Dolphins vs Manly Sea Eagles: NRL live scores, blog

I have burned into my memory (sorry Rooster fans) the 2018 late match between Easts and Titans. About 2/3 of the Easts tries came on the back of clear forward passes and still the officials had to come up with a way to give a try to a guy who lost the ball forward(?) into a goalpost. Titans should have won and were cruelly denied. Poor Garth Brennan went berko and lost a job soon after that. East just scraped in with 3 others and ended up - though they never should have been there - winning the comp. Annesley, interestingly enough, didn't have much to say and now is promoted to head of refs for the NRL. Of all people, should know the damage done by dodgy calls against the lesser clubs.

The problem is, it pays off too frequently

Hopefully it's contagious, sick of seeing it happening.

I’m actually having to try really hard not to go over to the club and flick my season tickets across the counter and demand a refund. The Cowboys are only in this competition because of the hard work of locals and petitioning the Sydney powers. It was about the NQ having an opportunity for local lads and the community to be represented at the highest level nationally? Their success only happens when they have a majority of local input. Because when players are only playing for money they don’t play finals IMO. NQ first, QLD 2nd and then get a fill in when talent is non existent? How the hell have talent scouts missed so many? Exhibit A Mr Fuller?

I can see by the 33% wins would upset any supporter. At least 1 of the Sutton clan liked your team LOL. There is a distinct correlation between the success and failure of clubs and the rule interpretation of a select few officials. Of course it’s only from watching them on field and looking at stats like 12-3 penalty counts and consistence sin binning of your team that results in losses that indicate this, that I have this opinion.

Losing CGKT for an HIA really hurt us last night. I was looking forward to seeing him test a tiring defence. If he was out there at the death instead of Jake at 9? Who knows. But yeah mate I agree. It’s never a great feeling when your team gets a decent lead but all you can think about is an inevitable implosion. I thought Waddell was poor defensively a number of times. Olakau'atu back will help that. But the issue runs deeper than personnel

Look for God’s own country and it’s nearby! Not really, but if you follow the trail of retirees …

It is silly. I couldn’t point Redcliffe out on a map but it would give them more identity Anyway, great effort win last night I thought their willingness to keep showing up was the difference in a pretty close game

‘The’ is involved in more clubs than Newscorp. Seriously though, it’s a silly thing. Apparently the NRL insisted, but there was also an issue with the QRL. Apparently unlike the NSW Cup, they don’t allow QCup teams to have the same name as their related NRL team. Which is all silly, given they are both Dolphins and play out of the same ground. No one is fooled people! They are Redcliffe!

I’m glad Lawton is going.. GCKT offers far more in defence and attack. We’re always hearing how good Humphreys is too, he’s bound to be yet another one we invest in for years and sits in reserves until he gets a career elsewhere. As for last night, I could cop that loss if it were an aberration, but it is now a predictable pattern. Something needs to be done

I remember Sydney Bulldogs, but I don’t remember that one… So ‘The’ has had a couple of teams represent…?

I’m pretty sure they were just The Bulldogs at some point too. Maybe the same marketing department?

Bennett is without doubt the best RL coach pf the post war era. The thing I love about him Is he will have a go anywhere, Phins, Broncs , South's, NZ , England , St George ( well except for the Blues) and always makes teams better. It cracks me up when they say ' yeah but teams do poorly after he leaves '. That just proves the whole point of how good he is.

I am beginning to think we need a QLD only coach policy. If he recruits one more run of the mill NSW forward my head will blow off.

Well you aren’t Joel when it comes to pessimism that’s for sure! Manly haven’t been close to a GF since 2013. Even in 2021 our defence was average, made up by the fact our attack was exceptional. Kinda like this year. We score points, but can’t stop them. Still, I’ve seen enough to keep the flicker of hope burning. The Roosters, Panthers wins very good. No team has been really dominant. Manly had to deal with an injury toll last night that forced positional changes all over the place. It was tough yet still could have snatched victory with Jake at hooker, and Lawton out on the wing. That 7 mins before half-time woeful though. Poor reads in the middle, running up out of the line. They should be doing nothing else all week in Brisbane except for defensive reps. Will be good to get Olakau'atu and Croker back. I’d prefer GCKT in the 14 over Lawton.

It’s terrible now I was referring to this season. The Dogs team has made a pact that they won’t lie down for a penalty We’ll see how it goes, I’m sure it’ll happen sooner or later, but they’re genuinely pretty good at the moment at getting up even when they’ve clearly got a knock

Actually I can remember Blake Lawrie giving it to Jack Hethrington a few years back when he was playing at the Dogs: "Front Rower Hethrington I used to respect you before you did that!" After Jack milked a penalty in the ruck. It is getting really bad now and harming the quality of the spectacle.

Steve Price, Jason Taylor, Trent Barrett, Anthony Aloysius Griffin III?

That makes Wayne the Lone Ranger for sure. :laughing:

Probably creating it first, then excusing it Tom. I consider Ben Ikin a man of integrity, and he was scathing of Siebold. I hope you can get rid of him before you lose the Trbo boys.