A Minor Premiership and home-field advantage throughout the finals could be on the line when the Warriors host the Sea Eagles in Auckland. New Zealand enter the final round locked with Penrith at the top of the ladder and needing a strong performance to maximise their chances of claiming the J. J. Giltinan Shield. Meanwhile, Manly will be looking to finish a disappointing campaign on a high after stringing together back-to-back victories. With finals implications, returning stars and plenty of intrigue surrounding the ladder permutations, this shapes as one of the most significant games of the weekend.

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Matchday Details

Saturday, 5 September 2026 – 3:00pm AEST – Go Media Stadium, Auckland
📺 Foxtel / Kayo
Referee: Gerard Sutton | Senior Review Official: Grant Atkins

Warriors: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Adam Pompey, 3. Ali Leiataua, 4. Leka Halasima, 5. Alofiana Khan-Pereira, 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita, 7. Te Maire Martin, 8. James Fisher-Harris (c), 9. Sam Healey, 10. Mitchell Barnett, 11. Eddie Ieremia-Toeava, 12. Jacob Laban, 13. Erin Clark, 14. Makaia Tafua, 15. Tanner Stowers-Smith, 16. Demitric Vaimauga, 17. Morgan Gannon, 18. Taine Tuaupiki, 20. Kayliss Fatialofa, 21. Jett Cleary, 22. Jye Linnane, 23. Haizyn Mellars

Sea Eagles: 1. Tom Trbojevic (c), 2. Jason Saab, 3. Josh Feledy, 4. Reuben Garrick, 5. Lehi Hopoate, 6. Clayton Faulalo, 7. Jamal Fogarty, 8. Simione Laiafi, 9. Brandon Wakeham, 10. Nathan Brown, 11. Haumole Olakau’atu, 12. Ben Trbojevic, 13. Jake Trbojevic, 14. Jake Simpkin, 15. Nicholas Lenaz, 16. Corey Waddell, 17. Caleb Navale, 18. Onitoni Large, 19. Fletcher Baker, 20. Blake Wilson, 21. Hugo Hart, 22. Jackson Shereb

Match Preview

The final round of the regular season is upon us and much remains at stake. The New Zealand Warriors will be hoping to secure their second ever J. J. Giltinan Shield with a dominant win over the Manly Sea Eagles. Meanwhile, the Sea Eagles will be aiming to continue their late-season resurgence and finish a promising 2026 season with three wins in a row.

While the top eight is already confirmed for this year’s final series, the race for the Minor Premiership is firmly on between the New Zealand Warriors and the Penrith Panthers.  The two standout teams of the regular season are locked on forty competition points each, with only a single point separating their points differential (Warriors +309 vs Panthers +308). 

With the Panthers playing on Sunday afternoon against the lowly ranked Wests Tigers, a points shoot-out has the potential to eventuate. The Warriors not only require a win but also a significantly positive points differential for the Panthers to chase against the Tigers, with a Panthers win looking likely.

This is not the only factor in play.  Friday night’s games with the third ranked Dolphins and the fourth ranked Sydney Roosters have the potential to influence match styles and decision making.  Locked on thirty-eight competition points and with only a four-point, point differential separating the two teams (+152 vs +148), a Roosters win and particularly a dominant Roosters win has the potential for third and fourth positions to swap places, influencing who first and second placed teams are to face in week one of the final series.

Would the Minor Premiers rather face a potentially fourth placed Dolphins or a Sam Walker-less third placed Roosters?  Friday night’s outcomes will undoubtedly impact on the rest of the weekend’s team thoughts.

This will be the first time these teams have met this year with the Sea Eagles edging the Warriors by a point in Round 25 last season. The Sea Eagles enter this contest with a reasonably full lineup, missing Tolutau Koula, while season-ending injures to Luke Brooks and Kobe Hetherington remain. 

The Warriors regain their halves combination of Te Maire Martin and Chanel Harris-Tavita, while Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad returns at fullback.  Interestingly Kurt Capewell and Wayde Egan will be rested for the finals with the impressive Eddie Ieremia-Toeava upgraded from the bench and Sam Healey deputising at hooker.  The ability to rest starting 13 regulars at this time of the year highlights the abundance of depth at the Warriors, particularly in the forwards.

The battle in the forwards will be crucial for the Sea Eagles.  After asserting themselves in strong wins over the Dragons and the Knights in preceding weeks they must step up again against the NRL’s most dominant forward pack.  While the backrow of the Sea Eagles contain elite second-rower Haumole Olakau’atu and workhorses the Trbojevic brothers, the props must also be up for the contest.

The Warriors front-rowers James Fisher-Harris (averaging 141 running metres per game) and Mitchell Barnett (averaging 155 running metres per game, career best) are in the top few front rowers in the competition and nullifying their impact will be a key to victory.

All eyes will be on the returning Warriors halfback Te Maire Martin after missing the previous four matches with a hamstring.  With Luke Metcalf likely to be available for the finals he will be hoping for a dominant display to maintain the number seven jersey. For the Sea Eagles, Clayton Faulalo is embracing a sustained run at five-eighth and will be expected to provide opportunity for leading try scorers Jason Saab and Lehi Hopoate and the ever-dangerous Tom Trbojevic.

It’s a danger game for the Warriors, with twists and turns at every corner. In coach Andrew Webster’s 100th game at the helm, can they keep hold of their grip on the 2026 Minor Premiership and bring the title back to Auckland for the first time since 2002? And depending on Friday night’s games will a first or second ladder position improve their Premiership chances?

Prediction

RLZ Tip: Warriors by 14
Full Round 27 tips → /nrl-round-27-predictions-2026/
Bold call: Warriors to grind out a tough victory but not hold off the Panthers with a set number to chase for the Minor Premiership.

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