Manly Players’ Remarks Leave Phil Gould Bewildered Following Remarkable Turnaround

Phil Gould has expressed his confusion regarding one particular element of Manly’s recent victory, which followed an astonishing revival after the dismissal of coach Anthony Seibold.

Under the direction of Kieran Foran, Manly transformed from a team struggling for form at the start of the season to a formidable outfit capable of overpowering the Dolphins 52-18 in an away clash.

On Nine’s 100% Footy, Paul Gallen remarked that the match was a “free hit” for Manly considering the circumstances, branding the Dolphins’ performance as “absolutely horrendous” and “woeful”.

“Their defensive display was dreadful,” he commented.

However, amidst Manly’s resurgence, the shortcomings of the Dolphins have been overlooked.

Gould contended that the upcoming match won’t be as straightforward for the new coach, Foran.

“He’s had his entire life to prepare for that game, and now he’ll have just seven days to get ready for the next one, which won’t be straightforward as they’ll face a desperate Dragons team,” he noted.

Tune in to the 2026 NRL season live and free on Nine and 9Now.

The rugby league analyst further remarked on the remarkable contrast in quality between Seibold’s team and the one that took the field under Foran.

“This highlights how crucial mental preparedness and resilience are in sport,” he stated.

“This is the same squad that has faced boos, defeat, and a coaching change, yet suddenly, within the span of a week, a new coach brings about a transformation in performance.

“Post-match, they were saying things like ‘we just had to win this week’. Well, why didn’t you feel that urgency last week? I just don’t understand.”

100% Footy is now available as a podcast! Subscribe/follow via Apple, Spotify or Google Podcasts 

While surprised by the newfound determination displayed by the Sea Eagles, Gould acknowledged that the Manly board may have no choice but to appoint Foran on a permanent basis if this level of performance continues.

“When you play like that, the possibilities are endless. Who’s to say they can’t maintain that form throughout the season?” he said.

“If they do, it would be foolish not to appoint Kieran Foran as the head coach, especially if he can bring out such talent in them. It’s remarkable to witness such a performance following their struggles in the early part of the competition.”