Match Discussion: Round 2 vs Manly @ 4 Pines Park, Brookvale / Cammeraygal

[League Unlimited News]

NRL 2026 - Round 2
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles v Newcastle Knights
4 Pines Park, Brookvale / Cammeraygal (TICKETS)

Sunday 15 March 2026
Kickoff 4:05pm AEDT
Live on Nine Network, 9Now, Fox League, Kayo Sports

1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Jason Saab 3. Tolutau Koula 4. Reuben Garrick 5. Lehi Hopoate 6. Luke Brooks 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Jake Simpkin 10. Kobe Hetherington 11. Haumole Olakau'atu 12. Ben Trbojevic 13. Jake Trbojevic 14. Joey Walsh 15. Nathan Brown 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Paul Bryan 18. Brandon Wakeham 19. Josh Feledy 20. Corey Waddell 21. Jackson Shereb 22. Simione Laiafi

Changes from last week:

Out: Siosiua Taukeiaho (front row)
In: Joey Walsh (bench), Paul Bryan (bench), Jackson Shereb (bench), Simione Laiafi (reserve)
Changes: Kobe Hetherington (bench to front row)

1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Dominic Young 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Sandon Smith 7. Dylan Brown 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Trey Mooney 11. Dylan Lucas 12. Jermaine McEwen 13. Tyson Frizell 14. Thomas Cant 15. Mathew Croker 16. Pasami Saulo 17. Francis Manuleleua 18. Fletcher Hunt 19. Harrison Graham 20. Tyson Gamble 21. Cody Hopwood 22. James Schiller

Changes from last week:

Out: Fletcher Sharpe (five-eighth)
In: Francis Manuleleua (bench), Tyson Gamble (bench), Cody Hopwood (bench), James Schiller (reserve)
Changes: Mat Croker (lock to bench), Tyson Frizell (bench to lock), Sandon Smith (bench to five-eighth)

Referee: Todd Smith
Sideline Officials: Drew Oultram, Tyson Brough
Video Referee: Grant Atkins

HEAD TO HEAD - 1988 - 2025​

	TOTAL	MANLY	NEWCASTLE	DRAWN
ALL MATCHES	61	36	24	1
4 PINES	23	19	4	0

LAST FIVE MEETINGS​

YEAR	ROUND	RESULT	VENUE	CROWD
2022	Round 18	MANLY 42-12	4 Pines	15896
2023	Round 5	DRAWN 32-32	Glen Willow	9024
2023	Round 13	NEWCASTLE 28-18	McD. Jones	20661
2024	Round 19	MANLY 44-6	4 Pines	17298
2025	Round 14	NEWCASTLE 26-22	McD. Jones	16027

BIGGEST WINS​

YEAR	ROUND	RESULT	VENUE	CROWD
2004	Round 16	NEWCASTLE 56-12	EnergyAustralia	17967
2004	Round 23	MANLY 48-10	Brookvale	10028
2024	Round 19	MANLY 44-6	4 Pines	17298

NEXT FOUR MATCHES​

	Round 3	Round 4	Round 5	Round 6
MANLY	(BYE)	SYDNEY (H)	DOLPHINS (A)	ST GEO ILLA (A)
NEWCASTLE	WARRIORS (H)	CANTERBURY (A)	CANBERRA (H)	WESTS TIGERS (A)

FORM LINE​

	Round 1
MANLY	CANBERRA	L 28-29
NEWCASTLE	NORTH QLD	W 28-18

STATE OF PLAY: 2026 SEASON​

	POSITION	PLAYED	BYES	W-L-D	FOR	AGAINST
MANLY	10th	1	0	0-1-0	28	29
NEWCASTLE	5th	1	0	1-0-0	28	18

 

[Knight Tales]

A win here, you cannot put a value on for this team’s confidence.

 

[Apey]

This is a hard one to pick. Manly playing at home again and should be fuming after giving up that game to the Raiders.

 

[The Axe of Druss]

Lucas needs to do a number on Olakau'atu here for us to be any chance

 

[mozza91]

No reason we can’t win. Manly are coming off a tough golden point loss. They really struggled defensively against Canberra’s 2nd phase play and quick play the balls. We need to look to offload like we did in Vegas and we can get some joy.

The main reason I’m confident is that I’ve decided not to go. I’ve seen some horrible losses the few times I’ve been to that shithole of a ground.

 

[Frederick]

Fogarty always seems to play well against us

 

[Woody90]

Hate these f**kers.

 

[Rod]

That Brookvale record is atrocious lol - that alone doesn't make me confident.

Hard to know what to make of that Manly performance, they were excellent for a couple of 20 minute periods but fell apart for long stretches as well, including a pitiful effort in golden point. Hopefully that plus our longer break makes a difference.

 

[Walk On Home Boy]

Hopefully not a hiding and multiple serious injuries to key players like most games at this sh*thole of a ground.

 

[League Unlimited News]

1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Dominic Young 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Sandon Smith 7. Dylan Brown 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Trey Mooney 11. Dylan Lucas 12. Jermaine McEwen 13. Tyson Frizell
14. Thomas Cant 15. Mathew Croker 16. Pasami Saulo 17. Francis Manuleleua 18. Fletcher Hunt 19. Harrison Graham
20. Tyson Gamble 21. Cody Hopwood 22. James Schiller

Changes from last week:

Out: Fletcher Sharpe (five-eighth)
In: Francis Manuleleua (bench), Tyson Gamble (bench), Cody Hopwood (bench), James Schiller (reserve)
Changes: Mat Croker (lock to bench), Tyson Frizell (bench to lock), Sandon Smith (bench to five-eighth)

---

Referee: Todd Smith
Sideline Officials: Drew Oultram, Tyson Brough
Video Referee: Grant Atkins

NRL TEAMS & OFFICIALS - 2026 Round 2 » League Unlimited

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[perverse]

Hopefully not a hiding and multiple serious injuries to key players like most games at this sh*thole of a ground.

Yes walking out unscathed by serious injuries would feel like a win at Brookie.

 

[aqua_duck]

Excited to see Francis Manuleleua make his debut, very talented player but can be abit frustrating

 

[Burwood]

How the hell is Cant our best option as a bench utility?

 

[mozza91]

How the hell is Cant our best option as a bench utility?

Misdirect? You name 22 and keep them guessing til the last minute.

 

[K-Man]

I'm a bit surprised ESL hasn't featured in either first grade squad so far. I had assumed from his impressive trial form, backing up solid performances in the NRL last season, that he was there or thereabouts already rather than a work in progress. Seems like Hopwood has already leapfrogged him for one, and obviously Manuleleua has made the bench for a debut this week as well. Obviously that could just be a bench balance thing with Manu showing good signs as a left edge forward and ESL playing NSW Cup as a middle from what I can tell. Even so, not what I expected in pre-season. Any thoughts or insights?

 

[K-Man]

Excited to see Francis Manuleleua make his debut, very talented player but can be abit frustrating

From the admittedly quite little I've seen, he looks like a real talent with huge upside. It's nice to have players like that pushing through and taking the places of guys like Brodie Jones (no disrespect). Manuleleua has definitely got the build, mobility and skill level. In attack it's hard to imagine him not progressing into NRL quality if he's not there already. But it's hard to know when it comes to his defence without seeing more at the top level.

 

[Knight Tales]

Hard not be optimistic about our backrow stocks at present. We will know this weekend how they stand up against a quality pack.

 

[The Axe of Druss]

How the hell is Cant our best option as a bench utility?

With Smith starting we really dont have anyone else who can cover hooker/lock

 

[knightsarmy]

Yeah after last Knights game (Tigers vs Cowboys) were we good in Round 1 or were the Cowboys bad ?
Tune in to find out

 

[alexwilliams_66692007]

I think we'll win this well.

34-16