Sea Eagles v Raiders Round 1: Turbo on Fire But Savage Strikes Late in Brookvale Thriller

There’s something about Brookvale Oval under lights that brings out the chaos, and the Round 1 clash between the Sea Eagles and Raiders delivered it in spades. The 2026 NRL Telstra Premiership season opener at 4 Pines Park had everything: a new halfback facing his old mates, a captain’s knock from Tom Trbojevic, and a second-half ambush from a Raiders side that simply refused to roll over. By the time the final siren echoed through the rain-soaked northern beaches, we’d seen the full spectrum of what rugby league can throw at you.

Turbo Time… Until It Wasn’t

Inside four minutes, the locals were on their feet. Tom Trbojevic—now officially the captain of this joint—slid over for the first try of the night after some sloppy Raiders discipline handed Manly a mountain of possession. It was the kind of start that screamed statement. The Sea Eagles vs Raiders narrative was tilting heavily towards the home side, and when Haumole Olakau’atu crashed over soon after, Brookvale was rocking.

But here’s the thing about this Canberra outfit: they don’t do intimidated. Kaeo Weekes, the former Manly junior, started slicing through that left edge defence like a hot knife through butter. He put Noah Martin over for a double before halftime, and suddenly the 14-6 scoreline felt a lot closer than it looked.

The Fogarty Homecoming

All week, the talk was about Jamal Fogarty. The new Manly No.7, coming up against the club he guided to the minor premiership just months ago. The big screen showed his face pre-game and the crowd roared—genuine affection for a bloke who’d jumped ship from Canberra to the beaches. But affection doesn’t win footy matches. His kicking game was tidy, and he knocked over the conversions like clockwork, but you could see the Raiders targeting him defensively. They knew his tricks better than anyone.

The irony? Fogarty’s departure leaves a massive hole in the Raiders’ spine, and young Ethan Sanders has the unenviable task of filling it. Sanders showed glimpses against a relentless Manly middle, but this was always going to be a learning curve. Replacing the straw that stirs the drink doesn’t happen overnight.

Second Half Mayhem

If the first half was Manly’s, the second belonged entirely to the Green Machine. They came out firing, and Xavier Savage turned into an absolute menace. Weekes kept ripping through the middle, Hudson Young put a kick in over the top, and Savage beat Lehi Hopoate and Tolutau Koula to score. Minutes later, he had another—a double that flipped the game on its head. The visitors had the lead for the first time, and suddenly the Raiders vs Sea Eagles dynamic felt very different.

Manly were hanging on by their fingernails. Tom Trbojevic thought he’d grabbed a second, but it was called back for obstruction. The stats told the story: Canberra made metres at will through the middle, and when Josh Papalii failed his HIA and left the field early, it only seemed to galvanise them. You don’t lose a veteran like Papa and fold—not in this group.

What This Result Means

For Anthony Seibold, this is the start of the post-DCE era, and it’s already thrown up questions. The forward pack, missing more than $3 million worth of talent for large chunks of last season, had all their big guns back. Jake Trbojevic, Taniela Paseka, Olakau’atu—they were out there. And yet, Canberra’s edge defence still got exposed late. The Sea Eagles vs. Raiders contest always has a bit of needle, but this one felt like a statement from Ricky Stuart’s men: we’re not going anywhere.

• Tom Trbojevic: 199 metres, six tackle breaks, two tries (one disallowed). Absolutely everywhere.
• Xavier Savage: Two tries, constant threat on the left edge. Game-changer.
• Kaeo Weekes: Carved Manly up. Try assists, linebreaks, the works.
• Jamal Fogarty: Solid debut. Kicked goals, controlled tempo. But the second-half fade showed how much work remains.

The rain didn’t help. It bucketed down at 4 Pines Park, making the ball greasy and the contest even more of an arm-wrestle. But in slippery conditions, the Raiders looked the more composed. That’s a worry for Manly fans who’d hoped the new spine would click instantly.

The Long View

Look, nobody wins the premiership in Round 1. But the Sea Eagles vs Raiders fixture always sets a tone. For Manly, it’s about finding an identity without Cherry-Evans—the last link to the 2011 glory days. For Canberra, it’s proving last year’s minor premiership wasn’t a fluke. Sanders will grow into the No.7 role, Weekes is already a weapon, and Tapine remains an absolute animal in the middle.

If you’re a neutral, this was everything you want from a season opener. Tries, controversy, momentum swings, and a genuine sense that both these sides have plenty left in the tank. The Sea Eagles vs. Raiders rivalry? It’s alive and well. And if Round 1 is anything to go by, the 2026 season is going to be an absolute ripper.