Source : the age
That’ll do it. The Dolphins throw it around a bit after the siren but they’ll be very satisfied with a 22-0 win, and especially that defensive shutout, after a fairly rusty performance by their standards in attack.
The Sea Eagles don’t have too many positives to take out of that game and their finals hopes are pretty much done and dusted now. Time to look ahead to their 2027 campaign.
We’re not far off from what should be a much better contest between Canterbury and South Sydney at Accor Stadium. Both teams are desperate to win this one and boost their finals chances – the Rabbitohs sit in seventh place, the Dogs in ninth.
Full-time: Dolphins 22, Sea Eagles 0
They’re in! Or are they?
The Sea Eagles seemingly strike at last, a left-side shift ending with Tolutau Koula passing to Lehi Hopoate, who has to swap the ball from his left hand to his right and plant the ball down – but does he do it before his left arm goes over the sideline? The on-field referee says yes, but the bunker says no. The home side remains scoreless.
Once again, the Dolphins strike immediately after a disallowed Manly try, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow taking an Isaiya Katoa pass and cutting inside a little, creating an overlap before firing a long pass to Jamayne Isaako who scores out wide.
That try means Isaako has scored 1000 points for the Dolphins, in just 93 games – the fastest any player has reached the milestone in Australian rugby league history. Mick Cronin took 98 games to score 1000 points for Parramatta, and Eric Simms got to the mark in 105 games for South Sydney.
Dolphins 22, Sea Eagles 0 with eight minutes left
Joey Walsh has had some great moments in his rookie NRL season and has a big future ahead of him, but the young Sea Eagles half hasn’t had the best of nights tonight and now he makes a costly error – a cutout pass intercepted by Jamayne Isaako who runs 70 metres then sends Jack Bostock over to score.
Maybe the fatigue of that long run is to blame for a rare missed conversion from Isaako.
Meanwhile Connelly Lemuelu’s rough night has continued, with the Dolphins second-rower ruled out with a hamstring injury having returned from the sin bin.
Dolphins 18, Sea Eagles 0 with 17 minutes left
Cheers turn to boos from the Brookvale crowd now as Joey Walsh produces a big tackle to force a turnover, then Reuben Garrick runs clear down the right, draws the final defender, is tripped up and flicks a pass on his way down to an unmarked Jason Saab who runs clear to the tryline – only for the referee to call it back for Garrick’s forward pass.
It looks a fair call, despite the howls of fury from the home crowd.
The Dolphins then add to the Sea Eagles’ pain when they finally get their passing right, running it on the last and Isaiya Katoa linking up with Kodi Nikorima who puts Selwyn Cobbo into space. The winger does superbly to get the ball down despite the efforts of two rushing defenders. Great finish. And Jamayne Isaako’s sideline conversion is just as good.
Dolphins 14, Sea Eagles 0 with 21 minutes left
This game is starting to get a little fiery, with Manly forward Nathan Brown in the middle of things, but then Selwyn Cobbo gets revenge on Clayton Faulalo with a crunching hit to produce an error.
The Dolphins go on the attack, but they’re just not at their best tonight and a quick passing movement down the left ends with Herbie Farnworth flicking a pass out of Cobbo’s reach and over the sideline.
Dolphins 8, Sea Eagles 0 with 25 minutes left
“Last night [between the Panthers and Roosters] it was 8-0 at half-time, this is 8-0 at half-time, but some might describe this as the Temu version,” says Fox Sports commentator Andrew Voss, as the Dolphins and Sea Eagles continue to go through the motions with no-frills sets ending with contested bombs.
Now the Dolphins start to show a little flair, Herbie Farnworth getting some second-phase play going with an offload, then Jack Bostock going up to challenge Clayton Faulalo under the high ball – but the Manly fullback comes down with it.
Jamal Fogarty almost kicks a 40-20, but it goes over the sideline just short of the 20-metre line, leading to boos from the Brookvale crowd.
Then we have a genuine highlight! The Dolphins send it wide, Selwyn Cobbo brushes off Reuben Garrick and surges down the sideline, and Faulalo comes across and makes a terrific tackle to stop Cobbo in his tracks and force an error.
Dolphins 8, Sea Eagles 0 with 29 minutes left
The teams are back out there for the second half and hopefully we’re in for a more entertaining 40 minutes here. The Dolphins backline is stacked with attacking talent and Manly, even without Tom Trbojevic, have their fair share of quality attacking players too.
The Dolphins get first use of the ball with Connelly Lemuelu still in the sin bin for another five minutes. They’ll probably be happy to keep the score as it is during that period, while Manly need to start making the most of the one-man overlap.
The Sea Eagles’ first foray into their opponents’ half results in a Jamal Fogarty bomb that is defused well by Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow.
Dolphins 8, Sea Eagles 0 with 38 minutes left
The team lists are in for tonight’s second game, with no late changes for either team.
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
1. Connor Tracey 2. Jacob Kiraz 3. Matt Burton 4. Enari Tuala 5. Jethro Rinakama 6. Stephen Crichton 7. Lachlan Galvin 8. Max King 9. Bailey Hayward 10. Leo Thompson 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Jacob Preston 13. Jaeman Salmon
Bench: 14. Kurt Mann 15. Josh Curran 16. Harry Hayes 17. Alekolasimi Jones 19. Bronson Xerri 20. Jake Turpin
South Sydney Rabbitohs
1. Matthew Dufty 2. Alex Johnston 3. Tallis Duncan 4. Jack Wighton 5. Campbell Graham 6. Cody Walker 7. Jayden Sullivan 8. Tevita Tatola 9. Brandon Smith 10. Keaon Koloamatangi 11. David Fifita 12. Adam Elliott 13. Cameron Murray
Bench: 14. Jye Gray 15. Lachlan Hubner 16. Sean Keppie 17. Euan Aitken 18. Peter Mamouzelos 19. Edward Kosi
