Match Preview: NRL Round 26 vs Dragons

Author: Manly Media
Timestamp: Wed 26 Aug 2026, 04:00 PM

The Sea Eagles take on the Dragons at 4 Pines Park on Friday night in the penultimate round of the regular season.

Round 26 - Round 26 - Friday 28 Aug

8:00 am

Sea Eagles

Dragons

Venue: 4 Pines Park, Sydney

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The scenes that followed last Saturday’s big win in Newcastle show just how much it meant to the players to end a six-game losing streak.

Relief. Belief. And still in the hunt.

The 44-24 victory over the Knights was the club’s 1000th premiership win, which keeps the team’s slim finals hopes alive.

Hat-trick hero Josh Feledy with delighted Manly fans after last weekend's win in Newcastle

Next up are the Dragons.

It’s another must-win game and the team’s final appearance at 4 Pines Park for the season as the club searches for its 500th win at Brookvale.

There to cheer the boys on, some 30 years after their Grand Final triumph over the Dragons, will be Manly’s premiership-winning team from 1996.

Brownie on the burst against the Knights in Round 25

Adding to the occasion on Friday is a major milestone for Nathan Brown who will play his 200th game, 13 years after making his NRL debut against the Dragons at the SCG.

And there's more

After eight seasons at Manly, Reuben Garrick will play his final home game for the Club. Garrick is three tries short of becoming the fifth player in 80 years to score 100 or more tries for Manly.

A milestone also for Jake Trbojevic on Friday. When our Co-captain runs out he will surpass legendary five-eighth Alan Thompson (263 games) as the fifth most capped Sea Eagles' player.

It’s certainly been a long season for St George Illawarra, with just four wins from 22 games.

Manly’s 28-18 victory in Round 6 was part of an 11-game losing streak for the Dragons who had to wait until Round 13 for their first win of the season.

Turbo causing turmoil against the Dragons in Wollongong in Round 6

That win in Wollongong saw Tom Trbojevic and Reuben Garrick chalk up some big numbers with ‘Gaz’ scoring twice and running for 240 metres, and Turbo not too far behind him.

While the Dragons might be four points adrift at the bottom of the ladder, they have won two of their past three games.

Last weekend’s heavy loss to the Bulldogs followed victories over the Wests Tigers and the Cronulla Sharks.

Jacob Liddle is carried off with a serious calf injury against the Bulldogs in Round 25

In team news for Manly Josh Feledy – who scored three tries in 16 minutes against the Knights – replaces injured centre Tolu Koula (ankle), with Onitoni Large added to the interchange.

Damien Cook moves into the starting hooker role for the Dragons in place of Jacob Liddle (calf) with Connor Muhleisen added to the bench for his first NRL game since 2024.

Round 26 - Round 26 - Friday 28 Aug

8:00 am

Sea Eagles

Dragons

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Tom Trbojevic

Fullback for Dragons is number 1 Daniel Atkinson
Winger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Jason Saab

Winger for Dragons is number 2 Mathew Feagai
Centre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Josh Feledy

Centre for Dragons is number 3 Moses Suli
Centre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Reuben Garrick

Centre for Dragons is number 4 Valentine Holmes
Winger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Lehi Hopoate

Winger for Dragons is number 5 Tyrell Sloan
Five-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Clayton Faulalo

Five-Eighth for Dragons is number 6 Lyhkan King-Togia
Halfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Jamal Fogarty

Halfback for Dragons is number 7 Kyle Flanagan

Forwards

Prop for Sea Eagles is number 8 Simione Laiafi

Prop for Dragons is number 8 Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga
Hooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Brandon Wakeham

Hooker for Dragons is number 9 Damien Cook
Prop for Sea Eagles is number 10 Nathan Brown

Prop for Dragons is number 10 Toby Couchman
2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Haumole Olakau'atu

2nd Row for Dragons is number 11 Dylan Egan
2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Ben Trbojevic

2nd Row for Dragons is number 12 Hamish Stewart
Lock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Jake Trbojevic

Lock for Dragons is number 13 Ryan Couchman

Interchange

Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Jake Simpkin

Interchange for Dragons is number 14 Connor Muhleisen
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Nicholas Lenaz

Interchange for Dragons is number 15 Josh Kerr
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Corey Waddell

Interchange for Dragons is number 16 Jacob Halangahu
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 17 Caleb Navale

Interchange for Dragons is number 17 Jacob Webster
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 18 Onitoni Large

Interchange for Dragons is number 18 Blake Lawrie
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 19 Fletcher Baker

Interchange for Dragons is number 19 Setu Tu

Reserves

Reserve for Sea Eagles is number 20 Blake Wilson

Reserve for Dragons is number 20 Luciano Leilua
Reserve for Sea Eagles is number 21 Jackson Shereb

Reserve for Dragons is number 21 Kade Reed
Reserve for Sea Eagles is number 22 Hugo Hart

Reserve for Dragons is number 22 Ryan Hutchinson

Blake Wilson
Hugo Hart
Jackson Shereb
Onitoni Large

Connor Muhleisen
Kade Reed
Luciano Leilua
Ryan Hutchinson

Tolutau Koula

Jacob Liddle

Match Officials

Touch Judge: Jon Stone
Senior Review Official: Adam Gee

Last updated: 8/27/2026 12:01:14 AM

Stats Zone

The Sea Eagles have won six of their last eight games against the Dragons at 4 Pines Park.
The Dragons have won only two of their last 18 away games.
Sea Eagles winger Jason Saab has scored five tries in his last four games at 4 Pines Park.
Dragons winger Tyrell Sloan has scored six tries in seven games against the Sea Eagles.
Sea Eagles forward Nathan Brown will make his 200th NRL appearance.