NRL 2026 LIVE updates: Olakau’atu scores a double as Origin selections near
It’s an Origin audition for a number of players tonight, including Tom Trbojevic and Haumole Olakau’atu, as the Sea Eagles host the Storm in Brookvale. Follow all the action.
Key Posts
Leo knocked out as Melbourne scramble
Olakau’atu scores as Origin selections near
Storm team list: no Howarth tonight
Sea Eagles team list: Bullemor moved to the bench
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Oh no.
It’s bad news for Moses Leo, who is knocked out by Haumole Olakau’atu on the first carry from the kick-off.
Leo is able to walk off the field, but that was some heavy contact. He’s off for a head injury assessment, and we definitely won’t see him again tonight.
Moses Leo is taken from the field after suffering a concussion.Getty Images
Trent Toelau comes onto the field for Melbourne. He moves to halfback and Tyran Wishart is pushed into the centres.
Sea Eagles 12, Storm 0 after 13 minutes
Manly are delivering tonight. Well, Haumole Olakau’atu is delivering tonight.
Once again the Sea Eagles No.11 storm across to score – running between Moses Leo and Cooper Clarke to get his second tonight.
Sea Eagles 12, Storm 0 after 12 minutes
We get our first biff.
It’s Luke Brooks and Siulagi Tuimalatu-Brown who grab each other’s jerseys, but it starts because Jake Simpkin throws Moses Leo into touch.
Calm down guys, there’s a lot more football tonight.
Sea Eagles 6, Storm 0 after 10 minutes
Manly goes bang.
Of course, it’s everyone’s favourite No.11 Haumole Olakau’atu, who charges across untouched to score the opener tonight.
The opportunity comes after Manly force a goal-line drop out and get the ball back from a short kick.
Jason Saab should have scores a tackle earlier, but Josh Feledy didn’t feel like passing (he probably should have).
Not to worry though, Olakau’atu is given the short ball and scores right between Stefano Utoikamanu and Sua Fa’alogo.
Not a bad start for a player who had his Blues jersey taken away a couple of weeks ago...
Sea Eagles 6, Storm 0 after eight minutes
We have our first penalty of the night, and it goes the way of the Sea Eagles.
The official ruling: a disruptor.
Will Warbrick jumps for the ball, but he doesn’t have eyes for it. Penalty Manly.
Sea Eagles 0, Storm 0 after four minutes
It’s on and off rain here in Brookvale, but the Manly fans are out in force to boo the Melbourne Storm tonight.
It’s Jake and Tom Trbojevic who lead the team out, with Jake swapping his fluorescent beanie (for brain cancer awareness) for his bobbly headgear.
Melbourne’s Sua Fa’alogo gets things under way with the kick-off and Jason Saab slips after taking the kick-off but manages to keep hold of the ball.
Sea Eagles 0, Storm 0 with 80 minutes to go
Time to catch up on some rugby league news.
It’s been an interesting day for the Bulldogs (and Melbourne), with centre Bronson Xerri poised to take up a three-year deal with the Melbourne Storm after knocking back an offer from Parramatta.
Bronson Xerri will join the Storm.Getty Images
The Storm want to secure Xerri before the June 30 transfer window, but the Bulldogs’ depth in the outside backs is being tested and they are likely to knock back the request.
A rib injury sustained by Jacob Kiraz in the Bulldogs Friday night win over the Gold Coast has harmed Xerri’s chances of an immediate release. The Storm didn’t have a suitable player to propose for a swap arrangement.
Breaking news: Manly have a marching band here tonight. For what reason? I have no idea.
AAP reporter and brass band enthusiast Jasper Bruce who is sitting next to me in the press box says we have ourselves a few sousaphones – a tuba, but it wraps around the body.
It’s a strange set-up, because the Melbourne players are practically on top of the poor band as they continue to practice their tackling ... let’s hope they don’t take out one of our trumpet players.
We will see if we can get some photos for you because, why not?
First up we get Larger Than Life by the Backstreet Boys. Now, it’s Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes.
Jack Howarth is moved out of Craig Bellamy’s team tonight, with Siulagi Tuimalatu-Brown now joining Joe Chan in the centres.
1. Sua Faalogo, 2. Will Warbrick, 4. Joe Chan, 19. Siulagi Tuimalatu-Brown, 5. Moses Leo, 6. Cameron Munster, 7. Tyran Wishart, 8. Stefano Utoiakamanu, 9. Harry Grant (c), 10. Josh King, 11. Cooper Clarke, 12. Ativalu Lisati, 13. Trent Loiero
Interchange: 14. Trent Toelau, 15. Jack Hetherington, 16. Josiah Pahulu, 17. Alec McDonald, 18. Shawn Blore, 21. Stanley Huen
Storm playmaker Cameron Munster.Getty Images
Just the one change for Kieran Foran’s team, with Simione Laiafi moved to starting prop and Ethan Bullemor shifted to the bench.
1. Tom Trbojevic (c), 2. Jason Saab, 3. Tolutau Koula, 4. Josh Feledy, 5. Lehi Hopoate, 6. Luke Brooks, 7. Jamal Fogarty, 8. Taniela Paseka, 9. Jake Simpkin, 16. Simione Laiafi, 11. Haumole Olakau’atu, 12. Ben Trbojevic, 13. Jake Trbojevic
Interchange: 10. Ethan Bullemor, 14. Joey Walsh, 15. Nathan Brown, 17. Aaron Schoupp, 18. Blake Wilson, 20. Hugo Hart
Sea Eagles captain Tom Trbojevic. Getty Images