Manly's hopes of an NRL finals berth are on life support after an insipid 48-12 loss to Cronulla at Brookvale Oval, with the Sharks appearing genuine premiership contenders.
Sea Eagles fall to worst defeat under Foran
The Sea Eagles suffered their worst defeat of the Kieran Foran era as Sharks halves Nicho Hynes and Braydon Trindall dominated. Manly (9-10) have a losing record for the first time since round six and must win at least four of their last five regular-season games to play finals. They are four competition points out of the top eight and face top-eight sides Newcastle, the Dolphins and Warriors on the run home.
Manly rose from the doldrums to win eight of 10 games after Foran replaced Anthony Seibold in March, but have since lost five of six. For the first time since Foran became coach, the Sea Eagles were never in the contest on Sunday.
Errors prove costly for Manly
The Sea Eagles' playmakers gave away four seven-tackle sets with poor kicks. Reuben Garrick kicked the restart out on the full after the Sharks' fourth try, setting up Sione Katoa to score their fifth shortly before halftime. Tom Trbojevic's replacement Lehi Hopoate had an afternoon to forget at fullback, spilling a regulation Hynes kick directly ahead of Cronulla's third try.
Hynes and Trindall shine for Sharks
The fourth-placed Sharks have won eight from their last nine games and look ready to take the leap under Craig Fitzgibbon. Halfback Hynes is playing as well as he has since winning the Dally M Medal in 2022, embarrassing the Manly middle to barge over for Cronulla's fourth try and sending a bullet pass for Ronaldo Mulitalo's second after the break. Hynes also dummied through rookie five-eighth Joey Walsh and passed inside for Sifa Talakai to score, kicking a career-best 26th consecutive goal and finishing with three line breaks.
Trindall's suspect ball to Teig Wilton gave Cronulla their opening try, before floating a cut-out pass for Mulitalo's first. He kicked past Hopoate for KL Iro to cross with 15 minutes left. Just before halftime, the Sea Eagles lost second-rower Ben Trbojevic to his second game-ending head knock in as many appearances.
