Match Preview: Round 17 vs Tigers

Author: Manly Media
Timestamp: Wed 25 Jun 2025, 10:40 AM

Many Warringah Sea Eagles take on the Wests Tigers in Round 17 of the Telstra NRL Premierships at 4 Pines Park on Friday night.

Round 17 - Round 17 - Friday 27 Jun

Full Time

Sea Eagles

Wests Tigers

Venue: 4 Pines Park, Sydney

Highlights Latest

The Sea Eagles will make a welcome return to their home base after a couple of disappointing losses on the road, which followed a thumping win over the Broncos when the team last played at Brookie in Round 13.

There’s no place like home to get back in the winners’ circle and Friday night, with the team fresh off the bye, provides the perfect opportunity to do so.

The Tigers will be out to end a five-game losing streak in what is the first of two matches against Manly this season. They’ve gone close in their past three outings, suffering consecutive four-point losses to the Raiders, Panthers and Cowboys.

Despite a 34-26 loss to Wests Tigers in last year’s one and only contest at Leichhardt, the Sea Eagles' recent record against them is very good.

Koula scored the first two of his team's 10 tries when the Tigers last visited 4 Pines Park

The Tigers most recent visit to 4 Pines Park resulted in a 54-12 defeat to Manly in Round 27, 2023, one of six victories for the Sea Eagles in their past seven games against the joint-venture club.

In team news Manly will be without edge forward Haumole Olakau’atu (shoulder) for the first time this season, while Tom Trbojevic will shift to the centres with Lehi Hopoate returning to the side at fullback, and Reuben Garrick moving to the wing.

Turbo shift: Tom Trbojevic moves from fullback to centre

Turbo last lined up in the No.3 jersey for Manly in Round 18 last season when the team defeated the Cowboys in extra time in Townsville. Later that year he impressed when playing in the centres for Australia, helping the Kangaroos to victory in the Pacific Championships.

Matt Lodge against the Broncos at 4 Pines Park in Round 13

Matt Lodge is back in the pack as a starting prop with Jazz Tevaga to start at hooker and Jake Simpkin joining the bench.

Lodge and Simpkin are among nine players in this match who are lining up against their former club.

Api Koroisau has scored a try in his past four games against Manly

A hamstring injury to Tigers fullback Jahream Bula sees Heath Mason shift to fullback with Jarome Luai moving to five-eighth. Latu Fainu will start alongside Luai in the halves for the first time, after coming off the bench in all but three of his 13 NRL appearances over the past two seasons.

Round 17 - Round 17 - Friday 27 Jun

Full Time

Sea Eagles

Wests Tigers

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Lehi Hopoate

Fullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Heath Mason
Winger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Reuben Garrick

Winger for Wests Tigers is number 2 Sunia Turuva
Centre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Tolutau Koula

Centre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Adam Doueihi
Centre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Tom Trbojevic

Centre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Starford To'a
Winger for Sea Eagles is number 19 Jason Saab

Winger for Wests Tigers is number 5 Jeral Skelton
Five-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Luke Brooks

Five-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 9 Apisai Koroisau
Halfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Daly Cherry-Evans

Halfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Latu Fainu

Forwards

Prop for Sea Eagles is number 8 Matthew Lodge

Prop for Wests Tigers is number 8 Terrell May
Hooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Jazz Tevaga

Hooker for Wests Tigers is number 14 Tallyn Da Silva
Prop for Sea Eagles is number 10 Siosiua Taukeiaho

Prop for Wests Tigers is number 10 Fonua Pole
2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Corey Waddell

2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Samuela Fainu
2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Ben Trbojevic

2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Jack Bird
Lock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Jake Trbojevic

Lock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Alex Twal

Interchange

Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Jake Simpkin

Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Alex Seyfarth
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Ethan Bullemor

Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Sione Fainu
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Nathan Brown

Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Tony Sukkar
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 17 Toafofoa Sipley

Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 18 Luke Laulilii

Reserves

Replacement for Sea Eagles is number 18 Michael Chee Kam

Replacement for Wests Tigers is number 19 Charlie Murray

Match Officials

Referee: Gerard Sutton
Touch Judge: Phil Henderson
Touch Judge: Chris Sutton
Senior Review Official: Kasey Badger

Last updated: 6/29/2025 8:02:06 AM

Stat Zone

The Sea Eagles have won six of their past seven games against Wests Tigers.
Wests Tigers have not won at 4 Pines Park since 2020.
Daly Cherry-Evans has scored seven tries in his last six games against Wests Tigers.
Wests Tigers hooker Api Koroisau is on a four game tryscoring streak against the Sea Eagles.
Sea Eagles centre Tolu Koula has scored seven tries in his last five games at 4 Pines Park.