Match Preview: Round 2 vs Knights

Author: Manly Media
Timestamp: Thu 12 Mar 2026, 04:35 PM

Two clubs with a rich rivalry will reunite on Sunday afternoon for a triple-header in front of a bumper crowd at 4 Pines Park.

Round 2 - Round 2 - Sunday 15 Mar

5:05 am

Sea Eagles

Knights

Venue: 4 Pines Park, Sydney

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As with all home games in Manly’s 80th anniversary season the Sea Eagles will lean into their past with some very special guests in attendance.

But first, to the present.

Another really big occasion for Manly following last weekend’s golden-point loss to the Raiders. Eight days on the team has a great opportunity to notch win number one for the season.

Taukeiaho expected to miss just the one game with a minor calf injury

A calf injury to Siua Taukeiaho sees just one change to the starting side. Kobe Hetherington has been elevated from the bench to the front row with former Knights player Paul Bryan in line to make his Sea Eagles debut as an impact forward off the interchange.

Club Debut: Former Knight Paul Bryan will play just his second NRL game on Sunday

For the Knights young half Sandon Smith will start in the No.6 jersey in place of Fletcher Sharpe (knee injury) and 21-year-old forward Francis Manuleleua is line for his NRL debut off the bench.

The Knights will have had a couple of weeks between games following their 28-18 win over the Cowboys in Las Vegas.

Manly boast a solid record against Newcastle over the years and, not surprisingly, a very good record at 4 Pines Park. In fact, of the 23 games played at Brookvale since 1988, the Knights have won just four.

Our two special guests on Sunday proudly began their careers in maroon and white a decade or more before the Knights entered the competition, both premiership winners from the 70s.

Presented to the crowd before kick-off will be former five-eighth Alan Thompson (Sea Eagle #221) who was part of the 1973 premiership-winning team and then wore the No.6 for Manly in the 1976 and ’78 premiership deciders.

Alan will be joined by Ian Thomson (Sea Eagle #254) a former prop who played 113 games over seven seasons with Manly and toured with the Kangaroos after winning the 1978 Grand Final.

Manly’s two-time premiership-winning forward Malcolm Reilly (Sea Eagle #204) will also be honoured on Sunday with the Malcolm Reilly Challenge Trophy up for grabs. Contested annually, this trophy, for now, is housed in Newcastle.

Round 2 - Round 2 - Sunday 15 Mar

5:05 am

Sea Eagles

Knights

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Tom Trbojevic

Fullback for Knights is number 1 Kalyn Ponga
Winger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Jason Saab

Winger for Knights is number 2 Dominic Young
Centre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Tolutau Koula

Centre for Knights is number 3 Dane Gagai
Centre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Reuben Garrick

Centre for Knights is number 4 Bradman Best
Winger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Lehi Hopoate

Winger for Knights is number 5 Greg Marzhew
Five-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Luke Brooks

Five-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Sandon Smith
Halfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Jamal Fogarty

Halfback for Knights is number 7 Dylan Brown

Forwards

Prop for Sea Eagles is number 8 Taniela Paseka

Prop for Knights is number 8 Jacob Saifiti
Hooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Jake Simpkin

Hooker for Knights is number 9 Phoenix Crossland
Prop for Sea Eagles is number 10 Kobe Hetherington

Prop for Knights is number 10 Trey Mooney
2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Haumole Olakau'atu

2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Dylan Lucas
2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Ben Trbojevic

2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Jermaine McEwen
Lock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Jake Trbojevic

Lock for Knights is number 13 Tyson Frizell

Interchange

Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Joey Walsh

Interchange for Knights is number 14 Thomas Cant
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Nathan Brown

Interchange for Knights is number 15 Mat Croker
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Ethan Bullemor

Interchange for Knights is number 16 Pasami Saulo
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 17 Paul Bryan

Interchange for Knights is number 17 Francis Manuleleua
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 18 Brandon Wakeham

Interchange for Knights is number 18 Fletcher Hunt
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 19 Josh Feledy

Interchange for Knights is number 19 Harrison Graham

Reserves

Reserve for Sea Eagles is number 20 Corey Waddell

Reserve for Knights is number 20 Tyson Gamble
Reserve for Sea Eagles is number 21 Jackson Shereb

Reserve for Knights is number 21 Cody Hopwood
Reserve for Sea Eagles is number 22 Simione Laiafi

Reserve for Knights is number 22 James Schiller

Brandon Wakeham
Jackson Shereb
Josh Feledy
Paul Bryan
Simione Laiafi

Cody Hopwood
Harrison Graham
James Schiller
Tyson Gamble

Clayton Faulalo
Siosiua Taukeiaho

Fletcher Sharpe

Match Officials

Referee: Todd Smith
Touch Judge: Drew Oultram
Senior Review Official: Grant Atkins

Last updated: 3/10/2026 11:38:24 PM

Stat Zone

The Sea Eagles have won only one of their past four games against Newcastle.
The Knights have won only four of 23 games at 4 Pines Park.
Sea Eagles centre Tolu Koula has scored a try in 10 consecutive games at 4 Pines Park.
Knights winger Greg Marzhew has scored six tries in seven games against the Sea Eagles.
Sea Eagles second-rower Haumole Olakau’atu has scored five tries in his last six games against the Knights.

Koula ran for 201 metres in the Round 1 golden-point loss to the Raiders

Random Fact

Manly legend Paul ‘Fatty’ Vautin finished his 238-game career with a 100% goal-kicking strike rate. His two successful goals were in Manly’s very first game against Newcastle, a match the Sea Eagles won 44-12 played on Sunday 27th March at Brookie.

Be sure to get to 4 Pines Park nice and early to support our teams in the Jersey Flegg Cup (12:00 kick-off) and NSW Cup (1:45pm kick-off).