The Mole: Ageing Manly in desperate need of a 'makeover' following shock Titans result

There's no more sugar-coating it - Manly need a serious makeover during the upcoming off-season if they hope to be an NRL force again.

The Sea Eagles went into Friday night's clash against a weakened Titans outfit sitting in last place as firm favourites yet were spanked 28-8.

Manly were near full strength and the Titans were without Origin representative forwards Tino Fa'asuamaleaui and Moeaki Fotuaika but simply out-enthused and were too fast for a sloppy Manly team.

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Manly have now lost their last four away games in which they were considered favourites and their finals hopes are slipping away.

With an ageing, injury prone roster, the Sea Eagles are no longer the classy attacking team that racks up big scores against rival teams.

They have now won just six of 14 games this season and looked a team waiting for summer on the Gold Coast.

The Titans, blessed with one of the fastest backlines in the league, ran Manly off their feet, with Alofiana Khan-Pereira grabbing a double and fellow pace men AJ Brimson and Jayden Campbell also carving up the sluggish Manly defence.

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The Titans are now just two wins outside the top eight and have the ability to mount a late challenge for finals footy with the ladder the most congested in recent memory.

DRAMATIC CHANGE IN DOLPHINS' FORTUNES

If there was a Dally M for the team that plays the most attractive football in the league, the Dolphins would win it hands down.

Missing half a dozen of their best players, the Phins smashed the Cowboys 58-4 in Townsville, scoring a host of spectacular tries as they did so.

The men from Redcliffe have now scored more points than any team in the NRL and sitting comfortably in sixth spot, appear finals bound for the first time in their three-year history.

In 2023 and 2024, the Phins started well before running out of gas.

This season they have done the opposite, losing their opening four games before a spectacular run of form that has made them the talk of the league.

With halves Isaiya Katoa and Kodi Nikorima calling the shots, they have an attack most rival teams can only envy and if they do get into the finals, they could do some real damage against some of the NRL's more fancied teams.

OUT OF CONTRACT HALF PUTS HEAT ON COACH

Toby Sexton has made it clear he isn't about to give up his halfback spot at the Bulldogs without a fight.

Instead of kicking stones or looking for a new club following the arrival of wonderboy Lachlan Galvin, Sexton lifted his game against Souths on Sunday.

The talented half was as good as any player on the park, scoring half of the Bulldogs' points in a 24-18 win and running in the opening try.

Sexton's problem comes when the Bulldogs' Origin contingent returns next week.

But he has put the heat on Cameron Ciraldo, who now has some serious decisions to make.

CHOOKS FIND ANOTHER KIWI ACE

The Roosters have found yet another dynamic Kiwi in back-rower Salesi Foketi, who scored a sensational try in the defeat of the Knights.

With a small junior league, the Roosters have traditionally had to look elsewhere for talent, and New Zealand has proved a very happy hunting ground over the years.

The likes of former Dally M Medallist Gary Freeman, ex-club captain Hugh McGahan, champion centre Dean Bell and more recently veteran prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, star centre Joey Manu, fan favourite Shaun Kenny-Dowall and tryscoring ace Roger Tuivasa-Sheck all played their best football at the Roosters.

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Foketi, just 19, was elevated into the Roosters' top squad at the start of the year and has repaid the club's faith with some strong efforts.

But the dynamic edge backrower came of age against the Knights with his first career try, running nearly 50 metres to score, showing pace, athleticism and confidence to leave the Knights defence in his wake to score the try that ultimately proved the difference between the teams.

'HARSH LESSON' GIVEN TO NRL'S BOOM ROOKIE

Rugby league is a learning curve for young players, and Cowboys rookie Jaxon Purdue was given a harsh lesson by the Dolphins on Saturday night.

Purdue has been earning rave reviews after bursting onto the scene this season but was owned by his opposite number Kodi Nikorima in Townsville.

While Nikorima had a night out in Townsville, Purdue had a game to forget.

He missed five tackles, several of which led to tries, and made two handling errors as the Dolphins ran riot 58-4.

FITNESS PROBLEM FLANNO MUST FIX

Questions have to be asked about the Dragons' fitness after they raced away to a good lead and then blew it for the umpteenth time this season against the Sharks.

The Red V led 18-6 at half time and had the Sharks at their mercy before falling to pieces, conceding 24 straight points.

Throw that in alongside last week's humiliation at the Dolphins and the Dragons have 86 points in the space of a week.

The Dragons are one of the biggest teams in the NRL, with bulky players like Moses Suli, Luciano Leilua and Blake Lawrie (who didn't play this game) all capable of doing damage with the football.

But they also move slow laterally and leave gaps that good teams are able to exploit.

The Sharks did well to recover from such a poor start but won't be able to do the same against the better teams in the competition.