NRL Match Preview: Round 21 v Manly

Author: Sharks Media
Timestamp: Sat 25 Jul 2026, 04:00 PM

It will be a case of beware the injured opponent on Sunday when the Sharks, on the back of seven wins from their past eight starts, tackle a battling and battered Sea Eagles outfit in a round 21 clash at 4 Pines Park.

While the Sharks have been riding high, on the back of three losses and without their star fullback Tom Trbojevic, the Manly side will be desperate to turn around their fortunes and get their season back on track in a match to be played for the Steve Rogers Memorial Trophy.

However, despite their recent good form, the Sharks were firmly focused on the Sea Eagles and not to what lies ahead, while looking to continue to improve on what they’ve been able to produce in recent weeks.

“I sort of feel like we’re getting to where we want to be,” Nikora said. “We’re focusing on the things we can control, getting the little things right and we’re trying to get better week by week.

“We’re still building and trying to clean a few things up. We’ve got a few games to go and we’re just trying not to get ahead of ourselves.”

Considering their record against the Manly club since the two teams first met almost 60 years ago, the Sharks will need to be on their game against a traditionally dangerous opponent and in a match played at an intimidating venue.

In the 102 matches played between the two clubs, Manly have won 68, the Sharks 32, with two games drawn, however under the coaching of Craig Fitzgibbon the Cronulla side has enjoyed recent success, having won the past four, and seven of the last eight games against their northern beachside rivals.

The four-game winning streak is the Sharks longest against the Sea Eagles, with Cronulla successful in the most recent encounter, back in Round 13 when they scored a 28-22 victory at Ocean Protect Stadium.

However, at Brookvale the going has been tough, the Sharks winning just nine of 44 games.

The Sharks sit fourth, with 11 wins and six losses from 17 matches played, the Sea Eagles, who are searching for their 1000th victory in club history, are ninth, following nine wins and nine losses.

After winning seven of eight games from Rounds 5-12, Manly has lost the past three, at Brookvale they are five of nine.

The Sharks come into the contest averaging almost 29 points per game in 2026 and having never finished a year with an average of more than 27 points per game, are on track for a record-breaking season.

They have won five of 10 away from Ocean Protect Stadium this year, with four of those wins coming in the past five games

In regard to personal milestones, Nicho Hynes needs eight points to reach 900 for the Cronulla club, and if and when he does so he will become the fourth Sharks to achieve the mark. (Steve Rogers 1253, Mat Rogers 1112, Luke Covell 948)

Braydon Trindall leads the NRL in try assists, Hynes is ranked equal fourth with Nathan Cleary, while Ronaldo Mulitalo has seven tries in nine games against Manly, Sione Katoa five tries in seven matches and Will Kennedy five tries in eight games against the Sea Eagles.

In team news, Jesse Ramien returns for the Sharks after missing the Knights win due to illness. Jesse Colquhoun has also been named on the interchange bench; the middle forward having missed the last two games with a knee issue.

The Sharks v Manly match is scheduled for a 4.05pm kick-off, with the two 24-hour team lists below.

Round 21 - Round 21 - Sunday 26 Jul

6:05 am

Sea Eagles

Sharks

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Lehi Hopoate

Fullback for Sharks is number 1 William Kennedy
Winger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Jason Saab

Winger for Sharks is number 2 Sione Katoa
Centre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Josh Feledy

Centre for Sharks is number 3 Jesse Ramien
Centre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Reuben Garrick

Centre for Sharks is number 4 KL Iro
Winger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Tolutau Koula

Winger for Sharks is number 5 Ronaldo Mulitalo
Five-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Joey Walsh

Five-Eighth for Sharks is number 6 Braydon Trindall
Halfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Jamal Fogarty

Halfback for Sharks is number 7 Nicho Hynes

Forwards

Prop for Sea Eagles is number 8 Taniela Paseka

Prop for Sharks is number 8 Addin Fonua-Blake
Hooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Jake Simpkin

Hooker for Sharks is number 9 Blayke Brailey
Prop for Sea Eagles is number 10 Simione Laiafi

Prop for Sharks is number 17 Oregon Kaufusi
2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Haumole Olakau'atu

2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Briton Nikora
2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Ben Trbojevic

2nd Row for Sharks is number 12 Teig Wilton
Lock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Jake Trbojevic

Lock for Sharks is number 13 Cameron McInnes

Interchange

Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Nicholas Lenaz

Interchange for Sharks is number 14 Jesse Colquhoun
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Nathan Brown

Interchange for Sharks is number 15 Billy Burns
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Kobe Hetherington

Interchange for Sharks is number 16 Siosifa Talakai
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 17 Ethan Bullemor

Interchange for Sharks is number 18 Hohepa Puru
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 18 Fletcher Baker

Interchange for Sharks is number 19 Tuku Hau Tapuha
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 19 Blake Wilson

Interchange for Sharks is number 20 Mawene Hiroti