Match Preview: NRL Round 25 vs Knights

Author: Manly Media
Timestamp: Thu 20 Aug 2026, 09:42 AM

Manly Warringah Sea Eagles travel to Newcastle on Saturday to face the Knights in Round 25 of the NRL Telstra Premiership.

Round 25 - Round 25 - Saturday 22 Aug

5:00 am

Knights

Sea Eagles

Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle

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Team Lists Get Tickets

Simply put, this is ‘must win’ for Manly if they are to keep their slim finals hopes alive.

Without going through all the scenarios, if Manly do win their three remaining games, and other results fall the right way, it can happen.

First, let’s deal with the Knights.

Newcastle will celebrate Old Boys Day in their final home game of the season, heading into Saturday’s game on a three-match winning run.

Victories over the Broncos, Raiders and Titans, teams out of finals contention, followed a one-point loss to the Roosters in Round 21.

The Knights sit sixth on the ladder, and with a bye in Round 27, would fancy their chances of sneaking into the top four.

Knights five-eighth Fletcher Sharpe has scored five tries in his last three games.

The Sea Eagles enter this match on a six-game losing streak and suffered a rare loss on home soil to the Knights, back in Round 2 at 4 Pines Park.

Manly do have a couple of important ‘ins’ though in the shape of Tom and Ben Trbojevic.

Turbo scored a try after just one minute in his most recent match in round 20 vs Titans

Turbo slots straight back into the No.1 jersey after missing the past three games with a hamstring injury, while Ben has missed the past two games following a concussion.

Clayton Faulalo shifts from fullback to five-eighth, replacing Joey Walsh who has a fractured jaw.

Burbo is back on deck after missing a couple of games

In team news for the Knights, left centre Bradman Best returns from a calf injury while right centre, Dane Gagai, is out with a hamstring injury. Jacob Saifiti returns to the side at prop after missing six games with a hamstring injury.

Round 25 - Round 25 - Saturday 22 Aug

5:00 am

Knights

Sea Eagles

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Knights is number 1 Kalyn Ponga

Fullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Tom Trbojevic
Winger for Knights is number 2 Dominic Young

Winger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Jason Saab
Centre for Knights is number 3 Fletcher Hunt

Centre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Tolutau Koula
Centre for Knights is number 4 Bradman Best

Centre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Reuben Garrick
Winger for Knights is number 5 Greg Marzhew

Winger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Lehi Hopoate
Five-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Fletcher Sharpe

Five-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Clayton Faulalo
Halfback for Knights is number 7 Sandon Smith

Halfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Jamal Fogarty

Forwards

Prop for Knights is number 8 Jacob Saifiti

Prop for Sea Eagles is number 8 Simione Laiafi
Hooker for Knights is number 9 Phoenix Crossland

Hooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Brandon Wakeham
Prop for Knights is number 10 Trey Mooney

Prop for Sea Eagles is number 10 Nathan Brown
2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Jermaine McEwen

2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Haumole Olakau'atu
2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Tyson Frizell

2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Ben Trbojevic
Lock for Knights is number 13 Mat Croker

Lock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Jake Trbojevic

Interchange

Interchange for Knights is number 14 Harrison Graham

Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Jake Simpkin
Interchange for Knights is number 15 Cody Hopwood

Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Nicholas Lenaz
Interchange for Knights is number 16 Lachlan Crouch

Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Corey Waddell
Interchange for Knights is number 17 Thomas Cant

Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 17 Caleb Navale
Interchange for Knights is number 18 Pasami Saulo

Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 18 Josh Feledy
Interchange for Knights is number 19 Toby Winter

Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 19 Fletcher Baker

Reserves

Reserve for Knights is number 20 Diesel Hagan

Reserve for Sea Eagles is number 20 Onitoni Large
Reserve for Knights is number 21 Kyle McCarthy

Reserve for Sea Eagles is number 21 Jackson Shereb
Reserve for Knights is number 22 Elijah Salesa-Leaumoana

Reserve for Sea Eagles is number 22 Blake Wilson

Bradman Best
Diesel Hagan
Elijah Salesa-Leaumoana
Jacob Saifiti
Kyle McCarthy

Ben Trbojevic
Blake Wilson
Caleb Navale
Onitoni Large
Tom Trbojevic

Dane Gagai
Francis Manuleleua

Hugo Hart
Joey Walsh

Match Officials

Referee: Wyatt Raymond
Touch Judge: Dave Munro
Senior Review Official: Adam Gee

Last updated: 8/20/2026 5:46:04 AM

Stat Attack

The Knights have won three of their last four games against the Sea Eagles.
The Sea Eagles have conceded 150 points in their last four games.
Knights winger Dominic Young has scored 10 tries in his last six games against the Sea Eagles.
Sea Eagles second-rower Haumole Olakau’atu has scored six tries in his last seven games against the Knights.
Knights five-eighth Fletcher Sharpe has scored five tries in his last three games.