Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs scoring seven tries to five, while Manly Warringah are trying to stave off their fourth loss in a row.
However, they are coming off a Round Nine bye so should have a spring in their step.
Winger Raymond Tuaimalo Vaega is the Sea Eagles top try-scorer with a perfect six from six matches, while former NRL half Brandon Wakeham (pictured above: NRL Photos) sits in the top five for line engagements (56) in NSW Cup.
Wakeham has been working well with halfback Jake Arthur, who is second in try assists with 12 in seven games.
Veteran of more than 120 NRL games Matt Lodge, will make his second NSW Cup appearance for the Sea Eagles, when he partners former Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs prop Chris Patolo in the front row. Former Wests Tigers and Rabbitohs second-rower Michael Chee-Kam is also in the forward pack.
The Roosters have had no problem putting on points with winger Tom Rodwell pouring on eight tries in eight games, alongside eight line-breaks.
In the middle lock Hayden Barton is among the top-five defenders in NSW Cup averaging 33 tackles a game, while captain and second-rower Max McCathie has made 281 post-contact metres in seven matches.
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