NRL.com Wrap: Knights defeated by Manly on Old Boys Day

Late Mail

Rabbitohs: The Bunnies are 1-19 with no late changes. Latrell Mitchell will target a Round 26 return against the Titans after his comeback was put on hold this week. The Bunnies line up as named on Tuesday with Euan Aitken promoted to the starting side in place of Adam Elliott (adductor). 

Warriors: Adam Pompey comes into the starting side at centre with Ali Leiataua moving to the interchange. Rookie halfback Jett Cleary also comes onto the bench for his NRL debut joining Leiataua, Sam Healey, Tanner Stowers-Smith, Demitric Vaimauga and Eddie Ieremia-Toeava. With Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad serving a two-game suspension for a hip drop tackle, Taine Tuaupiki is back as starting No.1. With Luke Metcalf (hamstring) sidelined, Chanel Harris-Tavita moves to halfback and Luke Hanson is the new five-eighth in his second NRL match after debuting in Round 3. 

Numbers Game

• The Rabbitohs have won their last eight games at Accor Stadium.
• The Warriors have won three of their last four games against the Rabbitohs at Accor Stadium.
• The Rabbitohs have scored at least 28 points in nine of their last 10 games against the Warriors.
• Warriors coach Andrew Webster will take charge of his 100th NRL game as coach.
• Rabbitohs winger Alex Johnston has scored 18 tries in his last 12 games at Accor Stadium.

 

Knights v Sea Eagles at McDonald Jones Stadium

Media conference

Lethal Lehi: Manly's outside backs racked up big metres and plenty of tackle breaks as they ran rings around the Knights out wide. Lehi Hopoate led the charge with a mammoth nine tackle breaks and 151 run metres while Reuben Garrick (156 metres) and Tom Trbojevic (154 metres) also delivered.

Full-time: The upsets continue in Round 25 as the Sea Eagles snap a six-game losing streak to deal Newcastle's top-four hopes a massive blow. The win keeps Manly's slim finals hopes alive as they rely on the Cowboys and Bulldogs losing and also need to win their last two games against the Dragons and Warriors.

77 min: Dom Young kicks ahead and Tom Trbojevic bowls him over after the kick and is penalised.

75 min: A forward pass from Sandon Smith to Jermaine McEwen brings the Knights unstuck. That's nine errors from the home side who have completed at just 76 per cent.

74 min: The Knights go short with the kick-off and Fletcher Hunt takes the catch.

72 min: The Knights look to go wide from deep in their own end but Kalyn Ponga loses control, the ball rebounds off Lehi Hopoate's head and into the in-goal area where he grounds the ball for the try that seals the upset. Jamal Fogarty adds the extras. Sea Eagles 44-24

69 min: Jamal Fogarty bombs for the corner with a perfectly weighted kick and it's Jason Saab vs Greg Marzhew in the air. A no-contest as Saab flies high and comes up with a spectacular catch to score. Fogarty fails to convert. Sea Eagles 38-24

68 min: The Sea Eagles go left and Tom Trbojevic's pass is knocked down by Sandon Smith so Manly reload from 10m out.

62 min: The Knights make big metres on the left through Bradman Best before the ball is spun right for Fletcher Hunt to take the final pass from Jermaine McEwen and outpace the cover for a much-needed try. Sea Eagles 34-24

59 min: Jamal Fogarty sends the ball to Haumole Olakau'atu who delivers a peach of a pass to put Reuben Garrick into space and the centre races away to score Manly's sixth try of the afternoon. Jamal Fogarty misses the conversion. Sea Eagles 34-18

56 min: Kalyn Ponga goes in search of a 40-20 but Tom Trbojevic does a great job to keep the ball in as he slides across on his knees and flicks the ball back inside.

52 min: Greg Marzhew spills a kick just 20m out from his own line to hand Manly another chance.

50 min: Ben Trbojevic breaks into the clear and grubbers for brother Tom who is dragged down just short of the line by Fletcher Hunt. Jumping in to dummy half it's Josh Feledy who burrows over to complete a hat-trick. Jamal Fogarty converts. Sea Eagles 30-18

48 min: Clayton Faulalo comes up with a bell ringer on Fletcher Sharpe to force an error.

47 min: Manly turn the ball over while in possession as Jake Simpkin is penalised for being in front of the play and accepting a pass before getting back onside.

Injury alert: Tolu Koula has suffered a syndesmosis injury and won't return.

Clayton's class: Shifted to five-eighth with Joey Walsh out injured, Clayton Faulalo produced a slashing first half with 120 run metres, two tackle breaks and a line break. Having played wing, centre and fullback in 2026, Faulalo showed his versatility by making the No.6 jersey his own in Newcastle.

Half-time: The Sea Eagles recover from 12 points down with 10 minutes left in the half to take a six-point lead to the break. A double to Josh Feledy and a try to Caleb Navale in the space of six minutes with Dom Young in the sin bin has Manly on track for an upset.

39 min: Manly strike again as Ben Trbojevic plays down a short side and sends Josh Feledy over for his second try in the space of three minutes. Jamal Fogarty converts from wide out. Sea Eagles 24-18

39 min: Tyson Frizell goes on report for a hip drop on Tom Trbojevic.

38 min: More scintillating attack from Manly as Tom Trbojevic and Clayton Faulalo handle in a movement that finally breaks down with Brandon Wakeham spilling the last pass.

36 min: The Sea Eagles take full advantage of having 13 on 12 as they make good ground down the left before Jake Simpkin skips out of dummy half and puts Josh Feledy over from close range. Jamal Fogarty converts. 18-18

35 min: Dom Young is placed on report and sent to the sin bin for a hip drop tackle on Tolu Koula in the build-up to Navale's try. Koula leaves the field.

33 min: Manly go on the attack after a Jermaine McEwen error and it's Caleb Navale grabbing a try in his comeback match courtesy of a perfect pass from Tom Trbojevic. The conversion from Jamal Fogarty is good. Knights 18-12

30 min: Ben Trbojevic is penalised for a late tackle on Sandon Smith who knocks over the penalty goal from 20m out just to the side of the posts. Knights 18-6

29 min: Jason Saab gets back to clean up a kick on his own line but loses control and the Knights have a scrum 10m out.

27 min: Tolu Koula gets around Dom Young and sets sail down the touchline but Young comes again to round him up and the Manly man loses the ball.

25 min: Manly get the kick-off all wrong when it sails too deep and over the dead ball line. The Knights get a penalty on halfway.

23 min: Jermaine McEwen finds Kalyn Ponga who shuffles it on to Sandon Smith who delivers a superb long pass to Dom Young who races 50 metres down the sideline to score. Smith converts. Knights 16-6

21 min: Caleb Navale takes the field for his first NRL action of 2026 after injuring his ACL in the pre-season.

20 min: Jamal Fogarty jams in and shuts down Kalyn Ponga who puts the ball down and the Sea Eagles hold on.

19 min: Tolu Koula is pinged for late contact on Kalyn Ponga and the Knights are hot on the attack again.

15 min: Fletcher Sharpe grubbers into the in-goal and the balls rolls deep into the left-hand corner where Greg Marzhew beats Tom Trbojevic to score and gets it down for a try. That's 22 tries in 22 games for Marzhew in 2026. Sandon Smith can't convert. Knights 10-6

13 min: Quick hands on the right edge from Kalyn Ponga and Dom Young but Manly scramble back and force an error from Ponga just short of the goal-line.

12 min: Nathan Brown is penalised for a strip. The Knights lodge a captain's challenge but burn it as the bunker supports the on-field call.

10 min: The Knights hit back as Fletcher Sharpe drifts to the right and picks up Fletcher Hunt who shows plenty of pace to get outside the defence and sprint 30 metres to score. Sandon Smith adds the extras. 6-6

8 min: Jermaine McEwen goes on report for a high shot on Clayton Faulalo who leaves the field for a HIA. Faulalo passes his HIA.

6 min: A forced pass from Fletcher Hunt can't find Dom Young and Manly have a scrum 30m out from the Knights line.

3 min: Manly produce a long-range special as Lehi Hopoate comes up with a line break and a neat flick pass to Clayton Faulalo who swerves his way past Kalyn Ponga and opens the scoring. Jamal Fogarty converts. Sea Eagles 6-0

Late Mail

Knights: Cody Hopwood has joined the starting side and Jacob Saifiti goes to the bench in a game day swap. Pasami Saulo comes out of the side and Elijah Salesa-Leaumoana has been added to the six-man bench. Bradman Best is back after two games out with a calf injury and lines up for just his 13th match of the season. Two big blows though with Dane Gagai (hamstring) and Francis Manuleleua (concussion) to sit this one out. Winger Dominic Young has scored 10 tries in his last six games against the Sea Eagles. 

Sea Eagles: The Sea Eagles are 1-19 with no late changes. Gun fullback Tom Trbojevic has been named for his first game since Round 20 having overcome a hamstring injury. The Sea Eagles have lost all three games in Turbo's absence. Clayton Faulalo shifts to five-eighth in place of Joey Walsh, who suffered a hairline fracture of his jaw during last Friday’s loss to the Dolphins. Back-rower Ben Trbojevic (concussion) is good to go so Corey Waddell moves to the bench. 

Numbers Game

• The Knights have won three of their last four games against the Sea Eagles.
• The Sea Eagles have conceded 150 points in their last four games.
• Knights winger Dominic Young has scored 10 tries in his last six games against the Sea Eagles.
• Sea Eagles second-rower Haumole Olakau’atu has scored six tries in his last seven games against the Knights.
• Knights five-eighth Fletcher Sharpe has scored five tries in his last three games.

 

Dragons v Bulldogs at Allianz Stadium