Cronulla secured a strong 30-14 victory over the Sea Eagles at Brookvale Oval on Sunday, finishing the match with a commanding performance. The Sea Eagles struggled initially but gained momentum with a quick double from Tolu Koula in the second half, giving them a glimmer of hope. However, the Sharks swiftly regained control, scoring three unanswered tries to hand Manly their fourth defeat in five games since captain Daly Cherry-Evans announced his departure from the club in 2026.
The scoring began in the 11th minute when Ronaldo Mulitalo darted in for a try, capitalising on a clever chip kick from Nicho Hynes. Shortly after, a mistake from the Sea Eagles led Hynes to assist Addin Fonua-Blake for another Sharks try, leaving Manly trailing 14-0 at halftime amidst the frustrations of their home crowd.
The second half started with renewed energy from Manly, culminating in Koula’s first try after a slick back-and-forth play. He soon followed with a second try, bringing the score to 14-10 as the Sea Eagles appeared to be staging a comeback. However, their momentum was abruptly halted when a handling error in their in-goal led to Braydon Trindall scoring, restoring a six-point lead for the Sharks.
Mulitalo then struck again, scoring his second try, and KL Iro capped off Cronulla’s victory with another score, firmly establishing their position in sixth place on the ladder. Meanwhile, the Sea Eagles slipped to eighth, reflecting a challenging period for the team following recent announcements regarding their captain’s future.