Dolphins vs Manly Sea Eagles Preview
In the opening game of the NRL Round 5 Easter program, Manly can cover the line with a +10.5 point handicap as Kieran Foran takes charge. Tom Trbojevic has scored five tries in three games against the Dolphins and can cross.
- Manly have won 2 of 3 matches against the Dolphins, losing by 6 in the only game played in QLD.
- The last 3 Dolphins games have gone under the game total.
- Tom Trbojevic has 5 tries in 3 appearances against the Dolphins
- Tom Trbojevic has 4 tries in the opening 3 games of the season.
Head to Head
Manly have won two of the three matches played between the Sea Eagles and the Dolphins. The latest was a 58-30 victory at Brookvale in Round 25 last season.
All three matches have had a very large score line with the least amount of points scored being 54 in a 30-24 victory for the Dolphins at Suncorp in 2024.
Dolphins Struggling To Fine Electric Attack
The Phins held onto the Broncos for the first half of the Queensland Derby, going into the sheds 10-6 down. The game stayed in the balance on the scoreboard until the final 10 minutes, but the two late tries by Brisbane did the game justice with a final 26-12 scoreline.
The biggest improvement the Dolphins needed this season was in defence and they have shown that in the last three weeks, despite the late tries by the Broncs. All of a sudden though they have not been able to produce the electricity in attack.
Considering the weapons, the Phins have made an average of just 3.8 line breaks per game (ranked 11th in NRL) and scored and have been held under 20 points in their two matches against their QLD counterparts the Titans and Broncos.
There was plenty of big talk around Isaiya Katoa at the start of 2026 but we are yet to see the best of the young half.
Manly Sea Eagles Axe Siebold, Foran Takes Over
It's been a wild week at Brookvale with Anthony Seibold getting the axe and Sea Eagles legend Kieran Foran taking over in the interim with an opportunity to take over the role fulltime.
The decision to fire Seibold came after the Sea Eagles fell for the third straight time to start the season going down heavy to the Chooks 33-16 in Daly Cherry-Evans return to 4 Pines Park.
Manly were there 10-8 at half time but relentless perfect footy from the Roosters, who completed 50-52 set in the wet eventually wore down the defence resulting in three tries in 10 minutes which ended any hope of a first win of the season.
With Seibold gone, so has the pressure on Manly to perform which makes them dangerous with the appointment of Foran the perfect fit in the short-term to get the boys fighting for a victory.