‘Not NRL’: Fans unleash on Bulldogs after Manly obliteration

The Bulldogs’ season hit a new low on Saturday afternoon, with the side falling to an embarrassing defeat against the Sea Eagles.

Manly posted their biggest halftime score since 2014. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

The Bulldogs’ season from hell hit a fresh new low on Saturday afternoon as the side slumped to a humiliating 66-0 loss at the hands of the Sea Eagles.

Des Hasler’s outfit recorded its biggest ever win, taking full advantage of Canterbury’s poor defensive reads and racking up a staggering 11 tries.

Tom Trbojevic spearheaded the surging Sea Eagles and continued to show why he’s now considered the best player in the world.

Already in arguably the best individual patch of form ever seen, Trbojevic outdid himself on Saturday afternoon with an effortless 16-minute hat trick.

He also could’ve had a fourth, generously passing to younger brother Ben in the in-goal, only for the try to be cruelly overturned by the referee for an obstruction from the kickoff.

Tom still has a remarkable 14 tries in nine NRL games so far this season, and 18 in just 11 appearances if you include his heroics so far for NSW in the two State of Origin games.

At one stage, the Bulldogs resorted to taking Tom out illegally, with centre Will Hopoate sin binned for tackling the Manly No.1 while in support in the second half.

“I don’t think we’ve seen a player in the history of our game put together performances like this back to back,” champion halfback Cooper Cronk commented of Trbojevic on Fox Sports.

“He is out of this world at the moment.”

And that was at halftime.

Tom, who has catapulted into Dally M calculations despite missing the opening five games of the season, finished the match with three tries, two try assists and three line break assists.

Teammate Reuben Garrick shot to the top of the pointscoring list with an individual 30 points (two tries, 11 goals from 11 attempts), while winger Jason Saab nabbed a hat trick.

Saab upped Tom by completing his tries in just 12 minutes, while prop Toafofoa Sipley also came off the bench to claim his first two career tries.

It was another relentless assault from the merciless Sea Eagles, who have now won nine of their past 11 to leap to fifth spot – their highest position in almost two years.

The win surpassed their previous record 63-point winning margin over Penrith in 1973.

For Canterbury and coach Trent Barrett, it’s rock bottom.

The match marked the ninth occasion this season the Dogs had conceded more than 30 points, the seventh time they had gone into halftime scoreless and the fourth they’d finished a game with zero points.

The hiding is their third-worst in club history, and their worst since an 87-7 walloping from Eastern Suburbs in 1935, while also killing their points differential enough to sink them below Brisbane to last spot.

A penny for the thoughts of Matt Burton and Josh Addo-Carr this arvo. This has been embarrassing. Shambolic. Disgraceful.

— Brent Read (@brentread_7) July 3, 2021

This isn’t NRL #NRLManlyBulldogs

— BUZZ ROTHFIELD (@BuzzRothfield) July 3, 2021

This is a deadset training run for Manly. No crowd, no resistance in the opposition's defence and some music playing over the speaker at the end of each set after they find the line. #NRLBulldogsManly

— Scott Bailey (@ScottBaileyAAP) July 3, 2021

#NRLBulldogsManlypic.twitter.com/lMDyREPMyv

— James Smith (@JamesSmith1001) July 3, 2021

Flanno speaks

It was meant to be Kyle Flanagan’s big chance to redeem himself, but the embattled playmaker was barely given an opportunity to show why he belongs back in the top grade.

Playing in his first game since his emotional demotion two months ago, Flanagan was barely sighted as the Bulldogs defence rendered their attack non-existent.

Kyle’s dad and premiership-winning coach, Shane, commentated that while it had been a challenging month for his son, he was hopeful a change in their structure would yield results.

“He’s not going to be that first receiver a lot of the time. He’s just going to hold his edge, and they’re gonna let young (Jake) Averillo control the football, which is fine,” Shane said.

“It’s just a different type of structure which Kyle’s not used to, but I’m sure he’ll adapt to it.”

Kyle finished the game with 19 metres from three runs, and one offload.

Bad Dogs

Bulldogs fans were desperate to find some semblance of hope in debutants in Falakiko Manu, Bailey Biodi-Odo and Christopher Patolo.

However the trio will not only remember the game for the hiding they received, but Manu and Patolo were also for high contact.

Firebrand prop Jack Hetherington is also looking at more time on the sidelines after being cited for a high tackle, while Jeremy Marshall-King also got pinged for a crusher tackle.