Manly’s Remarkable Coaching Debut
Manly made history in spectacular fashion by delivering a stunning 52-18 victory over the Dolphins, marking a memorable NRL coaching debut for Kieran Foran. The match took place at a sold-out Kayo Stadium in Redcliffe on Thursday night, where the Trbojevic brothers—Tom, Jake, and Ben—showcased their exceptional talent. The game was filled with moments of brilliance, particularly from giant second-rower Haumole Olakau’atu, who dominated on the right edge, swatting away the Dolphins like flies.
Manly’s performance was characterized by directness, skill, and commitment, reflecting the qualities that Foran was known for during his illustrious playing career. The Dolphins, on the other hand, were a disaster, offering little resistance throughout the match.
This victory marked the equal-biggest win by a team after sacking their coach in history, matching the margin of 34 that Dolphins coach Kristian Woolf achieved on his debut at Newcastle in 2019. Foran became just the third coach on debut to have their team score 50 points, joining Charles Fraser (Balmain in 1921) and Andrew Farrar (Illawarra in 1997).
Foran could not have imagined a 28-0 lead at halftime at the Dolphins’ home ground, especially considering that Manly had lost their first three matches of the season. When Foran was appointed as interim coach on Saturday, a day after head coach Anthony Seibold was sacked, there was a sense that a form bounce might be on the horizon.
Manly’s transformation was nothing short of incredible. The Dolphins struggled to handle fullback Tom Trbojevic and the powerful Olakau’atu. It was no surprise when the giant forward broke through an attempted tackle by Dolphins co-captain Tom Gilbert to set up Trbojevic for the opening try.
The Eagles displayed brilliant hands, and a slick catch and pass by Trbojevic led to winger Lehi Hopoate scoring, giving the visitors an early 12-0 lead. The Dolphins’ lock Morgan Knowles was sin-binned for a professional foul, which allowed Manly to take control of the game.
The Dolphins’ attack was a complete mess, with their shape abandoning them and errors piling up. Hopoate capitalized on a dropped ball by Kulikefu Finefeuiaki, racing 50 meters to score. Olakau’atu set up a try for flying centre Reuben Garrick with an exquisite short pass, while half Jamal Fogarty put another try on a platter for halves partner Luke Brooks with a brilliant grubber kick.
Olakau’atu continued to trouble Dolphins five-eighth Kodi Nikorima, storming through him after the break. Tolutau Koula added to the score with a try of his own. Jake Trbojevic, who had been criticized for his lack of impact in attack, ran the ball with vim and played a key role in the middle, as did his brother Ben in the back-row, celebrating one of his best games in the NRL with a cracking try.
Tom Trbojevic left the field for a HIA in the second half, which he passed, but Foran chose not to bring him back onto the field. Dolphins fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow scored a consolation double, but the home side had Knowles, Thomas Flegler, and Connelly Lemuelu all put in poor performances.
