The Sea Eagles will host their inaugural home game of the season at Brookvale, where they will face off against the South Sydney Rabbitohs. The Round One matchup is scheduled to begin at 3pm on Saturday, March 9 at 4 Pines Park.
Under Wayne Lambkin’s leadership, the team aims to continue the momentum gained from winning six of their last seven matches in the 2023 season. This momentum carried them to a thrilling 24-22 defeat against the Canberra Raiders in Week One of the Finals.
Much like their Jersey Flegg counterparts, the NSW Cup team has faced challenges in opening round matches in recent years. They suffered defeats in 2023 (36-16 loss to the Bulldogs) and 2022 (24-4 loss to the Panthers). The last victory in an opening round came in 2021 when they triumphed over the North Sydney Bears, with Manly prop Toafofoa Sipley scoring two tries in the win. Josh Schuster played at halfback, while the robust second-rower Haumole Olakau’atu was also part of the lineup.
The Rabbitohs claimed victory in both encounters during 2023, securing bragging rights with a 26-12 win in Round Four at Accor Stadium and a 30-16 victory in the return fixture at 4 Pines Park in Round 17. Winger Raymond Tuaimalo Vaega, hooker Gordon Chan Kum Tong, and winger Clayton Faulalo contributed four of the five tries, with Faulalo scoring a double in the second match.
Among the new signings, Bailey Hodgson (fullback), Tommy Talau (winger), and Brandon Wakeham (five-eighth) are just a few of the fresh faces at the club eager to make an impact after impressive performances in trial matches. Halfback Jake Arthur, who joined the NRL side in Las Vegas, aims to continue his strong form in the NSW Cup following his switch from the Parramatta Eels last season.
Coach Wayne Lambkin plans to utilize Gordon Chan Kum Tong’s dynamism coming off the bench, aiming to incorporate him into the team’s attacking strategies alongside Jamie Humphreys, who transitioned from halfback last season. The 22-year-old, who earned the 2023 Jersey Flegg Players’ Player award, delivered impressive showings in the NSW Cup last year. In just nine matches, he contributed one try, 26 goals, one field goal, and registered six assists.
