Match Preview: NRL Round 23 vs Storm

Author: Manly Media
Timestamp: Wed 5 Aug 2026, 03:54 PM

Manly Warringah Sea Eagles head to Perth this weekend to face the Melbourne Storm in Round 23 of the NRL Telstra Premiership.

Round 23 - Round 23 - Saturday 8 Aug

5:00 am

Storm

Sea Eagles

Venue: HBF Park, Perth

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Team Lists Get Tickets

This is a crucial game for Manly, as they now all are, with five rounds remaining in the regular season. Sitting tenth on the ladder and two points outside the top eight, the Sea Eagles desperately need to go on a run.

Manly is coming off the bye last weekend which followed a heavy loss at home to the Sharks in Round 22.

The Storm are four points behind Manly, with a bye in hand, and still mathematically a chance of playing finals footy.

Cameron Munster's most recent NRL game was against Manly at 4 Pines Park in Round 17

It has certainly been a disappointing season for a team that has set the benchmark for success and consistency over the past two decades.

They lost seven games on the trot and then won five from their next six before being heavily beaten by Manly (30-4) at 4 Pines Park in Round 17. The Storm have lost their past three games (Bulldogs, Rabbitohs and Roosters) and sit six points outside the eight.

Lehi Hopoate has scored 14 tries for Manly in his past 15 games

In teams news, Manly suffered a blow in the build-up to this game with Koby Hetherington suffering a season-ending ruptured pec in training. On the plus side Brandon Wakeham returns at hooker after missing five games with a calf injury. Corey Waddell is also back on deck after an ankle injury replacing Ben Trbojevic (concussion). Tolu Koula moves back to the centres, and Blake Wilson comes onto the wing.

Cameron Munster has been named to play just a few weeks after having knee surgery. His return sees Tyran Wishart move to hooker with Trent Toelau sliding to the bench. Centre Jack Howarth returns from a shoulder injury with Manly-bound middle, Davvy Moale replacing Alec MacDonald on the six-man bench.

Jason Saab has scored eight tries in eight games against the Storm.

Round 23 - Round 23 - Saturday 8 Aug

5:00 am

Storm

Sea Eagles

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Storm is number 1 Sualauvi Faalogo

Fullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Lehi Hopoate
Winger for Storm is number 2 Siulagi Tuimalatu-Brown

Winger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Jason Saab
Centre for Storm is number 3 Jack Howarth

Centre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Tolutau Koula
Centre for Storm is number 4 Nick Meaney

Centre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Reuben Garrick
Winger for Storm is number 5 Moses Leo

Winger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Blake Wilson
Five-Eighth for Storm is number 6 Cameron Munster

Five-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Joey Walsh
Halfback for Storm is number 7 Hayden Watson

Halfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Jamal Fogarty

Forwards

Prop for Storm is number 8 Stefano Utoikamanu

Prop for Sea Eagles is number 8 Taniela Paseka
Hooker for Storm is number 9 Tyran Wishart

Hooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Brandon Wakeham
Prop for Storm is number 10 Josh King

Prop for Sea Eagles is number 10 Ethan Bullemor
2nd Row for Storm is number 11 Cooper Clarke

2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Haumole Olakau'atu
2nd Row for Storm is number 12 Oryn Keeley

2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Corey Waddell
Lock for Storm is number 13 Trent Loiero

Lock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Jake Trbojevic

Interchange

Interchange for Storm is number 14 Trent Toelau

Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Jake Simpkin
Interchange for Storm is number 15 Shawn Blore

Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Nathan Brown
Interchange for Storm is number 16 Davvy Moale

Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Simione Laiafi
Interchange for Storm is number 17 Angus Hinchey

Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 17 Fletcher Baker
Interchange for Storm is number 18 Joe Chan

Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 18 Jackson Shereb
Interchange for Storm is number 19 Jack Hetherington

Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 19 Josh Feledy

Reserves

Reserve for Storm is number 20 Gabriel Satrick

Reserve for Sea Eagles is number 20 Onitoni Large
Reserve for Storm is number 21 Stanley Huen

Reserve for Sea Eagles is number 21 Nicholas Lenaz
Reserve for Storm is number 22 Manaia Waitere

Reserve for Sea Eagles is number 22 Hugo Hart

Cameron Munster
Davvy Moale
Gabriel Satrick
Jack Howarth
Stanley Huen

Brandon Wakeham
Corey Waddell
Fletcher Baker
Hugo Hart
Jackson Shereb

Alec MacDonald
Jai Bowden

Ben Trbojevic
Kobe Hetherington

Match Officials

Touch Judge: Phil Henderson
Senior Review Official: Liam Kennedy

Last updated: 8/4/2026 7:01:05 AM

Stat Zone

The Storm have won four of their six games played in Perth.
The Sea Eagles have won five of their last seven games against the Storm.
Storm winger Moses Leo has scored eight tries in his last eight games.
Jason Saab has scored eight tries in eight games against the Storm.
The Storm have conceded more points after 22 rounds than any previous season under Craig Bellamy.