Melbourne Storm vs Manly Sea Eagles
30th August 0705hrs
Rugby League – Australia – NRL
Pick Storm -12 handicap
Bookmaker Bet365
Odds: Even money odds taken 0600 GMT, Tuesday, 25th August
The injury-hit Melbourne Storm saw their winning streak snapped last weekend as they lost to ladder-leaders Penrith.
The Storm were kept off the scoreboard in that one as well.
While they are not back at full strength yet, they will be expected to bounce back straight away by beating and out-of-form Sea Eagles.
Table of Contents
Melbourne Storm Preview – Storm can bounce back from upset
It was a 12-0 loss that the Melbourne Storm suffered last weekend against ladder-leaders Parramatta Eels.
The Storm were nowhere near full strength for that and still won’t be for this one.
Even in the run of games prior to that huge clash with the Eels, the Storm were struggling with injuries.
They are still W4 L1 in their last five games despite the injury list that they have had to cope with.
So they are still in good shape sitting second in the latter and only two teams have tallied more points in matches they have done.
Melbourne are averaging 24 points per game this season which should put them in good standing against the Sea Eagles.
The Sea Eagles have scored an average of 16 points per fixture this season in contrast.
In four of their last five games, Melbourne have put at least 24 points on the board.
So they have been finding ways to score and we would expect them to reach at least 20 on the weekend.
The average winning margin for the Storm this season has been 19, but we can’t get there for this one.
We think it will be tighter than that. A Melbourne Storm -12 handicap is at even money* (odds taken 0600 GMT, Tuesday, 25th August).
When the two clubs met back in March for the first time this season, the Storm took an 18-4 win in the match.
Manly Sea Eagles Preview – Sea Eagles to fall again?
It is a four-match losing streak that Manly Sea Eagles find themselves on at the moment.
Last weekend they took a bit of a hammering as well as the Rabbitohs took a 56-16 victory over them.
The Sea Eagles had lost their two previous games by a four-point and a two-point margin.
So that was a defensive disaster for them last weekend, but actually two of their last four losses have been by a margin of at least 30 points.
Manly are now at W6 L9 for the season and their chances of getting a top-eight finish are looking slimmer by each passing round.
They are the lowest-scoring side currently in the top eleven of the ladder, which remains problematic for them.
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Manly Sea Eagles don’t have the head to head form going against Melbourne either to really warrant a great deal of support.
They have won only two of their last eight against the Storm, so are facing a tough task here.
In three of their last four losses against Melbourne, Manly haven’t even made it to double figures on the scoreboard.
It has been an average of 20 points per game that Manly have conceded this season.
Their average losing margin is at 16 points. We can’t see them doing the Storm much damage.
Melbourne Storm vs Manly Sea Eagles Betting Advice
Melbourne Storm have the strength in depth needed to go and get a win on the board in this one.
They have the head to head record and are facing a team who are little out of sorts at the moment.
So the home win will tickle our fancy all day long in this one, so it’s knuckling down on the margin.
Key Facts – Melbourne Storm vs Manly Sea Eagles Betting Tip
- Melbourne Storm are W12 L3 this season
- Melbourne Storm are W6 L2 in their last eight against Manley
- Manly Sea Eagles have lost four of their last five
Melbourne should easily be able to handle a -12 handicap on them, they can cover that.
For a little longer value, therefore, we are looking at the 11-20 point winning margin for the Storm. That rolls our way as a 2/1 option* (odds taken 0600 GMT, Tuesday, 25th August).
The best betting odds for Melbourne Storm vs Manly Sea Eagles
Melbourne Storm to win: 3/10 at Bet365
Draw: 20/1 at Bet365
Manly Sea Eagles to win: 5/2 at Bet365
