Match Preview: NRL Round 5 vs Dolphins

Author: Manly Media
Timestamp: Wed 1 Apr 2026, 04:15 PM

While much has changed at Manly over the past week it’s a largely unchanged team that will face the Dolphins at Redcliffe on Thursday night.

Round 5 - Round 5 - Thursday 2 Apr

9:00 am

Dolphins

Sea Eagles

Venue: Kayo Stadium, Redcliffe

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Former assistant coach Kieran Foran, who was appointed as interim head coach five days ago, has kept the faith with his team for his first assignment in his new role.

When asked at Wednesday's weekly news conference about the temptation to make changes to the side, Foran was quick to back his existing players.

This is a top-end squad, it’s a squad with enough smarts, skill, speed, toughness and size to win games of footy.
Kieran Foran Sea Eagles Interim Head Coach

“You don’t have to rip the carpet up, you’ve got to make little tweaks, but you’ve got to back the side in front of you and I believe we have a really capable side that’s going to win games of footy.”

While no-one is expecting miracles under Foran’s guidance, the team is desperately hoping to turn things around after opening the season with three straight losses at home.

Isaako scores his third try of the season against the Broncos in Round 4

The Dolphins are two and two through four rounds and coming off a 26-12 loss to the Broncos last weekend. They were beaten by the Rabbitohs in Round 1 and then ran down the Titans to win in Round 2, with all three of those games played at Suncorp Stadium.

Faulalo bagged a double against the Broncos in Round 13 last season

Their first road trip for the season resulted in their biggest win so far, a 38-10 victory over the Sharks at Cronulla in Round 3. On that occasion, five of their six were scored by outside backs.

Manly’s first away game this season is also the Dolphins first game at Redcliffe in 2026, a venue where they’ve won five of eight games played since joining the NRL in 2023.

These two clubs have met three times with Manly holding a 2-1 winning record, this being their first contest at Kayo Stadium. The last time they met was one-way traffic in Manly’s favour, a 58-30 onslaught at 4 Pines Park last season.

Just the one forced change for Manly with Clayton Faulalo replacing suspended winger Jason Saab for what will be his first NRL game this season.

Minimal changes for the Dolphins as well with Kurt Donoghoe named as part of their six-man bench as he nears a return from a hamstring injury.

Round 5 - Round 5 - Thursday 2 Apr

9:00 am

Dolphins

Sea Eagles

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Dolphins is number 1 Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow

Fullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Tom Trbojevic
Winger for Dolphins is number 2 Jamayne Isaako

Winger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Clayton Faulalo
Centre for Dolphins is number 3 Jake Averillo

Centre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Tolutau Koula
Centre for Dolphins is number 4 Herbie Farnworth

Centre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Reuben Garrick
Winger for Dolphins is number 5 Selwyn Cobbo

Winger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Lehi Hopoate
Five-Eighth for Dolphins is number 6 Kodi Nikorima

Five-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Luke Brooks
Halfback for Dolphins is number 7 Isaiya Katoa

Halfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Jamal Fogarty

Forwards

Prop for Dolphins is number 8 Tom Gilbert

Prop for Sea Eagles is number 8 Taniela Paseka
Hooker for Dolphins is number 9 Max Plath

Hooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Brandon Wakeham
Prop for Dolphins is number 10 Felise Kaufusi

Prop for Sea Eagles is number 10 Kobe Hetherington
2nd Row for Dolphins is number 11 Connelly Lemuelu

2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Haumole Olakau'atu
2nd Row for Dolphins is number 12 Kulikefu Finefeuiaki

2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Ben Trbojevic
Lock for Dolphins is number 13 Morgan Knowles

Lock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Jake Trbojevic

Interchange

Interchange for Dolphins is number 14 Bradley Schneider

Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Jake Simpkin
Interchange for Dolphins is number 15 Thomas Flegler

Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Corey Waddell
Interchange for Dolphins is number 16 Ray Stone

Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Ethan Bullemor
Interchange for Dolphins is number 17 Francis Molo

Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 17 Simione Laiafi
Interchange for Dolphins is number 18 Kurt Donoghoe

Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 18 Paul Bryan
Interchange for Dolphins is number 19 Trai Fuller

Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 19 Josh Feledy

Reserves

Reserve for Dolphins is number 20 Oryn Keeley

Reserve for Sea Eagles is number 20 Joey Walsh

Kurt Donoghoe

Clayton Faulalo
Joey Walsh

Jason Saab

Match Officials

Referee: Grant Atkins
Touch Judge: Phil Henderson
Senior Review Official: Liam Kennedy

Last updated: 4/1/2026 9:12:35 AM

Stat Zone

The Dolphins have won eight of their last nine Thursday night games.
Sea Eagles fullback Tom Trbojevic has scored five tries in three games against the Dolphins.
Dolphins fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow has scored nine tries in five games in Redcliffe.
Sea Eagles centre Tolu Koula has scored 10 tries in his last eight NRL games.
Dolphins winger Jamayne Isaako requires nine points for 800 points for the club.

Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.