The Manly Sea Eagles are set to take on the Cronulla Sharks in a highly anticipated clash at 4 Pines Park on Sunday, May 11, 2025, as part of the Women in League Round. With a strong home advantage, the Sea Eagles are eager to reclaim their fortress after a bye week and a previous victory over the Penrith Panthers in Round 8. However, history weighs heavily on their shoulders, as they haven’t defeated the Sharks at this venue since 2019, losing five of their last six encounters against their southern rivals.
Sea Eagles coach Anthony Seibold has made some strategic changes to his lineup, confirming that Tommy Talau will miss the match due to hamstring tightness. His place on the bench will be taken by Clayton Faulalo. In a boost for the Sea Eagles, inspirational forward Jake Trbojevic has cleared concussion protocols and will start at prop, while Jazz Tevaga retains his position at lock. Additionally, winger Jason Saab returns to the squad after missing the previous game due to an ankle injury, providing a much-needed offensive threat.
On the other side, the Sharks are coming off a confidence-boosting win over the Eels during the Magic Round. Halfback Nicho Hynes is keen to lead his team to a second consecutive victory. The Sharks have also made a late change, with prop Tom Hazelton moving into the starting lineup in a swap with Oregon Kaufusi, who will now come off the interchange bench.
As the teams prepare for the showdown, both coaches have emphasized the importance of this match. Seibold remarked, "We know we have to be at our best to take on a strong Sharks side, especially given our recent history against them." Meanwhile, Hynes expressed confidence in his team’s ability to build on their recent success, stating, "We’re ready to go and aim for another win to keep our momentum going."
Kick-off is scheduled for 4:05 PM AEST, and fans can catch the action live on Nine, Nine Now, Foxtel, and Kayo. The Sea Eagles will be looking to leverage their home ground advantage, but the Sharks have proven to be a formidable opponent, especially with their recent form.
Statistically, the Sea Eagles captain Daly Cherry-Evans has joined the all-time top 10 for premiership appearances, adding to the significance of this matchup. Furthermore, Sharks fullback William Kennedy has scored five tries in his last six games against Manly, while Sea Eagles fullback Tom Trbojevic has found the try line seven times in his last seven outings against the Sharks.
With both teams boasting talented rosters and a fierce rivalry, this match promises to be an exciting encounter that could have significant implications for both sides as they vie for playoff positions. The Sea Eagles will need to harness their historical home-field advantage if they hope to overcome the Sharks and secure a vital victory in the Women in League Round.
As the clock ticks down to kick-off, anticipation builds among the fans, who are eager to see if the Sea Eagles can finally break their losing streak against the Sharks at 4 Pines Park. Will they rise to the occasion and reclaim their home advantage, or will the Sharks continue their dominance over Manly? Only time will tell as both teams prepare to battle it out on the field.
