Match Preview: NRL Round 27 vs Warriors

Author: Manly Media
Timestamp: Wed 2 Sep 2026, 11:07 AM

Manly Warringah Sea Eagles take on the first-placed Warriors in Auckland on Saturday in the final round of the regular season.

Round 27 - Round 27 - Saturday 5 Sep

5:00 am

Warriors

Sea Eagles

Venue: Go Media Stadium, Auckland

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Team Lists Get Tickets

While the finals are no longer achievable for Manly, this match presents a chance to finish the season on a high with a third straight win.

There is plenty up for grabs for the Warriors who are chasing their first minor premiership in 24 years. Although there is little fanfare for finishing top of the ladder these days, $200,000 in prizemoney is not to be sneezed at.

The prize they really want of course is a maiden premiership, having played and lost two Grand Finals in their 31-year history.

Strangely, there are quite a few similarities with this fixture to last year.

Manly headed into the final round of the 2025 season, also against the Warriors, with 11 wins and 12 losses and sitting just outside the eight on 28 points. The game was even played on the very same date, September 5.

Manly's leading try-scorer Lehi Hopoate bags a double against the Dragons in Round 26

The Sea Eagles have enjoyed plenty of success against the Warriors in Auckland over the years, winning 11 of 18 games played at Go Media (Mt Smart) Stadium. That said, it’s been a while between drinks for Manly, not beating the Warriors in Auckland since 2017.

The Warriors head into this match on a five-game winning streak having posted 40+ points in four of those wins, including last Sunday’s 46-32 victory over the Knights.

Reuben Garrick scored his 98th career try last weekend against the Dragons

The Sea Eagles have also been finding the line in recent weeks, scoring 44 points against both the Knights and the Dragons, and scoring 19 tries across those two wins.

Reuben Garrick scored a try in each of those wins and will be playing his 180th and final game for Manly on Saturday.

'Gaz' needs two more tries to become just the fifth player to notch 100 or more tries for the Club.

Warriors leading try-scorer Dallin Watene-Zelezniak suffered a shoulder injury in Round 25

In team news, no changes for Manly from the side that thumped the Dragons.

The Warriors welcome a few players back with fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad returning from suspension and halves Te Maire Martin and Chanel Harris-Tavita back from hamstring injuries. Sam Healey and Eddie Ieremia-Toeava join the run-on side. And Manly-bound backrower Kayliss Fatialofa has been included on the interchange for a potential NRL debut

Round 27 - Round 27 - Saturday 5 Sep

5:00 am

Warriors

Sea Eagles

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad

Fullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Tom Trbojevic
Winger for Warriors is number 2 Adam Pompey

Winger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Jason Saab
Centre for Warriors is number 3 Ali Leiataua

Centre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Josh Feledy
Centre for Warriors is number 4 Leka Halasima

Centre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Reuben Garrick
Winger for Warriors is number 5 Alofiana Khan-Pereira

Winger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Lehi Hopoate
Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Chanel Harris-Tavita

Five-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Clayton Faulalo
Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Te Maire Martin

Halfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Jamal Fogarty

Forwards

Prop for Warriors is number 8 James Fisher-Harris

Prop for Sea Eagles is number 8 Simione Laiafi
Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Sam Healey

Hooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Brandon Wakeham
Prop for Warriors is number 10 Mitchell Barnett

Prop for Sea Eagles is number 10 Nathan Brown
2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Eddie Ieremia-Toeava

2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Haumole Olakau'atu
2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Jacob Laban

2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Ben Trbojevic
Lock for Warriors is number 13 Erin Clark

Lock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Jake Trbojevic

Interchange

Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Makaia Tafua

Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Jake Simpkin
Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Tanner Stowers-Smith

Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Nicholas Lenaz
Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Demitric Vaimauga

Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Corey Waddell
Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Morgan Gannon

Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 17 Caleb Navale
Interchange for Warriors is number 18 Taine Tuaupiki

Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 18 Onitoni Large
Interchange for Warriors is number 20 Kayliss Fatialofa

Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 19 Fletcher Baker

Reserves

Reserve for Warriors is number 21 Jett Cleary

Reserve for Sea Eagles is number 20 Blake Wilson
Reserve for Warriors is number 22 Jye Linnane

Reserve for Sea Eagles is number 21 Hugo Hart
Reserve for Warriors is number 23 Haizyn Mellars

Reserve for Sea Eagles is number 22 Jackson Shereb

Chanel Harris-Tavita
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
Haizyn Mellars
Jye Linnane
Kayliss Fatialofa
Morgan Gannon
Te Maire Martin

Blake Wilson
Hugo Hart
Jackson Shereb

Kurt Capewell
Luke Hanson
Luke Laulilii
Wayde Egan

Match Officials

Referee: Gerard Sutton
Touch Judge: Drew Oultram
Touch Judge: Jon Stone
Senior Review Official: Grant Atkins

Last updated: 9/1/2026 11:20:33 AM

Stat Zone

The Warriors have scored 40 points or more in four of their last five games.
The Sea Eagles have not won in Auckland since 2017.
Warriors second-rower Jacob Laban has scored five tries in his last five games.
Sea Eagles centre Reuben Garrick requires two tries for a century of NRL tries.
Warriors coach Andrew Webster will reach 100 games in the club’s head coaching role.