2023 NRL Round 15: Sea Eagles 58, Dolphins 18

Only one competition point and three ladder spots separated the Sea Eagles and Dolphins ahead of their Friday night clash at 4 Pines Park.

Result

Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 58
Tries: Jason Saab 3rd, 69th; Reuben Garrick 7th, 30th, 74th; Tom Trbojevic 12th, 45th; Lachlan Croker 15th; Tolutau Koula 50th, 67th
Goals: Reuben Garrick 9th, 13th, 16th, 32nd, 47th, 51st, 69th, 71st, 76th

Dolphins 18
Tries: Jamayne Isaako 22nd; Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 57th, 79th
Goals: Jamayne Isaako 24th, 58th, 80th

Report

It was a historic night for all the wrong reasons as the Dolphins were handed their heaviest defeat in the short history of the club in going down to the Sea Eagles 58-18 at 4 Pines Park.

Approved to return early from a HIA category one assessment, Tom Trbojevic showed New South Wales selectors he’s ready for the second game in Brisbane with an outstanding performance that saw him cross twice in a game where he ran for 201 metres.

The norm for the Dolphins has been to concede heavy leads in the opening twenty of matches and it was no surprise that Manly with 75% possession led 22-0 after 16 minutes. A lovely cut-out ball from Kodi Nikorima sent Jamayne Isaako over for the Dolphins only first half score as they trailed 28-6 at the break.

There was no let-up from Manly after the break with the try of the night scored by Trbojevic following a kick from Daly Cherry-Evans inside his own half which Reuben Garrick regathered, to combine with the Sea Eagles fullback to score.

Garrick would go on to collect 30 points with three tries and nine goals equalling the club record previously set by himself in 2021, Ron Rowles (1954) and Matt Ridge (1996).

A second half double to Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow eased the pain for the Dolphins who lost Brenko Lee to an ankle injury and Jeremy Marshall-King to a shoulder problem during the contest.

The loss saw the Dolphins drop to tenth place after three matches of round 15.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR POINTS

3 – Tom Trbojevic (Sea Eagles)
2 – Lachlan Croker (Sea Eagles)
1 – Daly Cherry-Evans (Sea Eagles)