Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
· collected 2026-08-28 · by Christian Nicolussi
The Manly Sea Eagles defeated the St George Illawarra Dragons 44-10 on Friday evening at 4 Pines Park, keeping their slim finals hopes alive. The key to their victory was their strong performance, with Haumole Olakau'atu and Tom Trbojevic playing well despite Trbojevic being two games back from a hamstring injury. However, the article's focus is on the missed moment of Nathan Brown launching himself off the back fence in celebration of his 200th NRL game, which was foiled when he dropped the ball. The Sea Eagles have one more game to secure a finals spot, against the New Zealand Warriors next weekend.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-28,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
The Manly Sea Eagles defeated the St George Illawarra Dragons 44-10 on Friday evening to keep their slim finals hopes alive. The win puts Manly in a good position to qualify for the finals next weekend, but only if they beat the New Zealand Warriors and one of either the South Sydney Rabbitohs or the North Queensland Cowboys lose both of their remaining games. The Sea Eagles have been impressive with players like Haumole Olakau'atu, who is a force to be reckoned with when he's in full flight, and Clayton Faulalo, who scored a try and set up three others. However, the game was marred by a missed opportunity for fans, as the team failed to score on the kick-off following a significant milestone for player Nathan Brown, who was playing his 200th NRL game at home before retiring next year. The crowd of 13,957 supporters inside 4 Pines Park gave Brown a standing ovation, but the moment didn't translate into points on the scoreboard.
Written for “Rugby League Match Report” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
This article does not take a side on a contested political
question, so it has no leaning score. That is an
answer rather than a gap: a match report or a rescue can be warmly
or critically written without being left or right, and scoring it
anyway is how approval of a subject gets recorded as a political
position.
No political leaning scored for article 3084 · logged 2026-08-28
The one thing Manly fans were looking forward to didn’t happen on Friday evening.
asserted
fans → look → evening
The Sea Eagles thumped a woeful St George Illawarra 44-10 to keep their slim finals hopes alive.
asserted
Eagles → thump → hopes
Manly simply need to beat the New Zealand Warriors next weekend and rely on South Sydney or the Cowboys losing both of their final two games to qualify.
asserted
Sydney → need → games
The Sea Eagles have the firepower and confidence to cause some headaches should they make it to September.
asserted
they → have → September
Who would want to stop Haumole Olakau’atu in full flight?
asserted
Who → want → flight
Tom Trbojevic is two games back from a hamstring injury and also bound to strip fitter.
And what about Clayton Faulolo, who bagged a try, set up another three and is proving arguably the best utility on the northern beaches?
asserted
who → bind → beaches
But the 13,957 supporters inside 4 Pines Park one last time this season, including members of the club’s 1996 premiership team, rose to their feet for the kick-off in the 74th minute when Nathan Brown was ready to launch himself off the back fence.
asserted
Brown → include → fence
Brown was playing his 200th NRL game and his last at home before finishing his career in the Super League next year.
asserted
Brown → play → League
What Brown lacks in size he makes up for in heart, and quickly earned the reputation for his kick-off carries, not to mention the nickname “Back-fence Brown”.
The TV cameras captured Brown’s eyes light up when the Dragons kicked to his side of the field.
asserted
Dragons → lack → field
The Italian international started to steam on to the ball, got excited, then realised the pass from Jamal Fogarty was never coming because he had dropped the ball.
asserted
he → start → ball
Brown let out a giant sigh, as did the supporters.
asserted
supporters → let → sigh
It was a shame, but it was never going to change the result.
asserted
it → go → result
As is the case every year, Manly are the one club teams above them probably do not want to meet in the finals.
asserted
teams → want → finals
The Sea Eagles were given a standing ovation when they led 26-0 at the break against a Dragons side that completed only 10 of their 15 sets.
asserted
that → give → sets
Things did not improve for the men wearing red and white in the second half.
asserted
Things → improve → half
Lehi Hopoate opened the scoring when he caught a lovely cutout pass from Faulalo, then Jason Saab had an early double on the other wing, courtesy of a lovely chip kick from Brandon Wakeham, and a decent grubber from Jamal Fogarty.
When Saab and Reuben Garrick combined for a long-range try the next set from the kick-off, the Sea Eagles were posting a point a minute.
asserted
Eagles → open → point
Even Trbojevic got in on the act when powering over in the left corner to seal the result after just half an hour.
asserted
Trbojevic → get → hour
Trbojevic dropped a couple of high balls, and when receiving an encouraging cheer from the locals when he finally caught one late in the first half, he raised his left hand and gave them the thumbs up before charging into the line.
asserted
he → drop → line
Laughter rang out around the ground.
asserted
Laughter → ring → ground
Dean Young would not have been giggling in the Dragons’ coaches’ box.
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Young → giggle → box
The Dragons will finish with the wooden spoon.
asserted
Dragons → finish → spoon
At least they have recruited well and have plenty to get excited about in 2027.
asserted
they → recruit → 2027
Daniel Atkinson had a rough night at fullback, spilling a couple, and then being trampled over by Olakau’atu when he scored a brilliant solo try
asserted
he → spill → try
If Manly tank, they will rue a few tight losses, including golden-point defeats to Canterbury and the Cowboys.
asserted
they → tank → Canterbury
It is still a success, considering they dropped their opening three games, sacked coach Anthony Seibold, then eventually appointed one of their favourite sons, Kieran Foran, to succeed him.
asserted
one → consider → him
Onitoni Large made his debut with 20 minutes remaining, and was given a warm embrace by Trbojevic as he took the field.
asserted
he → make → field
Still, Brown hitting the Dragons’ defensive line at top speed would have been better.
asserted
hitting → hit → speed
