Sea Eagles vs Dolphins Prediction: Points, points, points at 4 Pines Park

At 4 Pines Park on Saturday there comes a clash between two sides with great hopes of making a late burst into the NRL Premiership finals but displaying none of the form needed to do so. Manly Sea Eagles host the Dolphins at 15:00 local (06:00 BST) with both sides needing a serious lift to reach the top eight.

With just three weeks of the regular season left, my Sea Eagles vs Dolphins predictions will have to take into account horrific recent results for both. They follow, alongside comprehensive team news and Betfred’s full match odds.

Sea Eagles vs Dolphins Odds

Congratulations, first of all, to the Betfred traders. Anyone taking a stab at pricing up this game deserves a medal, with the Sea Eagles on a run of four straight losses – including two 40-plus shellackings – and the Dolphins having shipped 102 points in two games.

The aforementioned oddsmakers have Manly as narrow favourites at 5/6, with the Dolphins 1/1 for the 80-minute win.

Given recent form, could a draw in normal time be on the cards? That’s on the table at 18/1.

The standard two-way handicap is tight as a drum too. The Dolphins are handed just a half-point start for the narrowing of their odds to 5/6. Against the edge, the Sea Eagles are 10/11.

Team News

Tommy Talau comes in for the start at centre for Manly with Reuben Garrick out due to a shoulder problem. Aaron Schoupp moves up to the bench.

There’s still no Jake Trbojevic, who could actually miss the rest of the 2025 schedule after suffering a head issue in the Round 23 loss to the league-leading Canberra Raiders.

Dolphins coach Kristian Woolf has Francis Molo and Felise Kaufusi back in contention following bans, and with both set to start it will mean Mark Nicholls coming off the bench. Aublix Tawha makes way.

Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow slots back in at full-back due to Max Feagai’s return at centre after a shoulder injury. Trai Fuller is on the bench and Ray Stone will be the 18th player.

Rugby League Odds

Sea Eagles Over 26.5 Points @ 13/10

There should be some points in this one.

The 51.29 points per game in Dolphins matches this season is the highest average in the NRL, and their extraordinary defeats in the last two weeks – 64-12 to the Roosters and 38-28 at the Broncos – suggest that defences won’t be on top on Saturday.

And while Manly haven’t been among the highest scorers this term – they’re 13th on 20.48 ppg – they certainly have the ability to strike at will if given the kind of spaces the Dolphins have offered up of late.

The Sea Eagles were impressive 58-18 winners in the first meeting of these sides two years ago, and even in defeat last term they almost hit this marker when losing 30-24.

I am on Manly for the win here, with a late chance to ‘Push It Up’ towards the top eight the ultimate prize for a victory.

They might need a fairly big score to get it done given their defensive issues of late, but I can see them achieving that against a heavily-punctured Dolphins line.

Sea Eagles by 1-12 @ 23/10

As mentioned, Manly might need those 26.5-plus points to get over the line. They are averaging almost 22 against in games this season, with the Dolphins shipping more than 23.

Even if this one gets out of hand defensively, this ought to be a classic slugfest. Think a reversal of last year’s 30-24, or something along the lines of the Fins’ 38-28 loss in Brisbane last week.

Remarkably, that was the fourth time in 2025 that Woolf’s side have tallied 20 or more and still lost by 1-12. So I’m backing Manly to do it by two scores or less at 23/10 and an implied probability of 30.3%.

You can read all our latest Rugby League Betting Tips at our dedicated Betfred Insights Rugby League content hub.