A remarkable night in Redcliffe for the Sea Eagles and their interim head coach Kieran Foran.
With Haumole Olakau'atu and Tom Trbojevic at their dominant best, Manly ran in nine tries to post their first win of the season and consign the Dolphins to back-to-back losses.
The Sea Eagles completed 41 of 46 sets at 89 per cent while the Dolphins completed at 64 per cent and came up with 14 errors in their worst performance of 2026.
"It has been a tough three weeks, obviously losing three games at home and everything going on, so just to get that win is very pleasing," a jubilant Jake Trbojevic said post-match.
The Sea Eagles will look to build on the momentum when they head to Wollongong in Round 6 to face the Dragons.
From the field: Tom Trbojevic
Follow all the action from Round 5 of the NRL Telstra Premiership on NRL.com's live blog.
Dolphins v Sea Eagles at Kayo Stadium
Dolphins v Sea Eagles – Round 5, 2026
Match: Dolphins v Sea Eagles
Round 5 -
home Team
Dolphins
12th Position
away Team
Sea Eagles
9th Position
Venue: Kayo Stadium, Redcliffe
Sea Eagles: Round 5
Dolphins: Round 5
Herculean Haumole: The Sea Eagles back-rower was devastating with 24 runs for 268 metres, eight tackle breaks, two line breaks and two try assists. The Dolphins simply had no answer to Olakau'atu, who was ably supported by Corey Waddell (22 runs for 185 metres) and Taniela Paseka (17 runs for 198 metres).
Full-time: A stunning debut for Kieran Foran as Manly coach as the under siege Sea Eagles belt the Dolphins 52-18 to post their first win of the season. The last time the two sides met was Round 25 last year when the Sea Eagles also racked up a half century in a 58-30 win at 4 Pines Park.
78 min: Selwyn Cobbo leaves the field for a HIA after landing heavily on the back of his head in a Reuben Garrick tackle. Cobbo is deemed a Category 1.
Herbie Farnworth Try
75 min: Another try from their own side of halfway for the Dolphins as Herbie Farnworth finishes off a 70-metre raid. Jamayne Isaako again bangs over the conversion. Sea Eagles 52-18.
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2nd Try
73 min: Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow makes it two tries in two minutes after Jake Averillo gets away down the right and sends it back inside for his fullback to glide away to complete his 16th career double. Jamayne Isaako converts. Sea Eagles 58-12.
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow Try
71 min: Finally some joy for the home fans as Kodi Nikorima swivels through the line and picks up a flying Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow who crosses in the left-hand corner. Jamayne Isaako converts. Sea Eagles 52-6.
Corey Waddell Try
68 min: A spectacular 60-metre try is finished off by Corey Waddell after Tolu Koula explodes into the back field and is dragged down but not held so he springs to his feet and offloads to Waddell for the try. Sea Eagles 52-0.
Ben Trbojevic Try
66 min: The Sea Eagles rampage continues as Ben Trbojevic takes an inside pass from Jamal Fogarty and surges through some feeble Dolphins defence to score. Sea Eagles 46-0.
Tolutau Koula Try
63 min: Tolu Koula gets in on the action after Ben Trbojevic pops up a perfectly timed short ball from 10 metres out and the Dolphins are busted open again. Jamal Fogarty misses the conversion. Sea Eagles 40-0.
62 min: Jamal Fogarty bombs for the corner and Selwyn Cobbo comes up with another dropped ball.
60 min: Tom Flegler is placed on report for a shoulder charge.
Haumole Olakau'atu Try
59 min: Haumole Olakau'atu caps a magnificent night with a powerhouse try from close range as he steamrolls Kodi Nikorima to post Manly's sixth try. Jamal Fogarty converts. Sea Eagles 36-0.
57 min: Kurt Donoghoe enters the field of play for his first action of the 2026 season after a hamstring injury.
54 min: The Dolphins get their first penalty after Tolu Koula is penalised for an obstructor as he interferes with Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow trying to catch a bomb.
53 min: Tom Flegler is pinged for not clearing the ruck to make the penalty count 8-0 to Manly. Jamal Fogarty knocks over the penalty goal. Sea Eagles 30-0.
50 min: The Dolphins' night goes from bad to worse as Kodi Nikorima is penalised for throwing a Manly player's boot over the sideline after it came off in a tackle.
48 min: Tom Trbojevic leaves the field for a HIA. Tolu Koula goes to fullback and Josh Feledy comes on at left centre. 'Turbo' passes his HIA but will be put in cotton wool for the rest of the night.
44 min: Francis Molo comes up with another error for the Dolphins but Tolu Koula chooses to chip ahead on the zero tackle and hands the ball straight back to the Dolphins.
42 min: Connelly Lemuelu chases hard on a kick but makes high contact with Tom Trbojevic and is placed on report.
Red faced in Redcliffe: Coming in as hot favourites on home turf, the Dolphins produced six errors and were punished 5-0 in the penalties. The Dolphins' lack of discipline saw them play 10 minutes with 12 men after Morgan Knowles was binned and complete just nine of 15 sets.
Lethal Lehi: Two tries, 158 run metres, two line breaks and a tackle break in a sensational half for Manly's left winger Lehi Hopoate.
Half-time: Unbelievable footy from the Sea Eagles as they complete 20 of 24 sets at 83 per cent and rack up four line breaks to one. With Haumole Olakau'atu running riot with 142 run metres and Tom Trbojevic stamping his class on the opening 40 minutes the Sea Eagles look a different team.
40 min: Thomas Flegler is penalised for tackling Tom Trbojevic on suspicion and Jamal Fogarty takes a long range shot at penalty goal but pushes it wide.
Luke Brooks Try
37 min: Jamal Fogarty goes to the line on the last and puts in a pinpoint grubber for Luke Brooks to follow through and score just inside the dead ball line. Fogarty adds the extras from right in front and the stunned Kayo Stadium crowd can scarcely believe what is unfolding. Sea Eagles 28-0.
36 min: Morgan Knowles' unhappy night continues as he is penalised and placed on report for a high shot on Ben Trbojevic.
Reuben Garrick Try
34 min: After Ethan Bullemor is held up over the line on the fourth tackle the Sea Eagles set up for a play on the right edge and Reuben Garrick powers onto a short ball from Haumole OIakau'atu and crosses for the fourth try. Jamal Fogarty converts. Sea Eagles 22-0.
32 min: Manly go to the air and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow comes up with a drop and the visitors are on the attack again.
29 min: Another chance for Lehi Hopoate in the left corner but Isaiya Katoa and Jamayne Isaako show desperation in cover defence and bundle the Manly winger into touch.
Lehi Hopoate 2nd Try
26 min: The Dolphins' spluttering attack comes unstuck again when Kulikefu Finefuiaki puts the ball down on halfway and it bounces up for Lehi Hopoate to sprint 55 metres and post Manly's third try. Jamal Fogarty converts. Sea Eagles 16-0.
23 min: A Felise Kaufusi charge puts the Dolphins in range but it all goes wrong on the last tackle when Jake Averillo is collared and his pass to Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow goes forward.
Knowles sent to the bin
20 min: Morgan Knowles is sent to the sin bin for a professional foul but Manly can't cash in when Haumole OIakau'atu puts the ball down.
Lehi Hopoate Try
18 min: The Sea Eagles make it a double strike when Ben Trbojevic gets it on to his brother Tom whose slick hands put Lehi Hopoate away for a try on the left edge. Jamal Fogarty hits the upright. Sea Eagles 10-0.
Tom Trbojevic Try
15 min: Tom Trbojevic handles twice in the movement and finishes off a superb Manly try after taking the final pass from Haumole Olakau'atu, who had busted through a low tackle by Tom Gilbert. Manly draw first blood to kick off the Kieran Foran era in style. Jamal Fogarty converts. Sea Eagles 6-0.
10 min: A high shot by Morgan Knowles on Reuben Garrick brings a penalty and allows Manly out of their own end.
Herbie nicks it
6 min: Herbie Farnworth shows great strength to come up with a one-on-one steal from Kobe Hetherington.
5 min: Jake Averillo bamboozles the Manly defence on an 80-metre run but he can't position Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow for the pass and the ball goes astray.
4 min: Isaiya Katoa puts the ball down on the last tackle and Manly go on the attack from 30 metres out.
Late Mail
Dolphins: The Dolphins are 1-19 with no late changes. Kurt Donoghoe is listed in No.18 and on track for his first match of the season as he completes his recovery from a hamstring injury. "He's a big inclusion for us," coach Kristian Woolf said on Wednesday. "We have missed a lot of what he brings but he is coming off a long lay-off so we'll need to be a little bit patient until he is right back to his best."
Sea Eagles: No game day changes for Manly. Back-rower Ethan Bullemor returns after he was a late withdrawal last week due to an Achilles injury. Clayton Faulalo is set for his first appearance of the season in place of suspended winger Jason Saab. Emerging playmaker Joey Walsh was the last player to drop out of the squad 90 minutes before kick-off. "We're not travelling good enough to put the responsibility of turning a game around on a 19-year-old's shoulders. That's not doing the right thing by Joey," new coach Kieran Foran said.
Numbers Game
- The Dolphins have won eight of their last nine Thursday night games.
- Sea Eagles fullback Tom Trbojevic has scored five tries in three games against the Dolphins.
- Dolphins fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow has scored nine tries in five games in Redcliffe.
- Sea Eagles centre Tolu Koula has scored 10 tries in his last eight NRL games.
- Dolphins winger Jamayne Isaako requires nine points for 800 points for the club.