NRL Round 2 - Sea Eagles Vs Knights - 4:05pm Sunday, 15th March - 4 Pines Park, Brookvale

Brad tighe said:
npopular opinion but I think Matt Croker has really come of age this year. He was our best forward today. Held that middle and cleaned up a lot of ***
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jamesgould said:
Great performance! I was watching from my brother’s birthday gathering, so couldn’t comment on here … but very impressed that we controlled the game in the second half and didn’t fall to pieces as I was 80% expecting.

Seriously Manly though, they rolled through us at times and really should have thrown a lot more at us in that second half. Almost looked like us last year, that was a putrid performance.

Was impressed with how Hunt stepped up, for me another good performance from a young squad member. Croker has looked much improved this year, is he turning a corner? Ponga and Brown both looked fantastic before going off. And Smith really controlled things beautifully in that second half. Was impressed by Graham on debut for us, as well. Looks like a good pick-up.

Attack is playing with so much more freedom … and it really helped us control that game in the second half. Can just imagine if it was last year, predictable set after predictable set, struggling up field 40 metres and ending up defending every set on our line. Great to see the turnaround.

Warriors will be tough, but our first game at home, and their first game away … hopefully our mindset is that we will make it damn tough for them!!
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what I loved was that we executed on a lot of our opportunity’s that manly gave us through their poor play in the first half !

I think when manly were throwing late offloads and running straight out of dummy half they were steaming through us, getting within our 20m line a lot within a small period of the game. So the boys definitely need to work on controlling the ruck and wrapping the ball to stop this, especially against teams like the wahs.

Agreed all the blokes that came on because of injuries played well and one knock ive always had on Crocker is that when he gets fatigued he always seemed to get caught out on defence which would lead to a big break or a try but he seems to have cleaned it up this year.

I think next week against the wahs is an opportunity for us to ambush them at home, We had a lot of stars out for that heartbreaker against them at home and I reckon we are fielding a better line up then we did in that game last year. If we perform well in that game I could see us as strong contenders for the 8
 
Brad tighe said:
Unpopular opinion but I think Matt Croker has really come of age this year. He was our best forward today. Held that middle and cleaned up a lot of ****.
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I agree. He’s finally being given the role that suits him which is to play long minutes and do a bit of everything without being a massive impact player. Under AOB he seemed to come off the bench for shirts stints and be expected to skittle people but that’s not him.
 
Thieves Like Us said:
I agree. He’s finally being given the role that suits him which is to play long minutes and do a bit of everything without being a massive impact player. Under AOB he seemed to come off the bench for shirts stints and be expected to skittle people but that’s not him.
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Yep that’s what I mean when I say he’s got the Bellyache glow up. Craig always identifies these guys. He would have picked Crokes for this job in zero seconds flat.
 
Seano said:
So proud of that effort. Manly were red hot favourties and we led from the start.

Great to see a Newcastle team full of resilience and not afraid of their own shadows as they were under AOB.

And I don't miss the constant impossible crash plays.
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And this Knights team look like they are enjoying the game and each others company.
Love the energy and spring in their step.
They look like a top 8 team so far in 2026.
 
sherpa said:
Tremendous win and I can't help but think Manly thought we would fold in the second half and it was a mere formality that they would win. The difference in attitude in this team compared to last year is unbelievable.
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Yeah im glad the players didn't have the attitude of many on here death riding us.

The teams change in mentality under Holbrook is stark. So much tougher already. Last week went cows drew even and we power through. This week with injuries and we stick to our guns.

I cant be happier with this side from an effort and teamwork point of view. A few soft tries that I hope we sort out, thats the only thing thats not as great a last year, but it was also the only thing we did well last year.
 
Defence wins games said:
Why are people watching Fox when game is televised on 9?
If I have to watch on Fox, mute allows me to enjoy the game.
Fox commentators are all bigoted against teams they have had no involvement in.
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I don’t when I get the chance. No one there stands out and makes it a must watch for mine, or adds to the viewing pleasure. Just a bunch of overpaid personalities.
Especially if Vossy/Blocker etc are on then 9 is an auto watch for me
 
Great kick from Fogarty into Kalyn throwing a somewhat risky pass so Dom takes the first tough carry. Brown hares back into dummy half to put Gagai one pass wide running out of the in goal with momentum so he can more easily work middle rather than taking a dummy half carry where he’d probably get smashed. Marzhew is in place for play 3 where he picks out Jake Simpkin in the line and wins a lightning fast play the ball. They pull the trigger immediately down the short side and Bradman runs straight through a flat footed Reuben Garrick. Kalyn was cheap shotted off the ball two plays earlier but has swung all the way around to be in support.

From being trapped in our own end to a length of the field try in 3 plays.

Different footy team.
 
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