NRL 2026 LIVE updates: Joey Walsh sent to the bin for a hip-drop after Luke Brooks suffers suspected ACL injury

Tom Trbojevic is given an early mark – he’s done enough tonight.

The Manly crowd were already on their feet giving ‘Turbo’ a standing ovation, but then they stay there as Trent Toelau is sent to the sin bin for a second effort on Ben Trbojevic.

Sea Eagles 30, Storm 4 with six minutes to go

Yeah, Melbourne aren’t coming back from this tonight.

Ben Trbojevic burrows across from dummy half – splitting Tyran Wishart and Sua Fa’alogo – to score the Sea Eagles fifth try tonight.

Jamal Fogarty misses his first conversion tonight, but it’s all smiles in Brookvale.

Sea Eagles 30, Storm 4 with 11 minutes to go

The 10 minutes are up, and Joey Walsh is on the field.

Craig Bellamy won’t be too happy with his team’s performance in that time – they failed to add any points while Manly had a man in the bin.

To make matters worse, Jack Hetherington gives away a sloppy penalty for contact on the kicker (Jamal Fogarty).

Sea Eagles 26, Storm 4 with 13 minutes to go

Manly have the chance to push their lead out even further, with Sua Fa’alogo and the Melbourne Storm running down the clock after Manly forced a goal-line drop out.

Now, it’s Manly’s turn to run down the clock as they decide to take the penalty kick and extend their lead by two.

Smart play by Manly, they’re using up minutes that Joey Walsh is in the bin.

Fogarty takes the kick and they add the two.

Sea Eagles 26, Storm 4 with 17 minutes to go

We have another injury for Melbourne, with Ativalu Lisati unable to get to his feet.

It’s a lower leg injury and on review, it comes from a Joey Walsh hip-drop tackle.

Referee Ashley Klein sends Walsh to the bin for 10 minutes, while Lisati leaves the field limping.

Sea Eagles 24, Storm 4 with 23 minutes to go

Finally, Melbourne find their first points tonight.

It’s a Harbour Bridge pass from Trent Toelau out to Will Warbrick on the right edge that sets it up and, despite the best effort Lehi Hopoate, Warbrick manages to get the ball down safely.

Sua Fa’alogo can’t convert from the touch line and Manly hold a 20-point lead.

Sea Eagles 24, Storm 4 with 28 minutes to go

Bad news for the Sea Eagles, with Luke Brooks suffering a suspected ACL injury in the first half.

Unsure when it occurred, but he played on and finished the half, but has not been able to make it out for the second.

Manly’s young playmaker Joey Walsh is on the field – will we see him in the No.6 jersey for the rest of the year now?

Sea Eagles 24, Storm 0 with 34 minutes to go

Here we go, we’re into the final 40 minutes in Brookvale.

Can Melbourne get a point on the board? Will Manly continue to pile on the points? Can Haumole Olakau’atu get the first hat-trick of his career tonight?

Let’s find out.

Sea Eagles 24, Storm 0 with 40 minutes to go

That is half-time in Brookvale, where the Sea Eagles are walking off to roaring applause.

It’s been a sensational first half for Kieran Foran’s team, with Haumole Olakau’atu well and truly making a case for the NSW No.11 jersey.

Meanwhile, Melbourne have been stunned tonight. Yes, they have faced adversity, losing Joe Chan and Moses Leo to injury, but they’ve also been a little sloppy – completing at just 68 per cent.

Half-time: Sea Eagles 24, Storm 0