NRL Round 4 Preview & Prediction: Manly Sea Eagles vs Sydney Roosters
4 Pines Park should be buzzing on Thursday night. Kick-off is set for 8:00 pm in Sydney, which is 10:00 pm in New Zealand.
This feels like one of those games that could turn fierce very quickly. Both clubs have already shown flashes, but neither look fully settled yet.
Manly Sea Eagles
Manly head into this clash with mixed early form. They lost a tight opener to Canberra in golden point.
Then they were beaten 36-16 at home by Newcastle. That second result hurt, because the Sea Eagles never really found control.
Tom Trbojevic still looks dangerous, and Tolutau Koula can crack a game open. But Manly have looked vulnerable when the pressure rises.
There are still reasons for the Sea Eagles to feel positive. Taniela Paseka and Haumole Olakau’atu are back after long injury layoffs.
Jamal Fogarty also gives them a steadier hand in the halves. A bye in Round 3 should help them reset and sharpen up.
That extra time may matter before a game like this.
Sydney Roosters
The Roosters look a little harder to read, but they may have more upside. They were torn apart 42-18 by the Warriors in Round 1.
Then they responded by beating South Sydney in a heated rivalry game. James Tedesco and Daly Cherry-Evans stood tall in that win. That should have lifted the mood around the club.
Sydney also have some welcome help arriving. Reece Robson has returned after his pre-season thumb injury.
Billy Smith is still out after a concussion setback. Even so, the spine looks stronger now, and that gives the Roosters more balance.
When Sam Walker and Tedesco get clean ball, their attack can look very sharp.
Recent history adds another layer here. The Roosters beat Manly 20-4 the last time these sides met in 2025. The head-to-head between the clubs is also dead even overall. That only adds more edge to this one.
So, who are we backing here?
Sea Eagles vs Roosters: Best Odds
| 🏈 ️ Bookmaker | 🦅 Sea Eagles | 🐔 Roosters |
|---|---|---|
| 🏈 ️ MrBet | Coming Soon | Coming Soon |
| 🏈 ️ 22 Bet | Coming Soon | Coming Soon |
| 🏈 ️ Bet365 | Coming Soon | Coming Soon |
| 🏈 ️ Stake | Coming Soon | Coming Soon |
| 🏈 ️ Betway | Coming Soon | Coming Soon |
Prediction for Manly Sea Eagles vs Sydney Roosters
This looks close, but the Roosters seem the safer pick right now. They have already shown they can recover from a bad opening loss.
Their key men look a touch more reliable in big moments.
Manly should be sharper after the bye and will have home support behind them.
Still, their defence has looked too open, and that is dangerous in this match-up.
Our bet is on the Sydney Roosters to win. The Sea Eagles should stay in the contest for long stretches.
But the Roosters look more likely to manage the key moments better.
A Roosters win by 4 to 8 points.
