Sea Eagles v Raiders: Fogarty's new look; Sanders steps up
Manly halfback Jamal Fogarty is chasing an early victory over his former club as the playmaker looks to topple the Raiders on Saturday night.
The 32-year-old led Canberra to last year's minor premiership before joining the Sea Eagles to fill the daunting shoes left by Daly Cherry-Evans.
Fogarty's arrival heralds a new era on the Northern Beaches after Cherry-Evans wore the No.7 jumper for 15 years.
The halfback will need to shut down some familiar faces if he is to lead his new side to a Round 1 victory.
Canberra boast one of the best forward packs in the NRL and will look to roll through the middle behind Joe Tapine, Josh Papalii and Hudson Young.
Ethan Sanders will be tasked with replacing Fogarty and will form what the Raiders hope will be a long-term halves combination with Ethan Strange.
Canberra shocked plenty to soar to the minor premiership in 2025 before a disappointing finals exit in straight sets.
The expectations are considerably higher this season as they look to replicate last year's feats.
Manly are desperate to climb the ladder in 2026 after sliding out of the eight last season.
A host of troops are back on deck, with Jake Trbojevic, Taniela Paseka and Haumole Olakau'atu all returning after their 2025 campaigns ended early due to injury.
Match: Sea Eagles v Raiders
Round 1 -
home Team
Sea Eagles
away Team
Raiders
Venue: 4 Pines Park, Sydney
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
Team News
Sea Eagles: A huge boost for Manly with barnstorming back-rower Haumole Olakau'atu ready to rumble after a shoulder reconstruction while prop Taniela Paseka plays his first NRL game since Round 3 last year having recovered from a ruptured achilles. Tom Trbojevic will captain the side at fullback while brothers Ben and Jake line up in the back row. Former Raider Jamal Fogarty steers the ship alongside Luke Brooks with young gun Joey Walsh in the No.14. Broncos premiership winner Kobe Hetherington makes his club debut off the bench alongside Ethan Bullemor and Nathan Brown.
Raiders: Ethan Sanders takes over the halfback role in just his fifth NRL game and will partner Kangaroo tourist Ethan Strange at the scrumbase. Simi Sasagi has won a starting centre berth ahead of Matt Timoko, who has been battling a minor foot injury over the past three weeks and is set to play NSW Cup. Noah Martin comes into the back row for his seventh NRL game. Former Knight Jayden Brailey makes his club debut in the No.14 jersey as back-up to Tom Starling. Also part of the interchange for Ricky Stuart are Zac Hosking, Ata Mariota and Morgan Smithies while Daine Laurie and Jed Stuart round out the six-man bench.
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Tom TrbojevicFullback for Raiders is number 1 Kaeo Weekes
-
Winger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Jason SaabWinger for Raiders is number 2 Savelio Tamale
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Centre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Tolutau KoulaCentre for Raiders is number 3 Simi Sasagi
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Centre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Reuben GarrickCentre for Raiders is number 4 Sebastian Kris
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Winger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Lehi HopoateWinger for Raiders is number 5 Xavier Savage
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Five-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Luke BrooksFive-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Ethan Strange
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Halfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Jamal FogartyHalfback for Raiders is number 7 Ethan Sanders
Forwards
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Prop for Sea Eagles is number 8 Taniela PasekaProp for Raiders is number 8 Josh Papalii
-
Hooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Jake SimpkinHooker for Raiders is number 9 Tom Starling
-
Prop for Sea Eagles is number 10 Siosiua TaukeiahoProp for Raiders is number 10 Joseph Tapine
-
2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Haumole Olakau'atu2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 Hudson Young
-
2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Ben Trbojevic2nd Row for Raiders is number 12 Noah Martin
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Lock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Jake TrbojevicLock for Raiders is number 13 Corey Horsburgh
Interchange
-
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Joey WalshInterchange for Raiders is number 14 Jayden Brailey
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Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Kobe HetheringtonInterchange for Raiders is number 15 Zac Hosking
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Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Ethan BullemorInterchange for Raiders is number 16 Ata Mariota
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Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 17 Nathan BrownInterchange for Raiders is number 17 Morgan Smithies
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Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 18 Clayton FaulaloInterchange for Raiders is number 18 Daine Laurie
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Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 19 Brandon WakehamInterchange for Raiders is number 19 Jed Stuart
Reserves
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Reserve for Sea Eagles is number 20 Corey WaddellReserve for Raiders is number 20 Matty Nicholson
-
Reserve for Sea Eagles is number 21 Blake WilsonReserve for Raiders is number 21 Matthew Timoko
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Reserve for Sea Eagles is number 22 Paul BryanReserve for Raiders is number 22 Owen Pattie
Match Officials
- Referee: Liam Kennedy
- Touch Judge: Jon Stone
- Senior Review Official: Chris Butler
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- The Sea Eagles have won their last three Round 1 games.
- The Raiders have won two of their past three games at 4 Pines Park.
- Sea Eagles fullback Tom Trbojevic has scored nine tries in his last six games against the Raiders.
- Raiders centre Sebastian Kris has scored a try in his last three games against the Sea Eagles.
- Sea Eagles centre Tolu Koula is on a nine game try-scoring streak at 4 Pines Park.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
