Manly Sea Eagles vs South Sydney Rabbitohs Prediction – Round 18 2025

It’s shaping as a cracking conclusion to the final major bye round of the season as the Manly Sea Eagles welcome the South Sydney Rabbitohs to Brookvale Oval for the first time since 2021.

Manly returned to form with a 28-10 triumph over the Tigers last week and will now be looking for its first set of consecutive wins since March. The Rabbitohs are riding five straight losses after they were hammered by the Dolphins, leaking 50 points to Wayne Bennett’s old team.

Souths will be hoping for more joy on Sunday as they face a side they’ve beaten in eight of their last nine meetings.

On the team front, Tommy Talau comes in for the injured Nathan Brown on Manly’s bench. While at Souths, Latrell Mitchell is in Origin camp with Alex Johnston moving to fullback and Isaiah Tass coming onto the wing.

Jack Wighton goes into the halves for Cody Walker while Lewis Dodd and Liam Le Blanc join the bench.

Here are the full team lists for both sides, as well as betting tips for the H2H, first try scorer, and over/under markets. This is our Sea Eagles vs Rabbitohs prediction.

 

Sea Eagles vs Rabbitohs Teams

 

Manly Sea Eagles Team List

1. Lehi Hopoate

2. Jason Saab

3. Tolu Koula

4. Tom Trbojevic

5. Reuben Garrick 

6. Luke Brooks

7. Daly Cherry-Evans

8. Matthew Lodge 

9. Jazz Tevaga

10. Siosiua Taukeiaho

11. Corey Waddell

12. Ben Trbojevic

13. Jake Trbojevic

14. Jake Simpkin

15. Tommy Talau

16. Ethan Bullemor 

17. Tof Sipley

 

South Sydney Rabbitohs Team List

1. Alex Johnston

2. Isaiah Tass

3. Euan Aitken

4. Campbell Graham

5. Tyrone Munro

6. Jack Wighton

7. Jamie Humphreys

8. Tevita Tatola 

9. Siliva Havili

10. Keaon Koloamatangi

11. Jai Arrow

12. Tallis Duncan

13. Lachlan Hubner

14. Peter Mamouzelos

15. Liam Le Blanc 

16. Davvy Moale

17. Lewis Dodd

Sea Eagles vs Rabbitohs Prediction and Betting Tips

 

Head-to-Head Prediction

The final game of the shortened NRL round 18, sees the Manly Sea Eagles welcome the struggling South Sydney Rabbitohs.

For whatever reason, the Bunnies just can’t find their bounce and while they continue to show plenty of fight week in week out, they just can’t lock up a win.

It’s now been five games since they last tasted victory and their seesawing 50-28 loss to the Dolphins last start showcased their inability to string a full 80 minutes together.

They’ll have to try and find 80 minutes of consistency this week without the services of their main man Latrell Mitchell, who will be in Blues camp.

Unable to find it with him, we fear how they’ll get on without him, especially seeing as Manly are coming off a win and unlike years gone by, have both Daly Cherry-Evans and Tom Trbojevic on deck, as both have avoided conscription to the Origin arena.

Betting tip: Manly Sea Eagles.

 

First Try Scorer Prediction

No, we’re not taking Alex Johnston in this market for once. The soon to be NRL record try scorer’s move to fullback has forced us to look elsewhere, as he is nowhere near as prolific when wearing the No.1 jersey.

Instead, we’re opting for Manly’s own speed demon – Jason Saab. Saab has been the first try-scorer in each of Manly's last three home matches against opponents that were ranked in the bottom four.

Take one quick look at the ladder and you’ll see Souths languishing second from bottom. Over to you, Jason.

Betting tip: Jason Saab.

 

Over/Under Prediction

We love to let the form guide inform our tip for this market and there will be no change in procedure for this game here.

Each of Manly's last six matches in Sydney have gone under the total match points line, so that’s the way we’ll be leaning.

Betting tip: Under total match points.

Sea Eagles vs Rabbitohs Match Details

 

Date: Sunday, July 6, 2025.

Kick-off: 4:05pm AEST.

Location: Brookvale Oval, Sydney.