Manly’s fading finals hopes face their biggest test yet as the Sea Eagles host an in-form Dolphins side that has already secured its place in September. With the visitors surging and Brookvale traditionally a difficult road trip, this clash could prove season-defining for both clubs.
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Matchday Details
Friday, 14 August 2026 – 6:00pm AEST – 4 Pines Park, Sydney
📺 Foxtel / Kayo
Referee: Grant Atkins | Bunker: Wyatt Raymond
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles: 1. Clayton Faulalo, 2. Jason Saab, 3. Tolutau Koula, 4. Reuben Garrick, 5. Lehi Hopoate, 6. Joey Walsh, 7. Jamal Fogarty, 8. Simione Laiafi, 9. Brandon Wakeham, 10. Nathan Brown, 11. Haumole Olakau’atu, 12. Corey Waddell, 13. Jake Trbojevic (c), 14. Jake Simpkin, 15. Nicholas Lenaz, 16. Fletcher Baker, 17. Jackson Shereb, 18. Josh Feledy, 19. Hugo Hart, 20. Onitoni Large, 21. Caleb Navale, 22. Blake Wilson
Dolphins: 1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, 2. Jamayne Isaako, 3. Jack Bostock, 4. Herbie Farnworth, 5. Selwyn Cobbo, 6. Kodi Nikorima, 7. Isaiya Katoa (c), 8. Thomas Flegler, 9. Jeremy Marshall-King, 10. Francis Molo, 11. Connelly Lemuelu, 12. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki, 13. Morgan Knowles, 14. Max Plath, 15. Ray Stone, 16. Tom Gilbert, 17. Felise Kaufusi, 18. Bradley Schneider, 19. Jake Averillo, 20. Sebastian Su’a, 21. Tevita Naufahu, 22. Brian Pouniu
Match Preview
Manly are hoping to keep their 2026 finals hopes alive on Friday night at 4 Pines Park (Brookvale), but they face a tough test with the visit of the Dolphins, who arrive full of confidence after confirming a finals spot and defeating the Broncos in last weekend’s Battle of Brisbane.
A loss on Friday night won’t mathematically rule out Manly, but it will make life tough for them with the potential of falling three wins behind the Rabbitohs and two wins behind the Bulldogs, both of whom play each other this weekend – so one will pull further ahead of Manly if the Sea Eagles lose.
The Sea Eagles are in less than ideal form to mount a finals challenge, coming into this weekend’s game on a run of five straight losses as Fozball really appears to be deflating. If they can turn it around on Friday night it would be coincidental, as the first game of Kieran Foran’s fledgling coaching career was against the Dolphins in Redcliffe, where Foran and the rejuvenated Sea Eagles brought the new era in spectacularly with a 52-18 win. Manly recorded a 78% win rate under Foran as interim coach, but that has dropped to 25% since being made full-time. Manly are scoring 10 points per game less and conceding 10 points more per game since the change from interim to full-time coach.
Manly haven’t been helped by injuries – like most other clubs – with their two best fullbacks having been out. There was talk of Tom Trbojevic’s return this weekend, but that has hasn’t happened. Clayton Faulalo returns from injury, which moves Lehi Hopoate back to the wing at the expense of Blake Wilson. Sea Eagles prop Taniela Paseka is out with a knee injury and Nathan Brown replaces him in the starting side. There could be an NRL debut for Hugo Hart, who is named among the reserves: the NSW Cup second-rower has played 11 games for Manly, who are last on one win for the 2026 NSW Cup season.
The Dolphins are in much better shape than their Friday night opponents, winning 11 of their last 13 games, including last weekend’s amazing 40-32 win over the Broncos from 24-0 down. They even overcame the sizeable blip in form after losing to Cronulla 66-0 in the middle of that 13-game run. That loss was at Redcliffe, as was the Dolphins’ loss earlier in the season to Manly. Sadly for the visitors, the Dolphins’ record vs Manly at Brookvale is no better, with two previous clashes in Sydney seeing Manly win on both occasions and the Sea Eagles scoring 58 on both occasions.
However, the Dolphins’ record in Sydney in 2026 is much improved, and they are 3 from 3 for away games to Sydney teams this season, scoring 28 points or more across those games.
There are not as many injury worries for the Dolphins, who are almost at full strength. Missing this week is Kurt Donoghoe, who is out with a thumb injury and will be sore and sorely missed by the Dolphins as he has been close to one of their best when he’s played. The good news for the team – and rugby league – is Ray Stone is the capable replacement (returning himself from a neck injury). He forms part of an outstanding bench, one which is a huge advantage for the visitors. The Dolphins’ bench includes Origin stars, plus Stone, and Jake Averillo, who is a class player as well, but he had lost his place in the centres to Jack Bostock while he was injured. The bench has saved the Dolphins in quite a few games this season, and it has been needed as they have been quite slow starters in matches, as seen last weekend against Brisbane where they were down 24-0 after 22 minutes.
The Dolphins are so settled and have such momentum that it is hard to see where Manly have the upper hand against their opponents. Even Manly’s very good back five find it hard to compete with the Dolphins’ collection of the game’s best centres, the NRL’s leading point-scorer, and State of Origin players in-between.
Some stats still say the Sea Eagles are a chance, with Manly having won six of their last seven vs Qld sides at home; and they have won their last four, and eight of their last nine home games, at Brookvale on a Friday.
But those stats are in the (recent) past, and in the here and now the Dolphins are in form and on their way to finals, and the same can’t be said for Manly.
Prediction
RLZ Tip: Dolphins by 12.
Full Round 24 tips → /nrl-round-24-predictions-2026/
Bold call: Two tries and a bunch of conversions for Jamayne Isaako.
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Related
- Full Round 24 coverage → /nrl/2026-season/round-24/
- NRL Round 24 Team Lists → /nrl-round-24-team-lists-2026/
- NRL Injury List → /nrl/injuries/
- NRL Round 23 Review → /nrl-round-23-review-2026/
