Trbojevic and Sea Eagles slice and dice Dolphins at Brookvale
Save articles for later
Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time.
If ever there was doubt whether star fullback Tom Trbojevic would retain his Origin jersey for game two, NSW have their answer.
Trbojevic was relentless in Manly’s 58-18 victory over the Dolphins at Brookvale on Friday night,and silenced critics who questioned his fitness with two tries, 201 run metres and the classic footwork which let him slip through the centre of the Dolphins defence.
Reuben Garrick scored three tries and kicked nine goals for a personal tally of 30 points.Credit: Getty
Manly poked holes through the visitors’ defence all night and centre Reuben Garrick scored 30 points alone, with a hat-trick which helped him surpass 900 career points for the Sea Eagles.
But it wasn’t just Trbojevic and Garrick that embarrassed the Dolphins, and it felt like Manly were taking it in turns to put points on the board.
The home side packed on a massive 30 points in the second half and exposed a depleted Dolphins side across all parts of the park.
The Sea Eagles targeted the Dolphins’ left edge early on and Origin hopeful Huamole Olakau’atu needed more than a few defenders to bring him down when he burst through the line.
It was down that edge that the home side produced their first try in the opening five minutes, with Jason Saab having too much time and room along the touch line.
Manly fullback Tom Trbojevic was lethal on Friday night at Brookvale.Credit: Getty
The floodgates opened for Manly, who needed the win to push them back inside the top eight, and the Dolphins’ defensive issues continued to trouble the team on their first visit to Sydney.
A try from Trbojevic, after an error from rooke Valynce Te Whare, reminded the crowd that the star fullback still had plenty of tricks up his sleeve.
Trbojevic had tried to push through the middle of the Dolphins’ defence all night and, stepping off his left foot to the inside, was able to use his speed to put the Dolphins on their backside and land his first try.
The Dolphins had a number of troubles heading into Friday’s game, with Felise Kaufusi, Jarrod Wallace and Anthony Milford suspended. And, the visitors’ troubles continued when they lost Brenko Lee early to an ankle injury and Jeremy Marshall King to a shoulder injury.
The Dolphins scored their first try after 20 minutes when an exquisite pass from Kodi Nikorima found its way to Jamayne Isaako, who pinned his ears back and put his team on the board.
But the damage had already been done, and the Dolphins continued their reputation of being the team to concede the most points in the opening 20 minutes of a match.
Manly were slow out the gates to start the second half, and there were more than a few balls thrown without a destination in mind, but the Sea Eagles found their rhythm quickly.
Despite conceding a try in the 57th minute, Manly were dominant and relentless.
Tolutau Koula picked up a double in the second half, including one which came off an early kick from an in-form Josh Schuster.
Skipper Daly Cherry-Evans showed off his kicking game with his own chip over the top early in a set which resulted in Trbojevic’s second try.
A last-gasp try from Tabuai-Fidow in the final seconds of the game helped the visitors recover some of their reputation, but even a Hammer double couldn’t fix the damage that had been done.
On their first visit to Sydney, the team that had been the talk of the season so far was sliced and diced by an invigorated and innovative Manly side on a mission.
Most Viewed in Sport
From our partners
Source: Read Full Article