Jamin Hodgkins and the Manly Marlins fell just short in a high-scoring thriller as they opened their 2026 Shute Shield campaign with a 35-34 defeat to the Hunter Wildfires.
In a pulsating encounter at the Newcastle No. 2 Sports Ground, the Marlins were denied at the death in a game that swung relentlessly between two of the competition's most ambitious sides. For Hodgkins, the Bermudian fly-half making his highly anticipated debut, the match served as a baptism of fire in what is widely regarded as one of the world's premier semi-professional rugby leagues.
The Marlins started with intent, showcasing a fluid attacking game that put the Wildfires on the back foot early in the first half. However, the home side, buoyed by a vocal Newcastle crowd, responded with clinical precision, utilizing their physical forward pack to puncture the Manly defense.
The contest remained on a knife-edge throughout the second half, with both teams trading scores in a display of high-octane running rugby. Manly appeared to have the momentum heading into the final stages, but a late surge from the Wildfires proved decisive. Despite a desperate late push from the Marlins to snatch victory, the home side held firm to secure the points by the narrowest of margins.
While the result marks a disappointing start to the season for the Marlins, the performance of Hodgkins will provide plenty of encouragement. The 23-year-old, who arrived in Australia with the goal of strengthening his bid for the Canada national team ahead of the 2027 World Cup, looked composed in the number 10 jersey, directing play with tactical maturity and testing the Hunter line with his distribution.
Manly will not have long to dwell on the narrow loss as they return to home soil next weekend. The Marlins are set to host Northern Suburbs at Manly Oval on Saturday, 18 April, where they will look to register their first win of the season and get their 2026 campaign back on track.
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