Eels vs Sea Eagles Prediction, Game Preview, Live Stream, Odds and Picks
Rested Manly Favored in NRL
The sportsbook has the Manly Sea Eagles narrowly favored to beat the Parramatta Eels on Thursday in Round 3 of the NRL.
It’s an important game as the Sea Eagles could move to the top of the table, whereas the Eels look to get their first win of the year.
NRL lines expect a close contest in Sydney and so do we.
Not the Usual Start for Eels
The Eels typically come out of the gates firing on all cylinders, so after losses to the Storm and Sharks, they desperately need a win.
They showed plenty of fight when losing 16-12 to the Storm. It was a game they probably should have won, but they couldn’t play well enough in the second half.
The same goes for their 30-26 loss to the Sharks last week. They are on the cusp of winning, but with another tough game in-store at 4 Pines Park, they could go 0-3.
Las Vegas NRL odds have the Eels at +2½, so they’re still being respected, regardless of their winless record.
However, they have a good recent winning record against the Sea Eagles after winning twice in 2022. They could use that to their favor, but a more focused effort is needed, and playing for the full 80 minutes is essential.
New recruit J’maine Hopgood has been outstanding, so look for him to have a big impact.
“He was good again tonight. I said in the preseason, he just needed an opportunity to get out on the field and I still think once he’s played 10 to 15 games straight he’ll be better for us,” coach Brad Arthur said.
Sea Eagles Poised to Win
The Sea Eagles won their opening game 31-6 against the Bulldogs, who have since scored a massive win over the Storm.
They then had a bye last week, so they are well-rested and looking to fire again against the Eels.
NRL news suggests they are also fully fit, which hasn’t been the case for many years. A healthy Sea Eagles team is a dangerous team, so despite not beating the Eels twice last year, they can turn that around.
The Eels are 9-13 at the venue, which is a solid statistic for an away team. However, with 140 wins at 4 Pines Park, the Sea Eagles could use that to their advantage.
Sports betting markets have them at -2½. Bettors could have been prepared to take -3½, so there is value in the Eels’ odds.
Eels vs Sea Eagles Head-to-Head
The Eels won 22-20 and 36-20 in the two meetings last year. The most recent meeting came in Manly, so the Eels didn’t mind the road conditions.
They also have a 22-19 lifetime advantage.
Eels vs Sea Eagles Game Information
- Game: Eels (0-2) vs Sea Eagles (1-0)
- Day/Time: Thursday, March 16th, 5:00 a.m. ET
- Location: 4 Pines Park, Sydney, NSW
- Eels vs Sea Eagles Live Stream: RugbyPass
Eels vs Sea Eagles Betting Lines
Eels vs Sea Eagles Picks and Prediction
Our NRL picks have the Sea Eagles staying unbeaten and handing the Eels their third loss.
They have a team good enough to go all the way in 2023, and bettors get a generous line from bookmakers.
Parramatta is listed at +115 in our Vegas NRL lines. This means that if you wager $100 on the Eels, there’s a chance to win $115. Manly is -155, offering a chance to win $65 on a $100 wager.
The implied probability attached to the betting lines gives Parramatta a 46.51% chance to win, with the Sea Eagles at 60.78%.
