Warriors vs Sea Eagles: How they stack up
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NZ Warriors v Manly Sea Eagles, 5pm Saturday, September 5, Go Media Stadium, Auckland
Head to head
Manly Sea Eagles have been the Warriors’ toughest opponents during their 31-year history, winning 65.9% (29/44) of their previous encounters, marginally better than Melbourne Storm (64.8%).
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They have an 11-6 record at Go Media Stadium, where the two rivals also battled out a 22-22 Golden Point draw in 2024.
In their last 10 contests, the Warriors enjoy a 5-4 edge, plus that deadlock, but the Sea Eagles won last time they met in the corresponding fixture last season, when they bade farewell to stalwart halfback Daly Cherry-Evans with a 27-26 victory at 4 Pines Stadium.
Wings Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and Lehi Hopoate scored try doubles for their respective teams that night.
Manly achieved their biggest win with a 52-6 result in 2008, when fullback Lance Hohaia scored the Warriors’ only try.
The Warriors’ biggest win came in 1999, when they prevailed 36-10 at Brookvale Oval.
Undoubtedly their most significant meeting came in the 2011 Grand Final, when the Sea Eagles emerged 24-10 victors for their eighth and most recent premiership.
Warriors 2026
The Warriors currently sit on top of the NRL ladder with a 17-6 record, heading into the final round of the regular season.
They got off to their best-ever start through 12 rounds with a 9-2 record, before dropping three of their next four against Penrith Panthers, Cronulla Sharks and the Dolphins.
Since their 18-6 loss to Canterbury Bulldogs in July – probably their worst performance of the campaign – they have won five straight, including success against the Panthers, South Sydney Rabbitohs and Newcastle Knights, all bound for the playoffs.
They have at least matched the record of the 2002 Warriors side that won the minor premiership and reached the club’s first grand final, while also surpassing the number of points scored by that same team in the regular season.
They have scored the most points in the 2026 season (697), 45 clear of the second-placed Sharks.
Sea Eagles 2026
Manly began their season with three consecutive defeats that saw coach Anthony Seibold fired and former Kiwis half Kieran Foran handed the interim role.
His team responded with a 52-18 win over the Dolphins in his first game in charge and they won seven of their next eight to earn Foran fulltime appointment through 2029.
‘Fozball’ hit a mid-season skid that saw the Sea Eagles slide to six straight losses, but with the post season now out of reach, they have won their last two against Newcastle Knights and St George Illawarra Dragons, and success against the Warriors would see them finish ninth.
Numbers
Since his 2015 debut, Manly have a 52% winning record with fullback Tom Trbojevic on the field, but only a 38% return without him. They are 6-7 with him this season.
Over 12 seasons, ‘Tommy Turbo’ has averaged 15.25 games per season.
What’s at stake?
The Warriors have virtually assured themselves a top-two finish on the NRL table and with that, two home playoff fixtures.
They would have to lose by about 75 points – a club record - and the Dolphins or Sydney Roosters would have to win by 75 - also club records - for those positions to change. That’s very unlikely.
The minor premiership is still a very tangible goal, although not the ultimate target.
“Honestly, there would be no-one prouder if we happen to be minor premiers,” says coach Andrew Webster. “It’s a historical trophy and says you’ve been first past the post for the regular season. “We’d be proud of it, but not at the expense of what we need to do to play our best football this week.”
The Warriors currently hold pole position for the J J Giltinan Shield and only need to match Penrith Panthers’ performance against Wests Tigers in their finale.
The Panthers don’t play until Sunday and will know exactly what’s required to leapfrog the Warriors. Given their respective opponents, Penrith would have to start the weekend as favourites.
Another scenario would see the minor premiers matched up against fourth-placed Sydney Roosters, currently without Origin stars Sam Walker, Victor Radley and Angus Crichton, in the qualifying finals.
Webster probably hasn’t dared look that far ahead.
Teams
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. 9. Sam Healey, 10. Mitch Barnett, 11. Eddie Ireamia-Toeava, 12. Jacob Laban, 13. Erin Clark
Interchange: 14. Makaia Tafua, 15. Tanner Stowers-Smith, 16. Demitric Vaimauga, 17. Morgan Gannon, 18. Taine Tuaupiki, 20. Kayliss Fatialofa
Sea Eagles: 1. Tom Trbojevic, 2. Jason Saab, 3. Josh Feledy, 4. Reuben Garrick, 5. Lehi Hopoate, 6. Clayton Faulalo, 7. Jamal Fogarty, 8. Simone Laiafi, 9. Brandon Wakeham, 10. Nathan Brown, 11. Haumole Olakauátu, 12. Ben Trobjevic, 13. Jake Trbojevic
Interchange: 14. Jake Simpkins, 15. Nicholas Lenaz, 16. Corey Waddell, 17. Caleb Navale, 18. Onitoni Large, 19. Fletcher Baker
Who’s in, who’s out
Webster has had to balance his minor premiership aspirations with the need to protect his frontline veterans from injury with the playoffs looming.
To that end, he has opted to rest hooker Wayde Egan and second-rower Kurt Capewell, bringing Sam Healey and Eddie Ieremia-Toeava into the starting line-up.
Egan has played every game this season, but wear and tear on his body saw his form tail off significantly, as his team lost their last three outings last season.
“Wayde deserved a rest,” says Webster. “He’s played every game this year and averaged at least 55-60 minutes, so he deserves a break.
“I think he’s bounced well out of byes this year and Sam deserves an opportunity for more minutes, because he’s been that closer every game this year.”
Capewell, 33, went off for a head check against the Knights and, although he quickly passed and returned to the field, the Warriors are stacked with players that can cover his absence, until his big-game temperament is needed later.
Fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, and halves Chanel Harris-Tavita and Te Maire Martin also replace Taine Tuaupiki, Luke Hanson and Jett Cleary, as Webster tries to give them some gametime, after extended absences.
“Three of our four spine haven’t played much football,” he says. “Chanel missed the game last week, Te Maire missed 3-4 games and Charnze two weeks with a suspension, so it’s been a while since they’ve been together.”
Tuaupiki’s goalkicking in recent weeks – 15/16 off the tee - has been instrumental in the Warriors’ position atop the table and Webster could have easily accommodated him by slotting Nicoll-Klokstad onto the wing.
He may still do that, but Tuaupiki is another that has taken his share of punishment during prolonged periods on the field. He lost the No.1 jersey to a foot injury last month, so keeping his powder dry isn’t a bad idea.
Besides, if the rumour mill is to be believed, this may be centurion Adam Pompey’s last home game at Mt Smart and the significance of his selection on the wing may not become apparent until the season is over.
Webster admits he also considered sitting co-captains James Fisher-Harris and Mitch Barnett, but that prospect was effectively vetoed.
“Sometimes it’s coach’s call,” he says. “Sometimes I consult them and ask what they’re feeling.
“Our front-rowers, I consulted them and they’re typical front-rowers – they want to play.
“Sometimes it’s just my call and they don’t get a say. I think they enjoy it when I rule them out, because then they don’t have to make a decision, but I didn’t get much of a choice with the front-rowers this week.”
Another complicating factor has the Warriors reserves facing a sudden-death playoff fixture against Newtown Jets, as they try to defend the NSW Cup. While part of the reserves’ ‘raison détre’ is to step up a grade when required, Webster won’t want to leave them too exposed at the business end of their season.
That said, Cleary hasn’t been named in the reserves line-up, so he may yet work his way into the NRL gameday squad.
Meanwhile, wing Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (collar bone), prop Jackson Ford (pectoral muscle) and halfback Luke Metcalf (hamstring) continue to rehab their respective afflictions, with a view to returning sometime in the post season.
What to watch
Against a 12-man Knights outfit last week, the Warriors right edge leaked a try double to wing Greg Marzhew that brought Newcastle back into the contest midway through the second half.
That defensive unit was a liability last season, less so this year, but also conceded a brace to South Sydney wing Alex Johnston the previous week.
This week’s configuration probably won’t take the field for playoffs – either Watene-Zelezniak or Nicoll-Klokstad should fill the wing spot – but Webster will want to see signs of improvement from those selected.
Odds
NZ Warriors $1.30, Manly Sea Eagles $3.50
