NRL 2026, Witzer Pre-Season Challenge, Live Blog, Charity Shield, Late Mail

Full-time: A young Sea Eagles squad has shocked the Warriors to claim an impressive 33-18 Pre-Season Challenge victory in Napier. Emerging halfback Joey Walsh was superb and putting the finishing touches on the win with a field goal as time expired, while five-eighth Onitoni Large was also dangerous with ball in hand. Teenage prop Simione Laiafi was dominant up front and ran for more than 150 metres to help lay the platform for his team. There were glimpses of brilliance from the Warriors, but ball security let them down and they struggled to build pressure throughout the match. Warriors 18 - Sea Eagles 33.

78th minute: The Sea Eagles have slammed the door shut on the Warriors' comeback attempt, forcing an error in the set after the kick off. From there, they went to work on attack and Zaidas Muagututia darted from dummy half to burrow his way over the line and seal an impressive victory. Warriors 18 - Sea Eagles 32

75th minute: The comeback is well and truly on, with the Warriors coming home with a wet sail. A quick play the ball provided a chance for hooker Makaia Tafua to run from dummy half and he stepped his way past multiple defenders to slam the ball down out wide. Harry Inch's conversion attempt clattered into the post and the hosts need two tries in less than five minutes to pull off a miraculous comeback. Warriors 18 - Sea Eagles 26.

71st minute: The Warriors are back in this as they attempt a late comeback, with Harry Tauafiafi-Iutoi latching on to a superb cutout pass to cross in the corner. With less than 10 minutes remaining, time is against the hosts but they are playing with plenty of confidence. Warriors 14 - Sea Eagles 26.

67th minute: It's the Warriors turn to lodge a Captain's Challenge after they were penalised for a player picking up a loose ball in an offside position. The ball was deflected forward by a Manly player in a tackle, negating the offside ruling. It's a successful challenge and the Warriors have an attacking scrum, 10-metres out from the try-line. Warriors 10 - Sea Eagles 26.

63rd minute: Another Captain's Challenge by the Sea Eagles, with Navren Willett calling for a strip. The referee ruled a knock on but the Bunker has determined the Warriors defender stripped the ball out. A big let off for the visitors and they will go on the attack as conditions deteriorate in Napier. Warriors 10 - Sea Eagles 26.

60th minute: Blake Wilson has picked up a loose ball and raced 55 metres to the try-line but it looks like the Bunker will take a closer look at this. The Manly winger jammed in to force an error by Warriors centre Caelys-Paul Putoko, the ball bounced off Wilson before he got to his feet, picked up the loose ball and scampered away. The Bunker has reviewed the footage and it bounced off the winger's legs, with the try confirmed. The four-pointer came out of nowhere, with the Warriors starting to build some pressure on their opponents before the error occurred. Warriors 10 - Sea Eagles 26.

46th minute: Now it's Manly's time to lodge a Captain's Challenge after the ball popped out of Jackson-Levi Shereb-Schmidt's hands while two Warriors defenders were laying on top of him. There looked to be a Warriors hand forcing the ball out and the Bunker agrees with Manly, awarding the visitors a penalty for a strip. The Sea Eagles have another chance to attack. Warriors 10 - Sea Eagles 20.

44th minute: It's a dream start for the Sea Eagles, who received a penalty to go straight on to the attack. Joey Walsh is again in the thick of the action, producing a grubber that looked short off the boot. It turned out to be perfectly placed, with Hugo Hart getting down low to scoop the ball up and score his second try of the day. Warriors 10 - Sea Eagles 20.

Kick-off: The second half is underway, with the Warriors eager to keep the momentum rolling after scoring in the final play of the first half. Coach Andrew Webster has turned to his bench, handing a number of his top players a rest, while the Sea Eagles have largely stuck with the side that impressed in the opening 40 minutes. Warriors 10 - Sea Eagles 16.

Half-time: The Warriors have the final say of the first half, with five-eighth Luke Hanson launching another bomb towards Manly winger Navren Willett. The youngster soared through the air but was unable to complete the catch, the ball fell straight into Ali Leiataua's breadbasket and he scored his second of the day. It was an intriguing half of football, with the Warriors controlling the first 30 minutes but unable to capitalise on the territorial advantage. A young Manly side eventually settled into the contest to jump out to a 12-point lead before Leiataua's try narrowed the margin to six at the break. Warriors 10 - Sea Eagles 16.

35th minute: The Sea Eagles have taken flight in the past few minutes and they have their third of the afternoon. The wet weather hasn't prevented them from throwing the ball around, with halves Onitoni Large and Joey Walsh linking up on the righthand side before Walsh through a cutout ball to Blake Wilson. The winger passed back inside before he was bundled into touch and Clayton Faulalo was there in support to score the try. Warriors 4 - Sea Eagles 16.

31st minute: Manly have spent much of the last 10 minutes inside their own half, but once they get into attacking territory they have capitalised immediately. Joey Walsh produced a pinpoint bomb, the ball was tapped back by winger Navren Willett and Hugo Hart was on the spot to gather the loose ball and extend his side's lead. Warriors 4 - Sea Eagles 12.

27th minute: The Sea Eagles are chancing their arm and throwing the ball around, but the wet conditions is making handling challenging. Manly have eight errors to hand the Warriors repeated attacking opportunities. The visitors, however, have been up to the task defensively and just successfully repelled another Warriors set of six to maintain a two-point lead. Warriors 4 - Sea Eagles 6.

19th minute: The hosts have lodged the first Captain's Challenge of the day after referee Ashley Klein ruled a knock on by Tanah Boyd. The halfback was attempting to latch on to a Jackson Ford offload amid traffic from the Manly defenders. Boyd is convinced the ball did not touch his finger, with the Sea Eagles eventually kicking the loose ball dead. The replays are unclear, the Bunker has ruled the on-field decision will stand and the Warriors retain their challenge. Warriors 4 - Sea Eagles 6.

18th minute: The Warriors forward pack has aimed up in the past few minutes and Jackson Ford has forced an error with a dominant tackle to earn his side an attacking set of six. It's not all positive for the host, with prop Demitric Vaimauga leaving the field for an HIA after copping a knock in a tackle. Warriors 4 - Sea Eagles 6.

12th minute: The Manly youngster have steadily found their feet, with halves Onitoni Large and Joey Walsh moving the ball around and taking on the defensive line. A well-placed Walsh bomb earnt a repeat set before dummy half Brandon Wakeham linked up with a charging Paul Bryan who ran a superb line and scored the try. Warriors 4 - Sea Eagles 6.

5th minute: It's been an end-to-end start to this contest and it's the Warriors who strike first. Ball handling is proving challenging in wet conditions in Napier, with Tanah Boyd launching a cross-field bomb that was always going to be hard to handle. Manly winger Navren Willett spilled the ball, Ali Leiataua scooped it up and put his side in front. Warriors 4 - Sea Eagles 0.

Kick-off: We are underway in Napier, with the Warriors rolling out a star-studded squad for their opening Pre-Season crash of the year. Manly fans will get a glimpse into the future, with coach Anthony Seibold fielding a youthful squad led by emerging halves Joey Walsh and Onitoni Large. It's a dream start for the hosts, with Demitric Vaimauga charging off the back fence and earning his side a penalty in the opening tackle of the game. Warriors 0 - Sea Eagles 0.

Late Mail: Both teams have been forced into changes after midweek injuries, with the Warriors losing Roger Tuivasa-Sheck to a hamstring injury. Motu Pasikala replaces the veteran on the wing, with Jacob Auloa the new face in the squad. Sea Eagles lock Caleb Navale has also been ruled out after tearing his ACL during the week, prompting a minor reshuffle. Corey Waddell moves from the backrow to lock, with Hugo Hart coming into the starting side in the second row. Tom Summer has been added to the extended bench in jumper No.21.

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