Mark Geyer has cast doubt on the work ethic of the Manly Sea Eagles under former coach Anthony Seibold after their impressive 52-18 victory against the Dolphins, marking Kieran Foran’s debut as head coach. The win, which took place in Redcliffe, showcased what Manly is capable of, a potential that had only been hinted at in the early weeks of the season. Foran’s enthusiasm was evident, but he acknowledged that some of the team’s past issues resurfaced.
Post-match, there was a noticeable elevation in the players’ spirits compared to previous performances. However, Geyer expressed skepticism regarding whether the attitude and determination displayed during the match were consistently present under Seibold’s leadership. He likened the team’s performance to a racehorse that would be flagged for a drug test due to how unexpected it was.
“This marks the beginning of the Fozball era, an impressive feat. This team is evidently not the same one we saw in the season’s opening month,” Geyer remarked on 2GB’s The Continuous Call Team. He highlighted the return of players like Tom Trbojevic to form, noting that Jake Trbojevic had made remarkable contributions right from the start of the match.
Geyer is questioning the work ethic of the players, suggesting that if they could perform at such a high level against the Dolphins, they should have done so consistently under Seibold. It appears that they were not fully committed to their former coach, which ultimately led to his dismissal. Foran, who has spent the season as an assistant before stepping into the head coach role, has reinvigorated the team’s prospects of making finals football.
In contrast, Geyer was critical of the Dolphins, describing their performance as poor and their defence as laughable, particularly in regard to Haumole Olakau’atu’s dominance over them. He believes the Dolphins have significant improvements to make in the future.
Looking ahead, Foran’s next challenge will be a match against the Dragons next Friday, as he aims to maintain the momentum gained from this impressive victory and solidify Manly’s place in the competition.