photo credit: Jason Walsh / Anthem RC

MLR 2026 – Seattle Seawolves vs Anthem RC – ARN Guide

As the Hounds pull away from the pack, the other five teams are fighting it out for the three remaining playoff spots. Seattle’s odds have risen dramatically over the past couple weeks as they pulled off unlikely road wins over the Free Jacks and Old Glory. Next up for the Seawolves is a rematch against Anthem, whose form has slipped since recording their first franchise wins.

FORM GUIDE


3rd, 3-3-0, Won 2
05/10 – Old Glory 25 vs 30 Seawolves (Fairfax)
05/03 – Free Jacks 11 vs 27 Seawolves (Quincy)
04/24 – Seawolves 22 vs 59 Hounds (Tukwila)

04/19 – Legion 38 vs 31 Seawolves (Los Angeles)
04/12 – Anthem 34 vs 25 Seawolves (Charlotte)
04/03 – Seawolves 33 vs 16 Old Glory (Tukwila)


4th, 2-4-0, Lost 3
05/10 – Hounds 61 vs 26 Anthem (Bridgeview)
04/26 – Free Jacks 38 vs 26 Anthem (Quincy)
04/18 – Anthem 14 vs 31 Old Glory (Charlotte)
04/12 – Anthem 34 vs 25 Seawolves (Charlotte)
04/04 – Anthem 19 vs 33 Hounds (Charlotte)
03/28 – Legion 26 vs 39 Anthem (Irvine)

STARTING LINEUP CHANGES
IN OUT
6 Marno Redelinghuys Tia’i Vavao
10 Davy Coetzer Michael Hand
IN OUT
2 Campbell Robb Ramiro Gurovich
7 Marques Fuala’au Baden Godfrey
9 Zion Going Ishy Safodien
14 Conner Mooneyham Malacchi Esdale
15 Jordan Trainor Erich Storti
NOTES
  • Injured / unavailable – (Seawolves) Ezekiel Lindenmuth, Ignacio Péculo, Harison Mataele, Kalisi Moli, Mark Bennett, Rufus McLean, Michael Hand; (Anthem) Ramiro Gurovich, James Scott, Will Leonard
  • there is good news for Seattle fans with the returns of Marno Redelinghuys and Davy Coetzer to the starting lineup… but first choice props Ezekiel Lindenmuth and Ignacio Péculo are both out, the former due to suspension and the latter to injury
  • Coetzer’s return sees a reshuffle in the Seawolves backline, with André Warner returning to his favored scrumhalf spot and JP Smith again asked to take up residency on the wing
  • Anthem have lost their top hooker Ramiro Gurovich to injury but regain classy fullback Jordan Trainor from suspension… Marques Fuala’au gets his first start for the club on the flank instead of his preferred No8 slot
PREDICTION

Sunday’s forecast is calling for mild temperatures and almost no wind. That will be something of a relief for Anthem, but they still have to contend with travel and a physical Seawolves pack. Redelinghuys and Coetzer are big psychological boosts for the home side. Despite losing to Anthem earlier this season, they will now be confident of building momentum in front of the Starfire faithful. Seattle are clear favorites at home in Tukwila.

TEAMS


SEATTLE SEAWOLVES
1 LaRome White, 2 Dewald Kotze, 3 Mason Pedersen, 4 Callum Botchar, 5 Rhyno Herbst, 6 Marno Redelinghuys, 7 Paddy Ryan, 8 Riekert Hattingh (capt.), 9 André Warner, 10 Davy Coetzer, 11 JP Smith, 12 Dan Kriel, 13 Divan Rossouw, 14 Lauina Futi, 15 Duncan Matthews

Replacements: 16 Liki Chan-Tung, 17 Charlie Walsh, 18 Dewald Donald, 19 Tia’i Vavao, 20 Sean McNulty, 21 Nick Boyer, 22 Dorian Jones, 23 Drake Davis


ANTHEM RC
1 Payton Telea-Ilalio, 2 Campbell Robb, 3 Alex Maughan, 4 Johan Momsen (co-capt.), 5 Will Sherman, 6 Sam Golla (co-capt.), 7 Marques Fuala’au, 8 Makeen Alikhan, 9 Zion Going, 10 Luke Carty, 11 Julian Roberts, 12 Tom Pittman, 13 Dom Akina, 14 Conner Mooneyham, 15 Jordan Trainor

Replacements: 16 Seth Smith, 17 Alessandro Heaney, 18 Oliver Kane, 19 Alejandro Martinez Tapia, 20 Moni Tonga’uiha, 21 Ishy Safodien, 22 Baden Godfrey, 23 Erich Storti

MATCH INFO

Date: Sunday, May 17
Venue: Starfire Stadium, Tukwila
Kickoff: 13:00 local (16:00 Eastern)
Weather Forecast: sunny, 55°F (13°C), wind N 4-7 mph (7-11 km/h)
Broadcasts: ESPN+ (USA), Premier Sports (International), Kong 6 (Local), WCCB Charlotte (Local)

OFFICIALS

Referee: Robin Kaluzniak (Canada)
Assistants: Luke Rogan (USA) & Derek Summers (USA)
TMO: n/a

HISTORY

HEAD-TO-HEAD (4) – Seawolves 3, Anthem 1
2026-04-12 – Anthem RC 34, Seattle Seawolves 25 (American Legion Memorial Stadium)
2025-04-23 – Anthem RC 19, Seattle Seawolves 60 (Mecklenburg Sportsplex)
2025-03-29 – Seattle Seawolves 25, Anthem RC 17 (Starfire Stadium)
2024-05-03 – Seattle Seawolves 29, Anthem RC 13 (Starfire Stadium)

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