Fozball ends in whimper as Manly hit 33-year low
Scott Bailey |
Manly’s ‘Fozball’ fever dream is officially over after being held scoreless at Brookvale Oval for the first time in 33 years.
In a match that failed to reach any real heights, the Dolphins had enough strike to pull away late to win 22-0 and momentarily leapfrog Cronulla into fourth spot on the NRL ladder.
The Dolphins’ win did come at some cost, with in-form second-rower Connelly Lemuelu limping from the field in the second half with a hamstring injury.
But the story of the night was the Sea Eagles, whose finals hopes are now virtually over after six straight losses.
It was against the Dolphins that the Kieran Foran coaching era began with a bang, piling 52 points on them at Redcliffe back in round five.
But on Friday night the honeymoon period died with a whimper, unable to crack the opposition line and lacking any real threat in attack.
Manly can point to any number of things for the way their season has spiralled, with the club’s alarming lack of depth a key issue that needs fixing.
Luke Brooks’ injury has also proven costly, with the Sea Eagles having far more attacking sets than the Dolphins but failing to cross even once.
It marked the first time since a 6-0 loss to Eastern Suburbs in 1993 that Manly failed to trouble the scoreboard at their traditional home ground.
Their best chance came at 8-0 down midway through the second half, when a Reuben Garrick pass was called forward as Jason Saab sprinted away to score.
From the next set the Dolphins effectively sealed the match, as Selwyn Cobbo did extremely well to get the ball down in the corner under intense pressure from Clayton Faulalo.
Kristian Woolf’s men then went in again moments later through Jack Bostock, after Jamayne Isaako picked off a Joey Walsh pass at the other end of the field.
Usually one of the most dangerous teams in the competition, the Dolphins’ attack was hardly at its best either.
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow put Isaako over for a late try, while their only other came through Kodi Nikorima in the first half while Tolu Koula was in the sin bin.
But they will have bigger fish to fry over the next month, with Parramatta, the Sydney Roosters and Gold Coast on the run home and the top four a possibility.
For Manly, the only real positive was the return of Faulalo, who was safe at the back and pulled off a superb try-saver on a runaway Cobbo in the second half.
AAP