Thursday night footy: Sea Eagles v Roosters

38 min: Sam Walker and Salesi Foketi both leave the field for a HIA after clashing heads as they attempted to make a tackle. Hugo Savala enters the field of play for his first NRL action of the season.

35 min: Manly sneak up the short side on the last tackle and Mark Nawaqanitawase is forced to come from behind Lehi Hopoate to make a last-ditch tackle and knock the ball loose.

29 min: Electric speed and footwork from Tolu Koula as he goes 85 metres to score a stunning solo try leaving Rob Toia, Siua Wong and James Tedesco in his wake. Jamal Fogarty fails to convert. Sea Eagles 10-8

23 min: The Roosters play 'hot potato' to keep the ball alive before James Tedesco chip kicks into the in goal where Tom Trbojevic cleans up and is taken in goal. Jamal Fogarty goes long with the dropout.

21 min: Jamal Fogarty's bomb comes down right on the tryline, James Tedesco spills it, Brandon Wakeham picks up the loose ball and burrows over but the bunker disallows the try for Haumole Olakau'atu shoving Billy Smith who crashed into Tedesco and stopped him getting a fair catch on the ball.

18 min: Tom Trbojevic spills a high ball and the Roosters clean the ball up and get the ball to the right wing where Rob Toia shows good skills to open space for Mark Nawaqanitawase who dives into the corner and controls the put-down. Sam Walker again misses from touch. Roosters 8-6.

14 min: Daly Cherry-Evans goes to the air for Mark Nawaqanitawase to chase but Tom Trbojevic is rock solid under the high ball.

7 min: Great skill by the Roosters in the slippery conditions with Daly Cherry-Evans, James Tedesco, Siua Wong and Rob Toia handling before Mark Nawaqanitawase finishes it off in the corner. Sam Walker misses the conversion. Sea Eagles 6-4.

5 min: A chorus of boos for Daly Cherry-Evans as he handles twice in a set that finishes with Reuben Garrick knocking down a pass to hand the Roosters a new set.

3 min: More trouble for the Roosters as Egan Butcher cops a knock to the head as he tries to tackle Taniela Paseka head on. Butcher leaves the field for a HIA and is deemed a Category 1 so he won't return.

1 min: A stunning start by Manly who run the ball from inside their own 10m and Reuben Garrick puts Jason Saab away down the right. Saab races 60 metres and picks up Tom Trbojevic in support for a try within 30 seconds. Jamal Fogarty converts. Sea Eagles 6-0.

7.15pm The clash between the Sea Eagles and Roosters is expected to kick off on time at 8.00pm. The ground was hit by a storm and lightning and the floodlights were turned off as a precaution but the lights are now back on and lightning is heading out to sea. Players will be able to go onto the field for their warm-up and kick-off should be on time at 8.00pm.

Late Mail

Sea Eagles: Brandon Wakeham starts the game at hooker and Jake Simpkin goes to the bench in a late switch. Teenage front-rower Simione Laiafi is part of the six-man bench and in the frame for an NRL debut. The prop's potential debut comes as Siua Taukeiaho's return from a calf injury was put on hold for another week, while Nathan Brown has also been struck down with illness. 

Roosters: No late changes for the Roosters. Daly Cherry-Evans will wear the No.6 jersey when he returns to 4 Pines Park for the first time as a Rooster, with Sam Walker starting at halfback. Billy Smith makes his return from concussion in the centres while emerging playmaker Hugo Savala is part of the six-man bench after making a successful comeback from an ankle injury in NSW Cup last week. 

Numbers Game

• The Sea Eagles have a 69 per cent winning record against the Roosters at 4 Pines Park.
• The Roosters have won six of their last eight games against the Sea Eagles.
• Sea Eagles fullback Tom Trbojevic has scored six tries in his last six games at 4 Pines Park.
• Roosters five-eighth Daly Cherry-Evans will move to outright fourth on the all-time appearances list.
• Sea Eagles centre Tolu Koula has scored 12 tries in his last 11 games at 4 Pines Park.