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Jake Trbojevic’s resurgence headlined Manly’s dominant win in Kieran Foran’s first game as interim coach.

Manly have produced one of the early shocks of the 2026 NRL season, thrashing the Dolphins 52-18 in Kieran Foran's first game as interim coach after a turbulent week for the club.

The Sea Eagles entered the match under pressure following the departure of head coach Anthony Seibold and a 0-3 start. Foran opted against sweeping changes, backing the same core group, and was rewarded with a dominant display led by Tom Trbojevic as Manly surged to a 52-0 lead before a late Dolphins response.

While several players impressed, attention quickly turned to Jake Trbojevic, whose performance marked a sharp shift from his output in the opening rounds. The former NSW captain had managed just 10 runs for 67 metres across his first three matches, but nearly matched that in the first half alone against the Dolphins with seven runs for 64 metres.

He finished with 81 running metres and 31 tackles, reflecting a more assertive role through the middle and a visible lift in intent.

Speaking on SEN Radio, Chad Townsend suggested the turnaround highlighted the influence of coaching and mindset rather than any sudden change in ability. He said the playing group had not become better overnight, but their attitude and thought process had shifted, which was now evident in their performance.

Foran admitted he felt the pressure leading into his first match in charge but said the response from players validated his approach. He described the week as chaotic and acknowledged the performance had been building despite the poor start to the season.

He added that the players had taken responsibility for recent results, responding to calls for greater accountability and pride in the jersey.

The result leaves Manly with renewed momentum after a difficult opening month, while the Dolphins continue to search for consistency. Kristian Woolf's side committed 14 errors and completed at just 64 per cent, contributing to their second straight loss and a 2-3 record after five rounds.

Woolf described the performance as disappointing and said the team must reassess and make changes following the heavy defeat.