Match Preview: Round 24 vs Tigers

Author: Manly Media
Timestamp: Thu 14 Aug 2025, 12:00 PM

It’s crunch time.

Time to crunch the Tigers before number-crunching about the top eight.

Round 24 - Round 24 - Sunday 17 Aug

Full Time

Wests Tigers

Sea Eagles

Venue: Allianz Stadium, Sydney

Highlights Latest

First and foremost, and really the only thing the team and supporters should be thinking about right now, is getting the job done on Sunday.

With four rounds remaining, it’s looking like Manly must win all four to make the finals.

Let’s crunch some numbers.

It’s shaping as a race in three between the Dolphins (8th, 26 points), Roosters (9th, 26 points) and Sea Eagles (10th, 24 points) for the eighth and final spot in the finals.

With the Dolphins and Roosters both having a significantly better points differential than Manly, it’s likely the Sea Eagles will need to climb above both teams on competition points. Drawing level won’t cut it.

If the Sea Eagles can win all four remaining games, it will help for a few other results to fall in line as well.

Manly would need the Dolphins to drop two games (Broncos, Sea Eagles, Titans, Raiders), and the Roosters to drop a couple of games too (Bulldogs, Eels, Storm, Rabbitohs).

Although in 6th place on 28 points, the Broncos are also still very much in the ‘may miss out’ mix, particularly given their recent injury woes.

If Brisbane were to drop three of their four remaining games (Dolphins, Knights, Cowboys, Storm), it could well be ‘all over red rover’ for Michael Maguire’s men.

Ben Trbojevic celebrates after scoring a try vs the Tigers in Round 17 at 4 Pines Park

Anyway, back to the Sea Eagles on Sunday, because right now, that’s all that matters.

Manly defeated the Tigers 28-10 in Round 17 with a very similar lineup. In fact, it’s the same personnel minus Jake Trbojevic (HIA) and Nathan Brown (biceps).

In contrast, it’s a very different backline for the Tigers, with the inclusion of Jahream Bula, Taylan May and Jerome Luai.

Jahream Bula returned from a hamstring injury against the Bulldogs in Round 22

That victory at 4 Pines Park was the start of a three-game winning streak for Manly, which preceded losses to three of the NRL’s form teams, the Bulldogs, Roosters and Raiders.

The Tigers head into this match off the bye, which followed a terrific win in the wet over the Bulldogs and a heavy loss to the Panthers, both games played at CommBank Stadium.

The Sea Eagles have a very good recent record against the Tigers, winning seven of the past eight clashes.

Lehi Hopoate returns to the side after missing Round 23 in Canberra

In team news just a couple of changes for Manly. The enforced absence of Jake Trbojevic (HIA) brings Jazz Tevaga into the No.13 jersey with Jake Simpkin to start at hooker. Ben Trbojevic returns to the side in the second row as does Lehi Hopoate who will line up on the wing.

For the Tigers, centre Starford To'a returns after missing the win over the Bulldogs. Fonua Pole is elevated from the bench to prop with Alex Twal moving to lock, while Sione Fainu replaces Alex Seyfarth (suspended) in the second row.

Round 24 - Round 24 - Sunday 17 Aug

Full Time

Wests Tigers

Sea Eagles

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Jahream Bula

Fullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Tom Trbojevic
Winger for Wests Tigers is number 2 Sunia Turuva

Winger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Jason Saab
Centre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Taylan May

Centre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Tolutau Koula
Centre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Starford To'a

Centre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Reuben Garrick
Winger for Wests Tigers is number 5 Jeral Skelton

Winger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Lehi Hopoate
Five-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Jarome Luai

Five-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Luke Brooks
Halfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Adam Doueihi

Halfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Daly Cherry-Evans

Forwards

Prop for Wests Tigers is number 8 Terrell May

Prop for Sea Eagles is number 8 Matthew Lodge
Hooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Apisai Koroisau

Hooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Jake Simpkin
Prop for Wests Tigers is number 10 Fonua Pole

Prop for Sea Eagles is number 10 Siosiua Taukeiaho
2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Samuela Fainu

2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Corey Waddell
2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Sione Fainu

2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Ben Trbojevic
Lock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Alex Twal

Lock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Jazz Tevaga

Interchange

Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Latu Fainu

Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Tommy Talau
Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Royce Hunt

Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Caleb Navale
Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Charlie Murray

Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Ethan Bullemor
Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Tony Sukkar

Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 17 Toafofoa Sipley

Reserves

Replacement for Wests Tigers is number 18 Heath Mason

Replacement for Sea Eagles is number 18 Aaron Schoupp

Match Officials

Referee: Adam Gee
Touch Judge: Dave Munro
Senior Review Official: Chris Butler

Last updated: 8/17/2025 9:24:13 PM

Stat Zone

Six of the Tigers’ eight wins in 2025 have taken place on Sunday afternoons.
The Sea Eagles have won seven of their past eight games against the Tigers.
Tigers hooker Api Koroisau has scored three tries in his last four games against the Sea Eagles.
Sea Eagles centre Tolu Koula has scored seven tries in his last nine games.
Tigers winger Jeral Skelton has scored five tries in his last four games.