Match Report: SG Ball Cup Finals Week 3 vs Knights

The Sea Eagles were eliminated in the preliminary final following a 40-6 defeat to the Newcastle Knights at Henson Park.

The Knights enjoyed a mountain of possession in the first half to run in five tries to lead 24-0 at the break with the match being the first time the teams met this season.

Manly went into the preliminary final fresh from a week off after upsetting undefeated minor premiers South Sydney in week one. They finished the regular season in fourth place with their only loss coming against the Rabbitohs.

Newcastle did it the hard way after beating Penrith and Melbourne in sudden death football over the past fortnight after finishing the regular season in seventh place.

The Sea Eagles got off to a nervous start by conceding a try in the fifth minute to Newcastle winger Melchizedek Nonu for a 4-0 lead following a knock-on from Manly prop Matthew Payne.

An intercept pass from Newcastle on their line by winger Archie McIlwain eventually led to Newcastle’s second try in the 14th minute to centre Callum Elsley for an 8-0 lead.

The Sea Eagles then had three repeat sets at Newcastle’s line but came up short before the Knights capitalised with their second try to Nonu for a 12-0 lead after 22 minutes.

Newcastle grabbed their fourth try through Ashton Allen in front of the posts for an 18-0 lead before Nonu crossed for his hat-trick after strolling over in the right corner for a 24-0 lead going into half-time.

The Sea Eagles got on the board first in the second half when classy hooker Ashton Large dummied his way over the line for a 24-6 scoreline after 52 minutes.

A quick play the ball saw Knights hooker Diesel Hagan cross three minutes later for a 30-6 lead.

Full-back Toby Winter then scored two tries in six minutes for the 40-6 victory,

It was a tough way for the talented Sea Eagles to bow out after playing some great attacking rugby league throughout the season.

The Sea Eagles have several talented players from the SG Ball team that will continue to get better, with many expected to now move into Manly’s Jersey Flegg side.

Former Manly hooker Lachlan Croker did a wonderful job in his first season of coaching after retiring from the NRL in 2025.

Despite Manly falling one week short of the grand final, Croker and his coaching staff can be very proud of their efforts.

Unfortunately, the SG Ball premiership drought continues for the Sea Eagles, with the club never winning the U19s title after finishing runners up in 1990, 1991, 1998, and 2019. The competition began in 1965.