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NRL live updates: New Zealand Warriors vs Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, NRL minor premiership on the line
Posted Sat 5 Sep 2026 at 2:25pmSat 5 Sep 2026 at 2:25pmSat 5 Sep 2026 at 2:25pmSkip to timeline
The Warriors will look to wrap up the NRL minor premiership when they host the Sea Eagles at a packed Mount Smart stadium in Auckland.
Later, the finals-bound North Queensland Cowboys take on Canberra in Townsville, before the Cronulla host Melbourne at Shark Park.
Follow the live blog below, keep up to date with all the latest stats in our ScoreCentre, and tune in to our live radio coverage.
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Sat 5 Sep 2026 at 3:00pmSat 5 Sep 2026 at 3:00pm
Live updates: Warriors vs Sea Eagles
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By Simon Smale
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Sat 5 Sep 2026 at 3:15pmSat 5 Sep 2026 at 3:15pm
11′ Penalty Warriors
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By Simon Smale
Simione Laiafi is deemed to have pulled the man down as he attempted to play the ball.
I think he was off balance, myself.
Regardless, it’s a penalty to the Warriors.
Sat 5 Sep 2026 at 3:14pmSat 5 Sep 2026 at 3:14pm
9′ Off-colour Warriors helped by moment of magic
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By Simon Smale
Chanel Harris-Tavita with the one-on-one strip!
That’s a great effort from the halfback.
The Warriors don’t quite look like they’re at the races there.
The Sea Eagles have looked to open them up down the right side twice already – and if not for a poor pass the second time, they’d have done so twice as well.
Te Maire Martin lost the ball … it’s not been quite what Andrew Webster would have wanted.
Sat 5 Sep 2026 at 3:09pmSat 5 Sep 2026 at 3:09pm
5′ Manly score the opener!
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By Simon Smale
That’s sensational from the Sea Eagles!
Great, quick hands and short passing from just outside their own half down the right side gives Reuben Garrick some space to run into.
Garrick finishes it off, and improves the angle to score his 99th try in Sea Eagles colours.
The kick is good and it’s 6-0 to the Sea Eagles!
Sat 5 Sep 2026 at 3:07pmSat 5 Sep 2026 at 3:07pm
4′ Sea Eagles hold on!
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By Simon Smale
Eddie Ieremia-Toeava loses the ball!
There were some tremendous tackles there, Jake Trbojevic and Nathan Brown both involved in a couple of them – and the last together as Ieremia-Toeava loses it in the tackle.
That’s great defence from the Sea Eagles, who had to hold out during a set restart too.
And now they get a relieving penalty as James Fisher-Harris gets a bit handsy in the tackle.
Sat 5 Sep 2026 at 3:05pmSat 5 Sep 2026 at 3:05pm
2′ Penalty Warriors
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By Simon Smale
James Fisher-Harris loses the ball after being tackled, but there was a clear hand in there from Jamal Fogarty so it’s a penalty to the Warriors, which will get them to the Manly 10 to start their attacking set.
Sat 5 Sep 2026 at 3:03pmSat 5 Sep 2026 at 3:03pm
1′ We’re underway in Auckland
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By Simon Smale
Sunny skies in New Zealand’s biggest city, they kick off in their blue shirts, which I assume is their home shirt but given they tend to complete a season with more kits than the Tigers normally manage wins, it’s hard to tell.
The Sea Eagles in their white change strip bring it back.
And the Warriors bring the pressure in the first set, Ben Trbojevic is dumped on his back early on as the Sea Eagles manage just 31 metres in their first set.
Sat 5 Sep 2026 at 3:00pmSat 5 Sep 2026 at 3:00pm
Warriors to wrap up a simple win?
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By Simon Smale
Happy Saturday Simon, This first game should be pretty straight forward for the Warriors – although reading that the Sea Eagles haven’t won in Auckland since 2017 makes me think they are overdue for a win there…
– Mike
Every record has to come to an end at some point…
I feel like the Warriors will want to do enough to try and claim the minor premiership though and that will be a big incentive.
The Warriors only have a 1-point advantage over the Panthers on differential, so will need a big performance here to set a target for the Panthers to chase.
Sat 5 Sep 2026 at 2:57pmSat 5 Sep 2026 at 2:57pm
Don’t get sick before finals
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By Simon Smale
Hey Simon 😀👋
Sorry I missed you yesterday, got stuck working late, because last week I was out with Influenza A 😷
– Natty
Sat 5 Sep 2026 at 2:55pmSat 5 Sep 2026 at 2:55pm
Stat time
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By Simon Smale
Some stats to get your teeth into ahead of this match.
The Warriors have scored 40 points or more in four of their last five games.
The Sea Eagles have not won in Auckland since 2017, when Tom and Jake Trbojevic both scored tries and Daly Cherry-Evans nailed two field goals in a 22-21 win.
Warriors second-rower Jacob Laban has scored five tries in his last five games.
Sea Eagles centre Reuben Garrick requires two tries for a century of NRL tries.
Jason Saab has scored 10 tries in his last seven matches against the Warriors, and has three tries in his last two games.
Lehi Hopoate also likes playing against the Warriors, scoring three times in his last two appearances against the New Zealanders.
Thanks, as ever, to the NRL for these.
Sat 5 Sep 2026 at 2:52pmSat 5 Sep 2026 at 2:52pm
I have got the pickle juice ready…
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By Simon Smale
You’re doing all 3 on your own Simon ? Gee don’t come down with finger cramp or I’ll have to listen to the tv commentary ! Disaster !
– Phillip
LoadingSat 5 Sep 2026 at 2:50pmSat 5 Sep 2026 at 2:50pm
100 games up for Andrew Webster
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By Simon Smale
Today is a big day for Warriors coach Andrew Webster, who will coach his 100th Warriors game as head coach today.
“Loved the last four years.
Warriors is my home, New Zealand is my home … I’ve been really lucky to coach such a great bunch of players.”
He says the important thing tonight is to maintain their defensive concentration and be “ruthless” in attack.
Sat 5 Sep 2026 at 2:47pmSat 5 Sep 2026 at 2:47pm
The Sea Eagles are making friends with the locals
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By Simon Smale
Loading Twitter contentSat 5 Sep 2026 at 2:42pmSat 5 Sep 2026 at 2:42pm
Manly’s sponge happy to play second fiddle to ‘one of the best fullbacks in the world’
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By Simon Smale
Clayton Faulalo wants to be like a sponge and shadow Tom Trbojevic, with fullback still the breakout Manly star’s preferred long-term position.
Faulalo’s development has been one of the highlights for Manly this season, going from a fill-in player at centre or wing to close to their best in multiple roles.
The 27-year-old will start at five-eighth again against the Warriors today, having impressed in two games at number 6 against Newcastle and St George Illawarra.
That came after the Samoan international started five games at fullback, scoring four tries and setting up another while filling in for Trbojevic.
The Sea Eagles remain open to what role he plays next season, with centre looking the most natural fit given Reuben Garrick‘s impending departure.
Faulalo does view that role as slightly different to fullback and five-eighth, where his passing game has stood out this season, but he is happy to slot in anywhere next year.
“I enjoy playing fullback, just with the free flow of footy,” Faulalo told AAP when asked of his preferred position.
“You can pop up wherever you want, kick returns and the staggered line. I enjoy that.
“But with Turbo at the back now, he is one of the best fullbacks in the world, so I am happy to bide my time and learn as much as I can off him.”
Faulalo is in no rush to make a full-time move to the back, with Kieran Foran having made clear the number 1 jersey is Trbojevic’s as long as he stays at Manly.
But that does give Faulalo the chance to learn from one of the best.
“I just want to be a sponge to Turbo,” Faulalo said.
“He is one of the smartest blokes in the game. He knows the game inside out, so I’m just soaking up like a sponge from him.”
Faulalo did play five-eighth as a youngster, before moving to fullback, where he felt he could play more free-flowing football.
Manly have decisions to make in their halves, with Faulalo impressing, Joey Walsh and Onitoni Large coming through, and Luke Brooks and Jamal Fogarty the experienced pair.
Faulalo set up three tries in the No.6 jersey last week, with Manly having scored 44 points against both the Knights and Dragons, with Faulalo the five-eighth and Trbojevic fullback
The versatile Faulalo believes having Trbojevic at fullback has helped, with the two playing a hybrid role in attacking sets and able to both act as a 1 and 6.
“I can just go out the back and sweep as a fullback and pop up as a half, and vice versa with Turbo too,” Faulalo saud.
“He’s the player to be able to do that with too.”
AAP
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Sat 5 Sep 2026 at 2:38pmSat 5 Sep 2026 at 2:38pm
Team news: Warriors vs Sea Eagles
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By Simon Smale
Here’s how the two teams line up at Mount Smart this afternoon.
Warriors
A couple of big names return in the backline for the hosts, with Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Te Maire Martin and Chanel Harris-Tavita all in the mix.
Leka Halasima has an ankle injury so Adam Pompey moves to centre, with Taine Tuaupiki stepping in at fullback.
Jett Cleary is on the bench after his debut last week.
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The Warriors are not completely at full strength though, Wayde Egan and Kurt Capewell are both rested, with Sam Healey starting at hooker and Eddie Ieremia-Toeava playing in the back row.
Sea Eagles
Kieran Foran is sticking with the team that beat the Dragons last week, and there are no late changes.
The Sea Eagles haven’t won in Auckland since 2017.
Referee
Gerard Sutton is the man in the middle today.
Sat 5 Sep 2026 at 2:33pmSat 5 Sep 2026 at 2:33pm
Sharks edge Warriors in 14-try epic
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By Simon Smale
The fans at Mount Smart have already had an epic clash to get their teeth into this afternoon across the Ditch.
However, it was the Sharks who came out on top in the NRLW clash against the hosts, running out 40-32 winners.
Both teams scored seven tries in the clash, but the difference was the kicking, with the Sharks scoring six from seven, while the Warriors managed just two successful kicks.
Warriors winger Payton Takimoana scored a double for the hosts, while hooker Quincy Dodd led the Sharks with a couple of tries of her own, as well as leading the game for tackles (31).
Sat 5 Sep 2026 at 2:23pmSat 5 Sep 2026 at 2:23pm
Saturday afternoon NRL
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By Simon Smale
Hello everyone and welcome to the ABC Sport coverage of the final Saturday of the NRL regular season.
My name is Simon Smale and I will be with you for the duration of today’s trilogy of matches that, on the face of things, probably don’t mean an awful lot, given the teams playing finals are all set and secure in the top eight.
There are still positions within the eight and the NRL minor premiership to be determined though, so that’s something to look forward to.
So thanks for being with us this afternoon and into the evening, and we’ll get right into it.