SUNDAY MARCH 30th 2025
MANLY SEA EAGLES v PARRAMATTA EELS
4 Pines Park Sydney 4.05pm
A long-standing rivalry, built on Grand Final battles and geographical division, adds another chapter this Sunday as the Sea Eagles host the Eels at home.
Manly is riding high after a dominant win over the Raiders last week and will be eager to keep that momentum going. The return of star fullback Tom Trbojevic is a major boost, pushing Lehi Hopoate to the wing. The only other change sees Josh Aloiai coming in for Taniela Paseka, who is set for a lengthy stint on the sidelines after rupturing his Achilles.
The Sea Eagles delivered an almost flawless performance last week and will be looking to replicate—if not improve upon—that effort in their second consecutive home game. Trbojevic’s return is a huge advantage, especially against an Eels side that has struggled defensively early in the season. The only lingering question is whether the recent news of Daly Cherry-Evans’ departure at season’s end will distract the team. However, that seems unlikely.
Manly
1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Jason Saab 3. Tolutau Koula 4. Reuben Garrick 5. Lehi Hopoate 6. Luke Brooks 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Josh Aloiai 9. Jazz Tevaga 10. Siosiua Taukeiaho 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Ben Trbojevic 13. Jake Trbojevic Bench: 14. Jake Simpkin 15. Corey Waddell 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Nathan Brown Reserves: 18. Clayton Faulalo 19. Jakob Arthur 20. Toafofoa Sipley 21. Raymond Tuiamalo Vaega 22. Dean Matterson
The Eels head into Round 4 on the back of another loss, though their performance showed significant improvement. Changes to the lineup are minimal, with Sean Russell replacing Jordan Samrani in the starting side and Daniel Keir coming in for Sam Tuivaiti.
For the Eels, improving their attacking output through their halves will be a key focus. While last week saw progress defensively, their execution with the ball remained inconsistent. Dean Hawkins delivered a solid performance on club debut, but Dylan Brown has struggled to make an impact all season, putting added pressure on his place in the squad.
If the match unfolds as expected, the Sea Eagles are likely to come out on top. The Eels will aim to maintain their defensive improvements while sharpening their attack, but containing Manly’s potent offense will be no easy task.
Eels
1. Isaiah Iongi 2. Sean Russell 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Zac Lomax 5. Josh Addo-Carr , 6. Dylan Brown 7. Dean Hawkins 8. Jack Williams 9. Joey Lussick 10. Junior Paulo 11. Shaun Lane , 12. Kitione Kautoga 13. J’maine Hopgood Bench: 14. Ryley Smith 15. Matt Doorey, 16. Joe Ofahengaue 17. Dan Keir Reserves: 18. Sam Tuivaiti 19. Charlie Guymer 20. Joash Papali’i, 21. Ronald Volkman 22. Jordan Samrani
Referee, Todd Smith, Touch Judges, David Munro, Chris Sutton, Bunker, Ashley Klein
The Sea Eagles have won seven of their past eight games at 4 Pines Park.
The Eels have won only one of their past six games at 4 Pines Park.
Sea Eagles fullback Tom Trbojevic has scored 16 tries in his last 16 games on home soil.
Eels prop Joe Ofahengaue will make his 200th NRL appearance.
Sea Eagles centre Reuben Garrick has scored 13 tries in 12 games against Parramatta.
Best Bet.. Manly for me will have too much fire power .
Wests Tigers v NZ Warriors, Campbelltown
Sports Centre, Sydney, 6.15pm
The Wests Tigers will face the New Zealand Warriors in the final match of the round on Sunday night, aiming for their first three-game winning streak since the playing days of Benji Marshall.
Riding the momentum of back-to-back wins over the past two weeks, the Tigers return to Campbelltown determined to break their three-game winning drought, a feat they haven’t achieved since 2018.
Last Saturday in Redcliffe, they overcame a double-digit deficit to secure a 30-18 comeback victory over the Dolphins. Despite injury concerns surrounding Jeral Skelton and Samuela Fainu, coach Marshall has opted to stick with the same lineup.
The joint-venture club has struggled at Campbelltown over the past decade, managing just three wins from 16 appearances. However, two of those victories came under Marshall’s leadership last season.
Tigers
1. Jahream Bula 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Adam Doueihi 4. Starford To’a 5. Jeral Skelton, 6. Lachlan Galvin 7. Jarome Luai 8. Terrell May 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. Fonua Pole 11. Samuela Fainu 12. Alex Seyfarth 13. Alex Twal Bench: 14. Tallyn Da Silva 15. Royce Hunt 16. Jack Bird, 17. Sione Fainu Reserves: 18. Latu Fainu 19. Heath Mason 20. Kit Laulilii 21. Tony Sukkar , 22. Solomona Faataape
This season, the New Zealand Warriors will be looking to extend their dominant record against the Wests Tigers in their first premiership match in Australia.
The Warriors have won seven consecutive games against the Tigers over the past decade, including their most recent meeting at Campbelltown. However, coach Andrew Webster has been forced to make changes to his backline, with Adam Pompey shifting to the wing to replace Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, and Rocco Berry coming into the centres for his first game of the season.
The Warriors claimed a 14-6 comeback win over the Roosters last Friday in Auckland and have posted the highest completion rate in the league so far this season at 85% over the opening three rounds.
Since taking over as coach in 2023, Webster has led the Warriors to 11 wins from 27 matches in Australia, with a solid record of five wins from ten games played in Sydney.
Additionally, Dylan Walker was granted an immediate release on compassionate grounds on Wednesday, and Jacob Laban will join the bench. Adam Pompey will move to the wing to fill in for Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, who is expected to miss 6-8 weeks due to a high-grade hamstring strain. Rocco Berry, having recovered from a shoulder injury, will make his season debut in the centres.
Warriors
1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Taine Tuaupiki 3. Rocco Berry 4. Ali Leiataua, 5. Adam Pompey 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Luke Metcalf 8. James Fisher-Harris 9. Wayde Egan , 10. Mitchell Barnett 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Marata Niukore 13. Erin Clark Bench: 14. Dylan Walker, 15. Jackson Ford 16. Demitric Vaimauga 17. Leka Halasima Reserves: 18. Te Maire Martin, 20. Jacob Laban 21. Samuel Healey 22. Bunty Afoa 23. Edward Kosi
Referee, Wyatt Raymond, Touch Judges, Jon Stone, Kieren Irons, Bunker, Matt Noyen
The last time the Wests Tigers defeated the New Zealand Warriors was in the early rounds of the 2019 season on a Sunday night at Campbelltown. The only player remaining from that game, Alex Twal, will be hoping for history to repeat itself six years later.
Last week, the Tigers finished strongly against the Dolphins, while the Warriors fought hard in a tough game against the Roosters, managing to edge ahead late for the win. The Tigers’ home game at Campbelltown will test them against the Warriors, who should come out on top if they stay focused.
Best Bet: This one is tough to call, but the winner will likely be decided by just a point or two. The Warriors offer good value with a +9.5 point start.
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