Matchday Details
Thursday, 26 March 2026 – 8:00pm AEDT – 4 Pines Park, Sydney
📺 Broadcast: Nine / Fox League / Kayo
Referee: Wyatt Raymond | Bunker: Chris Butler
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
1. Tom Trbojevic (c), 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. Brandon Wakeham, 15. Corey Waddell, 16. Ethan Bullemor, 17. Paul Bryan, 18. Simione Laiafi, 19. Josh Feledy, 20. Joey Walsh, 21. Clayton Faulalo, 22. D’Jazirhae Pua’avase
Sydney Roosters
1. James Tedesco, 2. Daniel Tupou, 3. Billy Smith, 4. Robert Toia, 5. Mark Nawaqanitawase, 6. Daly Cherry-Evans, 7. Sam Walker, 8. Naufahu Whyte, 9. Reece Robson, 10. Lindsay Collins, 11. Angus Crichton, 12. Siua Wong, 13. Egan Butcher, 14. Connor Watson, 15. Blake Steep, 16. Nat Butcher, 17. Salesi Foketi, 18. Cody Ramsey, 19. Hugo Savala, 20. Benaiah Ioelu, 21. Tom Rodwell, 22. Taylor Losalu
Match Preview
One of the most keenly anticipated grudge matches of 2026 has arrived as Daly Cherry-Evans returns to 4 Pines Park for the Roosters match with Manly.
Plenty has been spoken of Cherry-Evans’ departure from the Sea Eagles and he’ll be keen to keep his old team winless through the opening month of the premiership.
Despite two losses prior to last week’s bye, Manly coach Anthony Seibold has kept largely the same side, with only Nathan Brown (illness) out, replaced on the bench by Corey Waddell. Former Rooster Siosiua Taukeiaho (calf) is still at least a week away from returning.
Roosters coach Trent Robinson has also stuck with largely the same side that was thrashed last weekend by Penrith, with Billy Smith returning from concussion protocols following his bike crash. He pushes Fetalaiga Pauga out of the squad, while Hugo Savala made his return from a syndesmosis injury last weekend in NSW Cup and has been included in the 19 for first grade this weekend.
These two teams have been poor to start season 2026. The Sea Eagles were thoroughly outplayed for 65 minutes by Canberra and were lucky to force Golden Point before being thrashed by reigning wooden spooners Newcastle. The Roosters earned a hard-fought victory against Souths in Round 2 but were punished severely for their poor discipline in heavy defeats to the Warriors and Panthers either side of that.
Defence has been the biggest issue for the two teams through the opening rounds of the premiership, with Manly ranked last for missed tackles (45.5 per game) while the Roosters are equal-fourth (31.7) with the Panthers and Dolphins. Despite this, the Roosters are the second-worst team for points conceded (33.33), slightly worse than the Sea Eagles (fourth-worst, 32.5 points per game).
All eyes will undoubtedly be on Cherry-Evans, however the man who took his spot, Jamal Fogarty, will be under a similar amount of pressure on Thursday night as he looks to guide his new club to their first win for the season.
The Roosters have the upper hand in recent meetings between the two teams, winning 10 of 14 since 2018, including the past three straight. The team leading at half-time has won every match in that time (two were even at half-time). The Roosters have also won four of the past six at 4 Pines Park.
This match also marks the fifth annual Gotcha4Life Cup, contested by the Sea Eagles and Roosters in their final regular season meeting each season. The Cup, which aims to raise awareness towards mental health, has been won by the Roosters on all four previous occasions.
Prediction
RLZ Tip: Roosters by 6 points.
Bold call: Cherry-Evans to have the last laugh against his old club.
Related
- NRL Round 4 2026 Predictions & Tips
- NRL Round 4 Team Lists – 2026 Season
- NRL 2026 Results Tracker
- 2026 NRL Match Review Results Tracker: Charges, Suspensions & Fines
- NRL Injury List 2026
