Match Preview: NRL Round 16 vs Bulldogs

A Manly win will keep the Sea Eagles inside the top four with ten rounds and a bye remaining.

Both teams go into this match fresh off the bye last weekend after winning their most recent games in Round 14.

The Sea Eagles bounced back from a loss at Cronulla to beat the Rabbitohs 28-14 at Foz Pines Park, while the Bulldogs kicked a late penalty goal to defeat the Eels 14-12 after losing to Wests Tigers in the previous round.

In team news, a huge boost for Manly is the return of star fullback Tom Trbojevic after a two-month injury layoff. Also back on deck is middle forward Ethan Bullemor who sat out his team’s win against the Bunnies following a head knock in training.

Manly centre Tolu Koula is the only player from either club who is playing in Origin 2, and he has been named in Manly’s starting side.

Bulldogs centre Stephen Crichton has been named to play despite a shoulder injury forcing him out of the Blues team for Origin 2. Kurt Mann (ear) returns at hooker pushing Bailey Hayward to the bench.

The last two times Manly have played at Accor Stadium were against the Bulldogs in 2024, resulting in victories for the Sea Eagles on both occasions.

Lehi Hopoate, Tom Trbojevic, Jason Saab and Reuben Garrick were among the try scorers in Round 26 of that season with Manly winning 34-22. 

A fortnight later at the same venue, Koula scored the match-winning try (24-22) that sent the Sea Eagles into the 2024 preliminary final.

Manly have won their past three games against the Bulldogs when played at Accor Stadium but were on the end of a heavy defeat last year at Allianz Stadium in Round 21.

That match saw the Bulldogs notch their 1000th victory since entering the NSWRL in 1935.  On Saturday night Manly will be chasing win number 999 in the club’s 80th anniversary season.

Another approaching milestone of note involves Manly centre Reuben Garrick. He requires just one point from this match to move past Jamie Lyon and into outright second on the club’s all-time point scorers list.

Stat Zone

• The Bulldogs have won three of their last four games at Accor Stadium.
• The Sea Eagles have won 11 of their last 13 games against the Bulldogs.
• Bulldogs second-rower Sitili Tupouniua has scored four tries in his last five games at Accor Stadium.
• Sea Eagles fullback Tom Trbojevic has scored 14 tries in his last 11 games against the Bulldogs.
• Bulldogs centre Bronson Xerri has scored four tries in five games against the Sea Eagles.

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