‘100% no try’: Cleary seethes as Manly teen’s stunning moment shocks legend

A Promising Start for Manly’s Young Star

Fozball faced its first setback in a thrilling match, but the future looks promising for Manly as young talent Joey Walsh delivered a standout moment in the second half that even had legendary halfback Cooper Cronk praising his performance.

Walsh, who is just 19 years old and making his first NRL start, has already captured the attention of Manly fans, with many seeing him as the club’s future. His opportunity came when veteran Jamal Fogarty was injured, and despite missing a tackle on Blaize Talagi that led to a try, Walsh’s overall performance was impressive. One moment of magic stood out: he took the ball into the line and fooled Penrith’s strong defense with a head fake and a flat pass to Haumole Olakau’atu, who broke through and set up Ethan Bullemor for a try four minutes into the second half.

“That’s top shelf ball-playing from Walsh,” Cronk said during commentary. Interim coach Kieran Foran, known for his subtle plays, was proud of Walsh’s contribution, but it wasn’t enough to secure a win as Manly fell to 18-16 against the ladder-leading Panthers.

A Close Contest with Missed Opportunities

Manly put up a strong fight against the premiership favorites, matching them closely throughout the game. However, they were left rueing a poor 10-minute spell where several errors occurred while they had an extra man on the field. The stage was set for Walsh to tie the game with a minute remaining, but his two-point field goal fell short, spoiling what could have been a Hollywood ending.

Penrith’s Resilience and Challenges Ahead

Despite the close contest, Penrith remained at the top of the table after nine rounds. Their performance was anything but comfortable against a rising team, but their star players stepped up when it mattered most. Brian To’o ran for 207 metres and scored a try, while fullback Dylan Edwards was dominant, setting up a try for Izack Tago, which proved crucial in securing the win.

Penrith will face the Raiders in Canberra next week, but they might be without Jack Cogger after he was sent to the sin bin for a high shot on Tolu Koula. Cogger has not been charged since 2024, and Penrith did not concede any points while he was off the field.

Bunker Drama and Controversial Decisions

Nathan Cleary, the champion halfback, rarely vents his frustration at the officials, but he was visibly upset by a decision in the second half that saw Manly awarded a try. Lehi Hopoate crossed in the corner off what appeared to be a forward pass, but Cleary was more concerned about a potential foul by Clayton Faulalo. Cronk, commenting on the play, stated it was “100 per cent not a try.” However, the referee ruled that the contact didn’t impact the play, and the Bunker agreed to give Manly a 16-12 lead.

Judicial Watch and Player Reports

Ben Trbojevic was placed on report for a high tackle in the first half, adding to his previous charge in round 4. Luke Brooks was also placed on report for a trip in the second half, with a dangerous contact charge from round 4. Jack Cogger received a sin bin for a high tackle on Tolu Koula, but he has not been charged since 2024.

Stat Attack and Key Performances

According to Fox Lab:
– Penrith secured their eighth win of the season, only the second time they’ve won by less than 20 points (23-22 v Dolphins rd 7).
– They are the first team to win scoring less than 20 points since Brisbane over Storm in Round 3.
– The Panthers have won nine of their past 10 games at CommBank Stadium.
– This is the first time since 2024 that Manly lost conceding fewer than 20 points.
– Penrith finished the match with 55 percent possession, and 33 tackles to 10 in the opposition 20.
– No Panthers forward ran for over 100 metres.

Fox Lab POTM

Dylan Edwards continued his form battle with James Tedesco for the NSW no1 jersey. He set up a try, ran for over 200 metres, and busted 10 tackles for the second week running.