‘Unacceptable’: Gold Coast’s ugly capitulation against Manly

The Gold Coast Titans conceded 48 points in a horrific second-half capitulation against Manly, which a star forward described as “absolutely c**p”.

David Fifita of the Titans celebrates a try.

The Manly Warringah Sea Eagles scored nine consecutive tries to clinch a remarkable 56-24 comeback victory against the Gold Coast Titans at Cbus Super Stadium on Sunday evening.

Des Hasler’s men were seemingly in dire straits at halftime, trailing by 16 points after the Titans dived over for four straight tries in the opening 40 minutes.

Manly’s woes were exacerbated by Reuben Garrick’s inconsistent kicking, with the winger missing twin conversion attempts in the first half.

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But momentum quickly shifted back in Manly’s favour after the interval, with the men in maroon and white dominating their rivals in a one-sided second half.

The Sea Eagles registered 48 unanswered points after halftime, with Garrick scoring four tries and superstar fullback Tom Trbojevic mustering a hat-trick.

It marked the third time in five weeks Manly scored 50 points in an NRL game, with all three results against Queensland-based teams.

Garrick joined an illustrious list of Manly greats — Bob Fulton, Steve Menzies and Ken Irvine — to score four tries in a game, one short of Les Hanigan’s club record of five, set in 1967.

Remarkably, Garrick’s 28-point haul could have been substantially greater if he’d brought his kicking boots to Cbus Super Stadium.

Make that FOUR tries for Reuben Garrick 🤯#TelstraPremiership#NRLTitansManlypic.twitter.com/sawrw5JbuX

— NRL (@NRL) June 20, 2021

Meanwhile, Trbojevic proved why he’s one of the sport’s most influential players, contributing two linebreaks, four try assists, three linebreak assists, 149 running metres and seven tackle busts.

Fox League commentator Andrew Voss said Trbojevic “ticks every box” to lay claim as the greatest player in the NRL right now.

Balmain legend Steve Roach agreed: “This guy does things not many players can do.

“I didn’t think we would see one better than Billy Slater. As his career goes on, Tommy, who is to say he isn’t going to be better? He scores back to back tries in this game and then takes a carry through the ruck.”

Later in the 76th minute, Manly captain Daly Cherry-Evans celebrated his 250th NRL game with a four-pointer to go along with his three try assists.

Incredibly, the Titans boasted a near-perfect completion rate in the Round 15 contest with 33/34, but their vulnerable defence was alarmingly exposed.

As we’re all aware, no NRL team has ever won a premiership after conceding 50 points in a match.

Big win by Sea Eagle. Clearly rattled in first half, trailing by 16, they regrouped during the big break and produced a dynamic second half performance. All they needed was possession and energy. Titan hates playing without the ball. That showed again today. Manly very good side.

— Phil Gould (@PhilGould15) June 20, 2021

This game is like the Titans went home at half-time. Manly are running wild. #NRLTitansSeaEagles#NRL

— Luke Cooper (@luke__cooper) June 20, 2021

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The Titans have now lost five of their last six games, with their finals chances quickly dwindling.

Gold Coast forward Jarrod Wallace told ABC Grandstand after the 32-point loss: “It was just absolutely c**p is all I can put that down to … to dish that up in the second half is unacceptable.”

Following a two-week break, the Titans will face the Canberra Raiders at GIO Stadium on Saturday, July 3, while the Sea Eagles will take on the Canterbury Bulldogs at Bankwest Stadium that same day.

— with Joel Gould, NCA NewsWire