Our Sunday double in Anzac Round kicked off in Newcastle where the table-topping Panthers continued their sensational start to 2026 with a 44-12 win over the Knights.
The Panthers had a host of stars, none better than fullback Dylan Edwards (273 run metres and three tries) and Paul Alamoti (11 tackle breaks and 204 run metres), while Brian To’o grabbed a double and broke 10 tackles.
From there we head to Sydney’s northern beaches for the latest instalment in the Sea Eagles-Eels rivalry with both sides coming off wins and keen to build on that momentum.
Manly are three from three and riding high under interim head coach Kieran Foran but the loss of superstar Tom Trbojevic to a hamstring injury will test their resilience.
Likewise the Eels are being tested by an injury crisis of their own but with Mitch Moses and Josh Addo-Carr showing the way they pulled off a stunning upset over the Bulldogs last Sunday.
Follow all the action from Round 8 of the NRL Telstra Premiership on NRL.com’s live blog.
Sea Eagles v Eels at 4 Pines Park
Late Mail
Sea Eagles: No late changes for Manly on game day. Tom Trbojevic’s hamstring injury has prompted a minor backline reshuffle, with Tolu Koula slotting into the No.1 jumper. Clayton Faulalo will line up in the centres as a result. Emerging centre Josh Feledy could make his second appearance of the year after coming on to the six-man bench. Jake Trbojevic will play in his 100th game at 4 Pines Park. Centre Reuben Garrick has scored 13 tries in 14 games against the Eels.
Eels: A late switch with Jack de Belin into the starting side and Dylan Walker shifting to the bench. Centre Sean Russell and back-rower Kelma Tuilagi complete their returns from concussions and will take their place in the team. Eels winger Josh Addo-Carr has scored four tries in his last five games.
Numbers Game
The Sea Eagles have won six of their last seven games against the Eels at 4 Pines Park.
Eels winger Josh Addo-Carr has scored four tries in his last five games.
Sea Eagles centre Reuben Garrick has scored 13 tries in 14 games against the Eels.
The Eels have conceded an average of 35 points per game in 2026.
Sea Eagles lock Jake Trbojevic will make his 100th appearance at 4 Pines Park.
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Pre-match ceremonies: Knights v Panthers, ANZAC Round, 2026
Knights v Panthers at McDonald Jones Stadium
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NRL Press Conference: Knights v Panthers – Round 8, 2026
Total domination: The Panthers racked up 2077 run metres to 1305 metres for the Knights. The line break tally was 10 to 3 and the tackle breaks ran 63-33 in favour of the Panthers.
Full-time: For the fourth time in eight games this season the Panthers have topped 40 points as they take their record to 7-1. After eight rounds last year the Panthers were last on the ladder with a 2-6 record. Fast forward 12 months and they are 7-1 and dominating the 2026 premiership.
77 min: A wild offload from Trey Mooney 10 metres out from his own line is intercepted by Izack Tago who scores. Nathan Cleary bangs over his sixth conversion. Panthers 44-12
77 min: The Panthers threaten to cross for an eighth try but Lindsay Smith puts the ball down.
74 min: Blaize Talagi tries to find Thomas Jenkins to keep his tryscoring streak going but the ball goes behind the winger and into touch.
73 min: Fletcher Hunt is again man-handled by the Panthers defence and bundled over the sideline.
69 min: Nathan Cleary goes high, James Schiller puts it down, the ball falls to Izack Tago who flicks it on to Brian To’o and the winger has a double. That’s 18 career doubles for To’o. The conversion from Nathan Cleary is again off target. Panthers 38-12
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Brian To’o Try
65 min: Dylan Edwards dances around a defender and throws a long ball that is collected on the bounce by Brian To’o who crosses for his sixth try in five games at McDonald Jones Stadium. Nathan Cleary pushes the conversion to the right. Panthers 34-12
60 min: Brian To’o makes plenty of metres and the ball is kept alive to Nathan Cleary who hears a call for a pass but it’s Pasami Saulo who tricks the Panthers No.7 and comes away with the ball.
57 min: Fletcher Hunt is bundled towards touch and tries to get an offload away but the ball rolls into touch and the Panthers come away.
56 min: James Schiller makes up for his previous mistake with a great catch on a Nathan Cleary bomb and a 20-metre run to boot.
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Dylan Brown Try
53 min: A sensational solo try from Dylan Brown who dummies his way past Freddy Lussick and backs his pace to go 60 metres and dot down for his first try as a Knight. Sandon Smith converts. Panthers 30-12
51 min: A spilled bomb by James Schiller invites the Panthers into the red zone again but the defence stands tall and Luke Garner puts the ball down on the last tackle.
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Freddy Lussick Try
49 min: Freddy Lussick takes a dart out of dummy half and manages to get the ball down despite the efforts of Jacob Saifiti and Harrison Graham to hold him up. Nathan Cleary converts from right in front. Panthers 30-6
48 min: A mistake by Harrison Graham at dummy half puts the Knights under the pump again.
47 min: The Panthers go to the left edge on the last tackle and Thomas Jenkins chips ahead but Fletcher Sharpe takes the catch.
45 min: Concerted pressure from the Panthers with Nathan Cleary grubbering on the last tackle but Dylan Brown is on hand to clean up.
Powerful Paul: Panthers centre Paul Alamoti was a constant danger on the right edge with eight tackle breaks and 102 run metres. In total the Panthers racked up 987 run metres compared to 636 for the Knights.
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What a run by Alamoti
Half-time: The Panthers had 57 per cent of possession and made five line breaks to one as they set up a commanding 18-point lead. Fullback Dylan Edwards stole the show with three tries, 179 run metres, two line breaks and five tackle breaks.
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Phoenix Crossland Try
37 min: Phoenix Crossland surges on to a pass from Harrison Graham from close range and gets the ball down despite Scott Sorensen’s best efforts to hold him up. Sandon Smith adds the extras. Panthers 24-6
35 min: Trey Mooney puts the ball down to squander a Knights opportunity but Dylan Edwards returns the favour and Newcastle get another chance.
34 min: Isaiah Papalii is penalised and placed on report for a crusher tackle.
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Nathan Cleary Try
30 min: Paul Alamoti beats three defenders on a charge down the right edge before Nathan Cleary takes the first pass off the ruck and powers through the defence from close range to grab the Panthers’ fourth try. Cleary converts his own try. Panthers 24-0
28 min: A grubber from Dane Gagai forces Dylan Edwards back to his own line but the fullback collects calmly and brings the Panthers out of trouble.
25 min: Jacob Saifiti leaves the field for a HIA after a head clash with teammate Trey Mooney as they tried to make a tackle. Saifiti passes the assessment and is able to return.
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Dylan Edwards 2nd Try
20 min: Chalk up a second career hat-trick for Dylan Edwards after a Moses Leota charge puts the Panthers on the attack and they keep the ball alive through Lindsay Smith and Isaah Yeo, who delivers the final pass for his fullback to score. Nathan Cleary converts. Panthers 18-0
19 min: Sandon Smith launches an enormous spiral bomb, Dylan Edwards allows it to bounce, the ball goes dead. Seven-tackle set for the Panthers.
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Dylan Edwards 3rd Try
16 min: Dylan Edwards makes it a double after scooping up a loose ball deep in his own territory and sprinting 70 metres to score. The mistake was made by Fletcher Hunt on the left edge and Edwards pounced. Nathan Cleary adds the extras. Panthers 12-0
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Dylan Edwards Try
13 min: On the back of 66 per cent of possession the Panthers strike through Dylan Edwards who crosses courtesy of a deft short pass from Moses Leota. Nathan Cleary converts. Panthers 6-0
11 min: The Knights hold firm again as Luke Garner makes an error just short of the tryline.
10 min: Blaize Talagi goes to the air and Fletcher Sharpe fails to control the catch. Panthers scrum 10 metres out.
9 min: Great online defence from the Knights as they scramble well to hold Thomas Jenkins up over the line.
7 min: An error by Francis Manuleleua coming out of his own end has the Knights under more heat on their own line.
6 min: Freddy Lussick grubbers into the in goal, Fletcher Sharpe cleans up, the Knights go the short dropout and Fletcher Hunt comes up with a catch to get the Knights the ball.
4 min: Another tough moment for Fletcher Sharpe as he is man-handled by the defence and comes up with a knock on as tries to get a pass away before he is dragged into touch.
2 min: Nathan Cleary’s first high ball of the afternoon sails close to the sideline and Fletcher Sharpe allows it to bounce. The ball hits the Knights No.1 and goes into touch to hand the Panthers a scrum feed 20 metres out.
Late Mail
Knights: Pasami Saulo has been promoted to the starting side on game day with Trey Mooney going to the bench. Greg Marzhew has been ruled out due to a concussion, with James Schiller taking his place. Former Tiger and Panther Asu Kepaoa is part of the six-man bench and could make his club debut. Dom Young will make his 100th NRL appearance. Knights fullback Fletcher Sharpe has scored 14 tries in 12 games at McDonald Jones Stadium. Lachlan Crouch and Wilson de Courcey dropped out of the squad 24 hours before kick-off.
Panthers: The Panthers are 1-19 with no changes on game day. Casey McLean’s return from suspension will see Izack Tago shift to the six-man bench, while Freddy Lussick has won the race to replace injured hooker Mitch Kenny. Jack Cogger is a new face on the interchange. Panthers winger Brian To’o has scored seven tries in eight games against the Knights. Luron Patea and John Fonua made way on Saturday when the squad was trimmed to 20.
Numbers Game
The Knights have won only one of their last eight games at McDonald Jones Stadium.
The Panthers have won eight of their last nine games against the Knights.
Knights fullback Fletcher Sharpe has scored 14 tries in 12 games at McDonald Jones Stadium.
Panthers winger Brian To’o has scored seven tries in eight games against the Knights.
Knights winger Dominic Young will make his 100th NRL appearance.