Read on for the key Talking Points out of Round 4. <\/p>\n
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Seibold did have one way he could have potentially bought himself more time, but he opted to make a selfless decision instead that he deserves credit for \u2014 even if he won\u2019t be there to see the benefits of it.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, another coach in the headlines in Brisbane\u2019s Michael Maguire had the last laugh after concerns his team\u2019s defence could be in trouble.<\/p>\n
Plus, an unsung hero for the Tigers announces himself and more headaches for Cameron Ciraldo in Belmore?<\/p>\n
THE BRUTAL REALITY FOR SEIBOLD IN SELFLESS CALL BEFORE AXING<\/p>\n
When a team like the Sea Eagles are struggling, the temptation is to throw the young halfback in to give the fanbase something to look forward to.<\/p>\n
Joey Walsh is that shiny, new toy. <\/p>\n
It is like in the NFL when a team is down in the doldrums and the current quarterback isn\u2019t the answer. Regardless of whether the quarterback has been put in a situation to succeed, often they are made the scapegoat and the next big thing is thrown in the deep end.<\/p>\n
Sometimes it is a matter of self-preservation, and for someone like Anthony Seibold who was sacked last Friday night, it would be defendable to pull that trigger. <\/p>\n
The more things stay the same, the more likely he was to lose his job and as the losses piled up, you could understand giving in and naming Walsh in the halves to silence some of that outside noise. To prove he is at least trying something new. <\/p>\n
And if the team continued to struggle, at least Seibold could have argued in a bid to save his job that he was building towards a bright future centred around the emerging Walsh.<\/p>\n
In fact, it sounded like Seibold would have had the support of Manly powerbrokers to make that call.<\/p>\n
Code Sports reported that Seibold and chairman Scott Penn disagreed over the development plan for Walsh, with Penn more inclined to see the young playmaker included in the NRL set-up.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe bottom line is I don\u2019t interfere with any decisions,\u201d Penn told the publication.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think he\u2019s a really important part of our future and I said something along the lines of, \u2018If we need to shake things up a bit, there\u2019s nothing better than giving him a shot\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a normal conversation.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe said he had a plan. I was like, \u2018OK, you\u2019re the coach\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n
Foran on appointment as Manly head coach | 22:33<\/p>\n
Time and time again, Seibold made his stance clear. Even as his seat got warmer and warmer, he did not put Walsh out there.<\/p>\n
Not only was the 19-year-old not quite ready yet according to the Manly coach, but the situation wasn\u2019t the right one to be throwing him into either.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just want him to play 80 minutes. Everyone can see the quality in Joey, knowing he\u2019s going to be a long-term player. But we need to make sure we don\u2019t set him up to fail,\u201d Seibold told reporters before Thursday\u2019s loss to the Roosters.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s a 19-year-old kid who has only played 21 games in four years of rugby league. There are parts of his game that are NRL-ready and there are one or two that aren\u2019t NRL-ready, particularly around some of the organisation for a halfback.<\/p>\n
\u201c… He\u2019ll get to play 10 or 12 games this year, there\u2019s no doubt about that. We want to set him up for his future, not just this year or next year, it\u2019s about the next 10 or 12 years with Joey. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s only 19. What we don\u2019t want to do is put him in too early and we need to get into some good touch as well and bring him into a team that is in good form.\u201d <\/p>\n
Joey Walsh is nearing a starting berth for Manly.Source: Supplied<\/p>\n
Of course, the brutal reality for Seibold is that while he had the best of intentions and was right to prioritise Walsh\u2019s long-term development, he now won\u2019t be around to see the benefits of his patient approach. <\/p>\n
As much as some of the scrutiny towards Seibold was fair considering what Manly has produced this season, he does deserve some credit for what was ultimately a selfless decision when it came to Walsh\u2019s development.<\/p>\n
It wasn\u2019t just Seibold who felt that way either.<\/p>\n
Speaking after Manly\u2019s loss to the Roosters, Matty Johns said he has spoken to a few people in and around the club who tell him Walsh is a \u201cfantastic talent\u201d.<\/p>\n
But like Seibold, those people also believe the 19-year-old is \u201cnot quite ready yet\u201d. They also have the same concerns that the way the team is performing, it wouldn\u2019t be fair to put Walsh in.<\/p>\n
That is especially true when you consider the way the forward pack is going, with Manly consistently struggling to provide an experienced halves pairing like Jamal Fogarty and Luke Brooks with a strong platform to play off.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think particularly (with) the way the side\u2019s playing, it\u2019s very, very difficult when the side is in a hole, particularly with the forwards struggling to get ascendancy, to bring the young halfback in,\u201d Johns added.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think they\u2019re doing him a favour.\u201d<\/p>\n
Now, the question is whether Manly\u2019s next coach \u2014 be it the interim or Seibold\u2019s long-term replacement \u2014 takes the same approach. <\/p>\n
Get all the latest NRL news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!!!<\/a><\/p>\n DCE triumphant in Manly return | 03:34<\/p>\n TOUCHING SACRIFICE BEHIND \u2018UNBELIEVABLE\u2019 RETURNING TIGER<\/p>\n Last week, the Tigers were a chaotic mess at times in attack. <\/p>\n There was lots happening and you couldn\u2019t fault the effort or energy, but the attack inside the opposition 20 was disorganised and in periods resembled touch footy. <\/p>\n That was before halves Jarome Luai and Adam Doueihi went off injured.<\/p>\n So, without their leader in Luai the Tigers were expected to struggle against a red-hot Warriors outfit.<\/p>\n The opposite turned out to be true. Doueihi made a miraculous recovery from his hamstring injury, putting in a man-of-the-match performance with a staggering 226 run metres, five tackle busts and two try assists.<\/p>\n But ask the Tigers halfback who was behind Friday\u2019s upset win and he\u2019d tell it was actually new halves partner Jock Madden. He may not have generated too many headlines, but Madden was just as important to the surprise 32-14 victory. <\/p>\n Doueihi was at his destructive best running the football, but that wouldn\u2019t have been possible without Madden shouldering most of the responsibility steering the team around.<\/p>\n The former Bronco kicked for 615 metres and generally straightened up the Tigers\u2019 attack, something that was missing last week against South Sydney.<\/p>\n \u201cUnbelievable,\u201d Doueihi said of Madden\u2019s performance in an interview with Fox League.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s been knocking on the door for a few weeks now and he\u2019s been great. From the first day he arrived in the off-season, he\u2019s been really good for us in terms of straightening up our attack. <\/p>\n \u201cHis talk (is great). I just let him do his thing tonight. His kicking game is one of his biggest strengths. He just allowed me and Reamy to be free. It worked really well.\u201d<\/p>\n Tigers coach Benji Marshall echoed Doueihi\u2019s message, and even revealed a selfless sacrifice Madden made in the lead-up to Friday\u2019s game which spoke volumes to how important this opportunity was to him with Luai injured.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s been on the bench for two games with us, biding his time. (He) had a great pre-season.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought he was the difference tonight,\u201d Marshall said.<\/p>\n Jock Madden starred for the Tigers in place of the injured Jarome Luai.Source: The Daily Telegraph<\/p>\n \u201cHe put Adam in position so he could just run. He did all the kicking, took all the pressure off Adam and let him just play, you know, so (that\u2019s) Jock Madden I\u2019m talking about.<\/p>\n \u201cHis grandfather passed away last week, and he didn\u2019t make the funeral because he wanted to play for the team.<\/p>\n \u201cHe said his grandfather would have wanted him to play. So, we\u2019re really proud of him.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re really proud of him for that, and his grandfather would have been really proud of him.\u201d<\/p>\n Alex McKinnon, meanwhile, wrote in his column for <\/a>foxsports.com.au <\/a>earlier in the week<\/a> that he was excited to see Madden get his shot and declared he is \u201cwhat the Tigers are missing\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s a mature half that showed a couple of glimpses last time he was there, but he never really got his opportunity,\u201d McKinnon wrote.<\/p>\n \u201cI strongly believe Madden has got that experience to manage a game. He kicks well and competes and I think it\u2019s what the Tigers are missing.<\/p>\n \u201cSomeone to be able to steady the ship and control the contest with their long-range kicking game.\u201d<\/p>\n Madden is contracted at the Tigers until the end of 2027 and has his path to regular NRL footy blocked without injuries, but McKinnon went as far as to claim he could be the halfback that partners Jarome Luai for the \u201cnext five years\u201d.<\/p>\n That is how highly he thinks of Madden, and if not with the Perth Bears and PNG Chiefs soon to enter the league McKinnon believes the former Bronco could put himself in the shop-front window for rival clubs in the next few weeks.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s got an opportunity to put his best foot forward and prove he belongs in the NRL,\u201d McKinnon added.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are multiple new teams coming into the competition and with the game becoming a lot more fast, I really think that suits Madden\u2019s style of play.\u201d<\/p>\n Benji & Api open up on heroic win v Wahs | 06:37<\/p>\n BRONCOS REDISCOVER DEFENSIVE RESOLVE AFTER SHOCK RESIGNATION<\/p>\n After one of the most tumultuous off-field periods in the Brisbane Broncos\u2019 history, there are signs Michael Maguire\u2019s men have emerged on the other side stronger than ever \u2013 and ready to defend their title. <\/p>\n Brisbane\u2019s efforts were in high praise following their resilient 26-12 victory over the Dolphins at Suncorp Stadium Friday night.<\/p>\n But in an NRL season that has so far been defined by rolling attack and big swings in momentum, it was the Broncos\u2019 defence that impressed most.<\/p>\n \u201cTheir defence was outstanding,\u201d said Fox League commentator Greg Alexander, adding the Broncos had finally silenced their critics. <\/p>\n \u201cA lot of territory, a lot of ball inside the 20 \u2013 they had 40 tackles the Dolphins inside the Broncos\u2019 20, and they are a team that we know can score points.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Broncos kept them to two tries tonight and while they did have some chances, Brisbane\u2019s desperation defensively tonight, I think, was the big thing to take out of the game.\u201d<\/p>\n There has been some highly publicised dissension in the Broncos\u2019 ranks in the opening weeks of 2026 \u2013 on the back of a public stoush between club legend Gordon Tallis and coach Michael Maguire, and the sudden departure of defence coach Ben Te’o this week.<\/p>\n Maguire has been critical of his side\u2019s defence in the opening rounds of the season. Brisbane leaked 80 points in their first three matches \u2013 a mile away from top-flight defensive sides including Penrith and Canterbury.<\/p>\n However, Fox League\u2019s Braith Anasta believes last night\u2019s defensive efforts vindicate Maguire\u2019s direction of the side, and give the Broncos a clear road to continue along this year.<\/p>\n \u201cThere was a big fight this week with Ben Te\u2019o \u2013 and Te\u2019o moves on \u2013 but justice here for Michael Maguire,\u201d said Anasta. <\/p>\n \u201cOnly 12 points conceded and one try was from a poor pass from Ezra Mam. The Broncos showed great resilience and there are some glimpses of that premiership-winning team returning: that second half against Melbourne last week and into this game. The way they started this game, they were on.\u201d<\/p>\n Reece Walsh and the Broncos were brilliant in defence.Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n Maguire cut a completely different figure to recent weeks in the Dolphins post-match press conference, expressing admiration for his side after a tough week away from the field.<\/p>\n \u201cI was just really happy with the resilience that they showed for each other; there\u2019s always something there that you can find to work on but the fact that they did the 40 tackles and worked hard right to the death of the game \u2013 it was a special performance,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cAs a group and a team we\u2019ve been through plenty together. It\u2019s just the next step, moving into next week now. The group knows what its capable of doing.\u201d<\/p>\n For Fox League pundit Michael Ennis, the Broncos reminded fans why they deserve to be considered premiership contenders in 2026.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen Brisbane went on that run at the back end of last year \u2013 key players were playing well,\u201d Ennis explained. <\/p>\n \u201cEzra Mam is probably not at his best yet, but boy (Adam) Reynolds, (Reece) Walsh, (Kotoni) Staggs \u2013 their big guns are firing. (Pat) Carrigan defensively was huge for them tonight with no Payne Haas.<\/p>\n Newly appointed Manly interim coach Kieran Foran added: \u201cI love the fact that they focused heavily on their defence tonight. That\u2019s an area that\u2019s been lacking over the first few rounds for the Broncos but they got it right tonight. They did incredibly well.\u201d <\/p>\n Madge & Broncs deliver statement win | 03:11<\/p>\n BULLDOGS DEFENCE GOES MISSING AS HALVES PICTURE GETS MESSIER <\/p>\n All the talk around the Bulldogs this season was around waiting for their attack to click, but it was their reliable defence that went missing in a 24-16 loss to the Knights. <\/p>\n The Bulldogs missed a whopping 52 tackles and conceded six linebreaks in the five tries to three loss that saw them slip out of the top four. <\/p>\n Roosters legend Jared Waerea-Hargreaves was critical of the Bulldogs\u2019 defensive performance, which would worry Cameron Ciraldo. <\/p>\n \u201cReally disappointing from the Bulldogs missing 52 tackles that is not up to scratch,\u201d Waerea-Hargreaves said. <\/p>\n \u201cNo doubt Cameron Ciraldo will be disappointed about that.\u201d <\/p>\n Next up the Bulldogs face the Rabbitohs and their lethal left edge in a mouth-watering Good Friday clash at Accor Stadium and Adam Reynolds noted his old side would have a field day if Canterbury defend poorly again. <\/p>\n \u201cThey missed 52 tackles, so if they are going to compete with Souths, who we know have a strong left edge, they are going to need to fix that up,\u201d Reynolds said.<\/p>\n Ciraldo has built his Bulldogs team on commitment in defence and working hard for your teammate, so the performance against the Knights is troubling to say the least, especially since their two best attacking weapons Dylan Brown and Kalyn Ponga were not in the team.<\/p>\n Skipper Stephen Crichton missed six tackles and has just 72 metres from seven runs in a quiet day at the office by his standards. <\/p>\n Matt Burton impressed after moving to centre.Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n Unfortunately, the Bulldogs\u2019 attack wasn\u2019t much better and they are now averaging just 15 points a game this season after three matches. <\/p>\n Ciraldo tried to shake things up by giving Lachlan Galvin and Matt Burton permission to roam on both sides of the field and swap at times, but that only made their attack more clunky. <\/p>\n Burton was even shifted to the centres, with Stephen Crichton moved to five-eighth and Sean O\u2019Sullivan getting some minutes off the bench, which will do little to quieten the noise of making a permanent halves change at some point. <\/p>\n Burton impressed with his running game with 102 metres, three linebreaks, a linebreak assist and a classy double, but it remains to be seen if five-eighth is his best position. <\/p>\n Galvin also impressed with his running game with 136 metres, but he had no try or linebreak involvements and two errors in a performance that will only cast more doubt on his ability to be a chief playmaker. <\/p>\n But moving Burton to the centres will only make it harder for Bronson Xerri to get back in the team, which may see him leave the club if his stay in NSW Cup continues. <\/p>\n Two things remain clear for the Bulldogs, they don\u2019t have the spine to score points consistently in attack and if their defence fails them as it did against the Knights, they won\u2019t win many football games, especially against the elite teams in September. <\/p>\n They will need to fix their defence to beat Souths on Good Friday, but if they don\u2019t score more than 16 points they will still likely lose. <\/p>\n Young bags hat-trick in Knights upset | 01:46<\/p>\n EELS DEPTH TO BE TESTED AFTER DOUBLE INJURY BLOW<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re about to find out.\u201d<\/p>\n Those were the words from Jason Ryles after the Parramatta Eels were dealt two more injury blows over the weekend.<\/p>\n Less than seven days after losing J\u2019maine Hopgood (knee) and Jordan Samrani (knee) for an extended period of time, the timing couldn\u2019t have been worse when Isaiah Iongi (ankle) and Matt Doorey (knee) were forced from the field against the Panthers.<\/p>\n \u201cDevastating news for Isaiah Iongi\u2026and frustration on multiple fronts at the moment for Jason Ryles,\u201d Greg Alexander said on Fox League when the fullback exited the field.<\/p>\n Set to undergo scans on Monday, early indications have revealed that Iongi suffered a syndesmosis injury while Doorey has sustained a suspected ruptured ACL injury – the club\u2019s second in consecutive weeks.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s had a couple of long-term knee injuries. That was a while ago but that\u2019ll be in the back of his mind,\u201d Dan Ginnane said.<\/p>\n \u201cHe did his ACL in 2021 and his PCL before that.\u201d<\/p>\n Isaiah Iongi suffered a syndesmosis injury from a Mitch Kenny hip drop tackle.Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n Alexander continued, \u201cDevastating for Matt Doorey who has fought his way into this Parramatta side and brings great impact off the bench. It\u2019s been a tough night for Jason Ryles as coach.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat a shame for Matt Doorey.\u201d<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Richard Penisini (knee), Will Penisini (groin) and rising star Lorenzo Talataina (concussion) also remain sidelined.<\/p>\n For a team pushing for finals football, the mounting injury toll in key positions presents an early-season test for Ryles and his squad.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re about to find out and it\u2019s another opportunity for someone else to come in and put the jersey on,\u201d Ryles said.<\/p>\n With depth now set to be tested, Parramatta\u2019s response over the coming weeks may shape the trajectory of their entire season, as too many losses could lower the confidence and morale of the playing group.<\/p>\n If the Eels can remain competitive and pick up wins despite the disruption, it could galvanise the squad but losses would see more pressure mount on them over the next few weeks.<\/p>\n Joash Papalii looms as the obvious replacement for Iongi but he will have some competition from rookie Te Hurinui (Apa) Twidle who has been a revelation in NSW Cup and scored four tries against Penrith\u2019s reserve-grade side over the weekend.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Charlie Guymer, Teancum Brown, Toni Mataele and Jack de Belin will contend with one another for Doorey\u2019s vacant spot.<\/p>\n Cleary ‘masterclass’ leads record half | 00:53<\/p>\n PAYTEN EASES THE PRESSURE… AS NRL-WIDE SHIFT PLAYS INTO COWBOYS\u2019 HANDS<\/p>\n There\u2019s an argument to say it was Todd Payten, not Anthony Seibold, who was under more pressure leading into Round 4.<\/p>\n One coach has been sacked and the other beat a premiership heavyweight in the Storm with a comeback victory that could be the \u201cspark\u201d they need to kick on in 2026.<\/p>\n The Cowboys scored three tries inside seven minutes to beat Craig Bellamy\u2019s outfit only a week after North Queensland bested the Titans.<\/p>\n While Payten\u2019s position has come under fire to start this season, it\u2019s important to note the Cowboys now sit above the Roosters and Eels on the ladder and are on equal wins as the Broncos, Dolphins and Storm.<\/p>\n So, how did Payten mastermind a win against a red-hot Storm outfit? He leaned into his side\u2019s strengths.<\/p>\n There\u2019s arguably no team in the competition who can produce quick points \u2014 especially when they have momentum on their side.<\/p>\n With the increase in ruck infringements producing more repeat sets and the game speeding up, momentum swings more often and harder than ever before and that could serve to benefit a Cowboys side littered with attacking weapons.<\/p>\n \u201cI think the game at the moment, particularly with the ruck infringement shift, it\u2019s all about momentum and possession,\u201d Payten explained post-match on Fox League.<\/p>\n \u201cWe know when we get that, we can score in bunches.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve got to give our leaders the credit with the way they finished the game. Spoke to Jake in particular just about wanting him to run the ball more.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s a big body, he\u2019s hard to handle and he\u2019s a real threat when we run the ball and I think Scott Drinkwater and Tom Dearden are more threatening when they run the ball.<\/p>\n \u201cHopefully that\u2019s the spark that they need.\u201d<\/p>\n Jake Clifford had his running game on song as the Cowboys upset the Storm.Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n In the last 10 minutes of the clash, the Cowboys had 57 per cent of possession and they also won the territory battle 61 to 39 per cent in the second half.<\/p>\n Throw in their five linebreaks to three, 265 post-contact metres to 173 and a whopping 141 more running metres \u2014 and it\u2019s fair to say North Queensland capitalised on their momentum.<\/p>\n Integral to their charge was the usual faces. Scott Drinkwater was excellent as well as Tom Dearden, but Jake Clifford was also one of the best players on the field.<\/p>\n Dearden\u2019s halves partner was a major talking point heading into the 2026 season, and Jaxon Purdue had trained in the No.6 in pre-season.<\/p>\n However, Clifford\u2019s form in the pre-season challenge was impossible to ignore and he has carried that into the season, taking on the direction given to him by Payten.<\/p>\n \u201dTodd just kept it simple, obviously we didn\u2019t start the season the way we wanted to,\u201d Clifford said post-match.<\/p>\n Clifford scored an impressive try to start the clash, beating Jahrome Hughes in the air to find the white line.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s earned it, he\u2019s kept his head down and worked really hard,\u201d Payten said of Clifford\u2019s performances.<\/p>\n \u201cIt means something to the kid to play for this club… see how much work he puts into it each day, and it\u2019s showing in the footy.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s a confidence type player, and I want him to play to his strengths, kick well and run the ball. It\u2019s as simple as that, if he continues to do that he makes us better as a team.\u201d<\/p>\n Purdue, meanwhile, has proved to once again be a lethal attacking threat out wide and will remain in the centres for the time being, especially considering his form.<\/p>\n \u201cReally pleased with our game. The last couple of weeks, we were definitely heading in the right direction. (We) showed some grit, some fight,\u201d Payten said.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve got to give the lads the credit they deserve, throughout the first couple of weeks they haven\u2019t dropped their heads.<\/p>\n \u201cThey have still believed… and we have seen the rewards for that.\u201d<\/p>\n Cowboys STUN Storm with epic comeback | 03:11<\/p>\n RAIDERS MINOR PREMIERSHIP DEFENCE ON THIN ICE AFTER THIRD STRAIGHT LOSS<\/p>\n The Raiders\u2019 minor premiership is already on thin ice after they slumped to their third straight defeat in a 34-22 loss to the Sharks on their home turf in Canberra. <\/p>\n The Raiders had their chances after fighting back from 12-0 down and 18-12 to make it 22-all on the back of a stunning try from Xavier Savage. <\/p>\n But errors and penalties down the stretch cruelled their chances of coming over the top of the Sharks and they finish Round three third last. <\/p>\n Greg Alexander noted how important the game was for both teams given they faced a 1-3 hole amid pre-season top four hopes. <\/p>\n \u201cI know we are only in Round 4, but the Raiders have won only one game and that was back in Round 1,\u201d Alexander said. <\/p>\n \u201cThis was such an important game for both sides. <\/p>\n \u201cCanberra got themselves back into the game because they are just so athletic and they have so many players that can create things. <\/p>\n \u201cWhen it got to 22-all when Xavier Savage scored that unbelievable try you though anything could happen here, but the Sharks hustled errors into that Canberra side.\u201d <\/p>\n Luke Keary warned the Raiders that Ricky Stuart would be furious with their brain melts and the Roosters legend was quite prophetic. <\/p>\n \u201cI think Canberra is going to sit there and Ricky will probably tell them, they were their own worst enemy today,\u201d Keary said. <\/p>\n The Raiders have slumped to 1-3 and third last.Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n \u201cThe errors they came up with, the Corey Horsburgh sin bin at the start of the game, which got Cronulla off to a flying start at 12-0. <\/p>\n \u201cThey were chasing their tail from then and even in the second half, they looked likely, but they were just trying to push that final pass, throw offloads, gave away some silly penalties and they go to 1-3.\u201d<\/p>\n Keary feels the Raiders had their chance to win the game, but shot themselves in the foot time and again. <\/p>\n \u201cRicky will be disappointed with the brain fades,\u201d Keary said. <\/p>\n \u201cThe sin bin at the start of the game, the offloads they were pushing in the second half. There were times there in the second half where if they just completed a few sets in a row, they had the Sharks on the rack ready to break them. <\/p>\n \u201cThey have got the ability and the team to go on a 10 game winning streak. They have got the athleticism and the power. <\/p>\n \u201cThey are a young team. They need to sort out their defence and they need to sort out their discipline with the ball.\u201d <\/p>\n Stuart revealed he spoke to his side post match about their worrying ability to self-destruct. <\/p>\n \u201cOur biggest issue is the self-destruction. It\u2019s happened three out of our last four games, that we\u2019re not giving ourselves an even chance to test ourselves against the opposition.\u201cBut we\u2019ve been dealing with it, we spoke about it again just then after the game, and until we do, we won\u2019t win a game of footy.\u201d <\/p>\n ‘Self destruction’: Ricky’s message | 05:10<\/p>\n TITANS UNCOVER NEW FIFITA? NO, SAYS TINO<\/p>\n David Fifita departed the Titans in the lead-up to the 2026 season.<\/p>\n Rookie coach Josh Hannay was happy to let the superstar back rower walk, and the Gold Coast club even reportedly chipped in to secure his exit.<\/p>\n Maybe Hannay knew something the rest of us didn\u2019t \u2014 that he had another raging edge forward ready to slot into his place in Arama Hau.<\/p>\n The 21-year-old delivered the best performance of his short NRL career to down the Dragons, scoring two tries including a matchwinning effort that stunned from distance.<\/p>\n Josh Patston was largely tipped to fill the void left by Fifita, but Hannay pulled a selection shock in Round 1 and Hau won that spot.<\/p>\n For the foreseeable future, it looks like it\u2019s Hau\u2019s spot to lose too after a crowning display and a combination forged with halfback Jayden Campbell that looks dangerous.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s a good story, he\u2019s one of our young players… that\u2019s four-straight 80-minute performances from Arama,\u201d Hannay said in the post-match press conference.<\/p>\n \u201cHe didn\u2019t get that at any point last year. So you see tonight the quality of the lead and again he\u2019s a guy that can do that when he gets his fair share of football.<\/p>\n Arama Hau celebrates on his way to scoring a try.Source: The Courier Mail<\/p>\n \u201cHe spent the last three weeks working his backside off and tonight he gets a couple of opportunities to shine and show what he\u2019s about, so really happy for him.\u201d<\/p>\n As for the comparisons to Fifita, Titans skipper Tino Fa\u2019asuamaleaui was asked if he was reminded of \u201cshades\u201d of his \u201cold mate\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, that\u2019s shades of Arama Hau,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know, he\u2019s his own person, his own player. And like coach said, to see him be rewarded tonight was really good because he\u2019s put a lot of hard work in. <\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think he\u2019s played an 80-minute performance back-to-back like that a long time, even last year. <\/p>\n \u201cSo for him to put four games in-a-row and get rewarded tonight, it\u2019s so good to see that his work is paying off.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, yeah, shades of Arama Hau and there\u2019s going to be more this year, we just have got to keep working hard.\u201d<\/p>\n Hannay then revealed that his NRL future was in the balance during pre-season.<\/p>\n \u201cTo be fair, I would say middle of January, he was probably not in contention,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n \u201dHe\u2019s a young lad, right? And these young guys, there\u2019s possibly a little bit of immaturity about Arama. Like he probably didn\u2019t take his craft serious enough. <\/p>\n \u201cAnd you know, we\u2019d have these conversations… so that\u2019s been a work on for him and it will continue to be. So what he\u2019s done is he\u2019s put his head down and we\u2019ve seen the rewards. \u201cNow, the challenge for him will be, it\u2019s been a four week block, is to put a season together.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Sea Eagles stunned the NRL when they sacked Anthony Seibold on Friday and while pressure was 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