Warriors' Tanah Boyd and Manly's Daly Chery-Evans will face off in the NRL at Brookvale Oval. Photo: Photosport/RNZ
NZ Warriors v Manly Sea Eagles
Kickoff 8pm, Friday, 5 September
Brookvale Oval, Sydney
Live blog updates on RNZ Sport
History
Manly have historically been one of the most successful NRL teams and, unsurprisingly, they hold a 28-14-1 head-to-head record over NZ Warriors, but that advantage is only 8-6 at their Brookvale Oval home.
Their last five outings have been shared 2-2, with a 22-22 Golden Point draw at Go Media Stadium in 2023 - Roger Tuivasa-Sheck's 200th NRL game - when winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak scored a last-minute try, converted by Shaun Johnson, to close within two points.
From the kickoff and ensuing set, Johnson was taken out late while attempting a long-range field goal and slotted the subsequent penalty to level the scores, and neither side could break the deadlock in extra time.
Manly's biggest win came in 2008, when winger Michael Robertson scored three tries in a 52-6 hiding at Brookvale, while the Warriors' biggest margin was in 1999, when they prevailed 36-10, also at Brookvale.
They also won 36-16 earlier this season at Mt Smart, when they scored six tries, all converted by halfback Luke Metcalf.
Form
The Warriors take unconvincing form into this fixture, losing three straight, then winning back-to-back to seal their playoff berth, before losing at home last week to Parramatta Eels.
That 26-22 result was marred by a bunker call that ruled forward Demitric Vaimauga had knocked on in the build-up to a late try that would have levelled the scores with a conversion to come from in front of the posts.
Parramatta also benefitted from a kind bounce that narrowly eluded Warriors centre Rocco Berry behind their goal-line, but turned into a 100-metre try to speedster Josh Addo-Carr to open their scoring.
Narrow margins
The results - along with wins to Brisbane Broncos and Cronulla Sharks - saw the Warriors slip out of the top four on points differential.
They are currently sixth and now can't re-enter the top four, after Brisbane's win over Melbourne Storm on Thursday, but they can rise to fifth, with victory and a Cronulla Sharks loss to Canterbury Bulldogs.
The Sea Eagles appeared to be plummeting out of postseason contention, when they lost four in a row, but have rallied for back-to-back wins to keep their slim hopes alive into the final round.
They are still only two points out of the eight, but would probably need a big win, a Dolphins loss and big Sydney Roosters loss to sneak in.
Teams
Warriors: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 3. Adam Pompey, 4. Rocco Berry, 5. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita, 7. Tanah Boyd, 8. James Fisher-Harris, 9. Sam Healey, 10. Tanner Stowers-Smith, 11. Kurt Capewell, 12. Marata Niukore, 13. Erin Clark
Interchange: 14. Te Maire Martin, 15. Eddie Ieremia-Toeava, 16. Demitric Vaimauga, 17. Leka Halasima
Reserves: 18. Taine Tuaupiki, 20. Kalani Going
Coach Andrew Webster has rested hooker Wayde Egan, who is carrying a hip complaint that threatened to keep him out of the playoffs otherwise. Understudy Sam Healey comes into the starting line-up.
Front-rower Jackson Ford is serving the last week of a suspension and Webster has named Tanner Stowers-Smith in the No.10 jersey, after he had been promoted from the bench before kickoff the previous two weeks.
Sea Eagles: 1. Tom Trbojevic, 2. Jason Saab, 3. Clayton Faulalo, 4. Tommy Talau, 5. Lehi Hopoate, 6. Luke Brooks, 7. Daly Cherry-Evans, 8. Matt Lodge, 9. Jake Simpkin, 10. Siosiua Taukeiaho, 11. Corey Waddell, 12. Ben Trbojevic, 13. Jazz Tevaga
Interchange: 14. Joey Walsh, 15. Caleb Navale, 16. Ethan Bullemor, 18. Aaron Schoupp
Reserves: 21. Simone Laiafi, 19. Navren Willett
Clayton Faulalo replaces injured Tolutau Koula in the centres, but the Sea Eagles will be keen to farewell 350-game veteran Daly Cherry-Evans in appropriate fashion, as he departs the club.
Former Warriors Jazz Tevaga will also depart the NRL, after signing for Wakefield Trinity in 2026.
Player to watch
Halfback Daly Cherry-Evans has been a thorn in the Warriors' side over the years, kicking field goals for victory in 2021 and 2016, and two in 2017.
Some say he looks washed, but in the last couple of weeks, he's looked anything but and there may yet be another matchwinning performance up his sleeve, as he departs.
Kiwi to watch
Wouldn't Jazz Tevaga love a win over his former teammates before he leaves the competition? Warrior No.209 has been named at lock, but may pop up at dummy half at some point, and you can bet he'll be chirping throughout the contest.
What will happen
Warriors will have no answer to a DCE masterclass, fuelled by an outpouring of Manly emotion over all that he's done for the club.
They finish sixth and face four-time defending champions Penrith Panthers at home in the playoffs.
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