Match Preview: NRL Round 1 vs Raiders

Author: Manly Media
Timestamp: Wed 4 Mar 2026, 04:23 PM

The wait is over.

After 184 days the Sea Eagles return to 4 Pines Park for Round 1 of the 2026 Telstra NRL Premiership against the Canberra Raiders.

Round 1 - Round 1 - Saturday 7 Mar

8:35 am

Sea Eagles

Raiders

Venue: 4 Pines Park, Sydney

WatchNRL

Team Lists Get Tickets

A narrow win over the New Zealand Warriors sealed a three-game winning run to close out the 2025 season. Now, a new campaign begins on familiar turf.

Neither club was overly active in the player market in the off-season but will obviously field a new-look halves combination given Jamal Fogarty’s move to the Northern Beaches.

Jamal and Luke Brooks will wear the seven and six jerseys respectively in Round 1 for Manly while boom youngster Joey Walsh has been rewarded with the No.14 jersey after impressing in both trials.

Like Fogarty, Manly’s other key off-season recruit, Kobe Hetherington, will also be making his Sea Eagles’ debut.

For the Raiders, Ethan Strange and Ethan Sanders will guide their team around the park as the starting halves, although neither player featured in either of the Raiders’ trials (Storm and Sharks).

Strange scored a hat-trick in the Raiders’ Round 23 victory over Manly last season in Canberra and will need to be contained. For Sanders, who is hoping to be Fogarty’s long-term replacement, this will be just his fifth NRL game.

The last time these two sides met at 4 Pines Park, it was one to remember. Manly powered to a 40-12 victory, with Reuben Garrick crossing for four tries in a stunning 28-point personal haul.

Round 1. Home ground. A fresh start.

See you at 4 Pines Park.

Round 1 - Round 1 - Saturday 7 Mar

8:35 am

Sea Eagles

Raiders

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Tom Trbojevic

Fullback for Raiders is number 1 Kaeo Weekes
Winger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Jason Saab

Winger for Raiders is number 2 Savelio Tamale
Centre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Tolutau Koula

Centre for Raiders is number 3 Simi Sasagi
Centre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Reuben Garrick

Centre for Raiders is number 4 Sebastian Kris
Winger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Lehi Hopoate

Winger for Raiders is number 5 Xavier Savage
Five-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Luke Brooks

Five-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Ethan Strange
Halfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Jamal Fogarty

Halfback for Raiders is number 7 Ethan Sanders

Forwards

Prop for Sea Eagles is number 8 Taniela Paseka

Prop for Raiders is number 8 Josh Papalii
Hooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Jake Simpkin

Hooker for Raiders is number 9 Tom Starling
Prop for Sea Eagles is number 10 Siosiua Taukeiaho

Prop for Raiders is number 10 Joseph Tapine
2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Haumole Olakau'atu

2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 Hudson Young
2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Ben Trbojevic

2nd Row for Raiders is number 12 Noah Martin
Lock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Jake Trbojevic

Lock for Raiders is number 13 Corey Horsburgh

Interchange

Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Joey Walsh

Interchange for Raiders is number 14 Jayden Brailey
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Kobe Hetherington

Interchange for Raiders is number 15 Zac Hosking
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Ethan Bullemor

Interchange for Raiders is number 16 Ata Mariota
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 17 Nathan Brown

Interchange for Raiders is number 17 Morgan Smithies
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 18 Clayton Faulalo

Interchange for Raiders is number 18 Daine Laurie
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 19 Brandon Wakeham

Interchange for Raiders is number 19 Jed Stuart

Reserves

Reserve for Sea Eagles is number 20 Corey Waddell

Reserve for Raiders is number 20 Matty Nicholson
Reserve for Sea Eagles is number 21 Blake Wilson

Reserve for Raiders is number 21 Matthew Timoko
Reserve for Sea Eagles is number 22 Paul Bryan

Reserve for Raiders is number 22 Owen Pattie

Match Officials

Referee: Liam Kennedy
Touch Judge: Jon Stone
Senior Review Official: Chris Butler

Last updated: 3/3/2026 9:50:30 AM

Fast Facts

The Sea Eagles have won their last three Round 1 games.
The Sea Eagles have won 20 of the 32 matches played against the Raiders at 4 Pines Park
The Raiders have won two of their past three games at 4 Pines Park.
Winger Jason Saab will play his 100th NRL game for the Sea Eagles
Sea Eagles fullback Tom Trbojevic has scored nine tries in his last six games against the Raiders.
Sea Eagles centre Tolu Koula is on a nine game try-scoring streak at 4 Pines Park