MANLY SEA EAGLES v SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
SUNDAY, MARCH 3rd, 2024, ALLEGIANT STADIUM, LAS VEGAS
The wait is almost over. The preseason trials are run and won, and I start our bold predictions for 2024 and the Bulldogs have finished trying to sign every player at your club.
Manly and South Sydney have the honours of opening the 2024 season in style, being the first game played on American soil in the Las Vegas double header.
That’s right, the NRL is back! The start of this season promises to be like no other as four teams will travel to Las Vegas for a special season launch, a week earlier than normal.
The Sea Eagles, Rabbitohs, Rooster and Broncos will head to Sin City on March 3rd in an attempt to take the Greatest Game of All to American shores.
The rest of the competition will then play their opening games approximately a week later, but on home soil.
Viva Las Vegas! The 2024 NRL season gets underway with a special double-header in the U.S of A.
First up at Nevada’s Allegiant Stadium are the Sea Eagles and the Rabbitohs. Both sides endured disappointing campaigns in 2023, with neither playing finals footy.
After a season dogged with injuries, suspensions, and inconsistent form, both will look to turn over a new leaf in 2024.
All eyes will be on new Manly signing Luke Brooks, who has left the club he’s spent the entirety of his NRL career at.
You know what they say, what happens in Vegas, stays on highlight reels forever, so expect both teams to put on a show.
Coach Seibold’s second year in charge starts off with a load of potential and a mountain of questions. How will he fit former Tigers halfback Luke Brooks into the side? Will Brooks form a formidable combination with veteran star Daly Cherry-Evans or is there a chance they will get in each other’s way? Can Tom Trbojevic stay on the field for an entire season? Will Josh Schuster make a successful transition into the forwards or will his generous contract prove to be an ongoing burden to the club? Do they have enough punch in the backline to compete with the top sides? They start the season in Las Vegas against the Rabbitohs and if they survive that distraction, then face equally tough games against the Roosters, Eels and Panthers in the following weeks.
MANLY SEA EAGLES
1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Jason Saab 3. Tolutau Koula 4. Reuben Garrick 5. Jaxson Paulo 6. Luke Brooks 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Josh Aloiai 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Ben Trbojevic 13. Jake Trbojevic 14. Karl Lawton 15. Corey Waddell 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Nathan Brown 18. Jakob Arthur 19. Raymond Tuiamalo Vaega 20. Aaron Woods 21. Tommy Talau 22. Brad Parker.
SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
1. Latrell Mitchell 2. Alex Johnston 3. Isaiah Tass 4. Richard Kennar 5. Jacob Gagai 6. Cody Walker 7. Lachlan Ilias 8. Tevita Tatola 9. Damien Cook 10. Sean Keppie 11. Keaon Koloamatangi 12. Jai Arrow 13. Cameron Murray 14. Siliva Havili 15. Jacob Host 16. Davvy Moale 17. Thomas Burgess 18. Tallis Duncan 19. Michael Chee Kam 20. Shaquai Mitchell 21. Peter Mamouzelos 24. Dean Hawkins
Referee: Ashley Klein; Side line Officials: Chris Sutton, Wyatt Raymond; Video Referee: Gerard Sutton
Welcoming New Talent and Eyeing Victory in Historic Las Vegas Clash
The Bunnies just missed out on the finals last year after a disappointing end to their season. They welcome Jack Wighton to the side, once he has served a suspension, and it will be interesting to see how he works in with Cody Walker and Latrell Mitchell and that often magical Souths backline. They start their year with a trip to Las Vegas, before a couple of tough clashes against the Broncos and Roosters. It is really difficult to quantify how much of a difference Wighton will make to the Rabbitohs, who had their issues with consistency in recent seasons.
Much like Manly, South Sydney are also hoping to start the 2024 season with a win, after crashing out of the eight, winning only four out of their final twelve games last year. They will be determined to silence any sceptics, proving that they are worthy premiership contenders.
After suffering a calf injury that kept him out of the All-Stars match, Cody Walker will call the shots, partnering with Lachlan Ilias in the halves. Jacob Gagai will make his NRL debut from the wing, with Richie Kennar and Isaiah Tass making up the centres combination, due to Jack Wighton being suspended and Campbell Graham out with an injury. After a strong performance in the trials match, ex Sea Eagle Sean Keppie will join Tevita Tatola in the front row.
This match marks the 150th clash between Manly and South Sydney at premiership level, and they are almost even at number of wins, Manly totalling 77 to South Sydney’s 72. However, history is on the Rabbitohs side within recent times, with them winning their past seven matches against the Sea Eagles.
This match marks the first NRL premiership game to be played outside of Australia and New Zealand in its 117 history. I’m excited to see what the Rabbitohs and Sea Eagles bring to the table in this grand opening match, which has been filled with an anticipatory and exciting leadup.
PREDICTION
Latrell Mitchell is also only two tries away from reaching a total of 100, scoring 65 tries for his former club the Roosters, and crossing over the line 33 times for the Bunnies. He need a big game here to prove to everyone what he’s got.
Having spent a decade at the Tigers, it’s time to see Luke Brooks play a premiership match with the Manly side, after impressing in the trial match against the Bunnies. I’m looking forward to his partnership with DCE in the halves, and how he goes with his fresh start after playing eleven seasons with the Tigers and not once having the chance to play finals footy.
I think Cody Walker for Souths, and Tommy Turbo for Manly, are the keys to success here.
First round matches are always hard to pick, with a new roster and new team dynamics you can never quite know what is coming. I think this game could go either way, but I think the Rabbitohs will just manage to get themselves over the line.
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