Anthony Seibold has urged the NRL to reconsider its scheduling after Manly's season was turned upside down by playing three games in 11 days.
Seibold's comments came after a costly night for the Sea Eagles, with Nathan Brown (shoulder), Jake Trbojevic (concussion) and Tommy Talau (leg) failing to finish Thursday's 20-18 loss to St George Illawarra.
The trio are likely to miss next week's clash with Penrith after the Sea Eagles slumped to a third-straight win without Tom Trbojevic.
The prospect of Trbojevic returning next week came as Seibold revealed hooker Lachlan Croker was set to miss the next month of action after having knee surgery.
And while he said his side's play was not up to scratch in the loss to the Dragons, Seibold was keen to underline that the burden of travel was becoming too much.
"This is something I was going to say regardless of the result, but that's five games in 25 days," Seibold said.
"The NRL's never been more demanding and we talk about player welfare and wellbeing and so on.
"I just don't understand how not only is it five games in 25 days, if you narrow it down a bit more, it's three games in 11 days."
Across those 11 days, Manly played Melbourne at home on Sunday April 6, travelled to play Cronulla in Perth on Saturday April 12 and then hosted the Dragons on Thursday April 17.
Seibold also noted issues with draws for NRL rivals such as Canberra, who have been to Darwin, Las Vegas, and Townsville in quick succession.
"We lose two days in the air to Perth, it's a five-hour trip each way, so there's another two days down," Seibold said.
"I don't understand it. The competition is demanding and it's never been more demanding. The GPS data is through the roof this year.
"So I've got to say I just don't understand that. I think it's something that needs to be looked at.
"We had 20 minutes on the field this entire week, so it's difficult. I've seen other teams with it as well, so it's not just us, it's across the competition and needs to be looked at.
"In the AFL they don't have less than six-day turnarounds."
The latest setback for Croker is a mighty blow for Manly, who have lacked the hooker's guile and control out of dummy half.
"Crokes had a clean out on his knee during the week, so he'll be about a month," Seibold said.
"It's unfortunate because he's a really valuable member of the squad and we've missed him."
AAP
Key Events
FT: Dragons hang on to beat Manly 20-18
57' Manly levels the scores while down to 12!
53' Toafofoa Sipley sent to the sin bin
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Let's wrap things up here
By Simon Smale
By Simon Smale
OK, I think that'll do us this fine evening.
It's a very big long weekend, so we don't want to eat all our chocolates at once.
We'll be back tomorrow for all the action on Good Friday and the Bulldogs and the Bunnies play out their traditional clash in front of what is expected to an enormous crowd at the Olympic stadium in Sydney.
Then, we'll head up to the Olympic city as the Dolphins take on the Storm later on.
Looking forward to bringing you all the action as it happens from those matches.
Happy Easter.
'Pass-happy' Sea Eagles their own worst enemy
By Simon Smale
By Simon Smale
Here's Reuben Garrick now, speaking to ABC Sport.
He says the Sea Eagles just couldn't hold onto the ball.
"Probably a bit pass happy there at the start, trying to do too much," he says.
"Definitely a lot to learn. We bounced back at the end and it would've been nice to jag it late.
"Wasn't to be."
Win gives the Dragons 'a lot of belief'
By Simon Smale
By Simon Smale
Damian Cook has been speaking to ABC Sport.
He said it was always going to be a tough match at Brookvale, but with two wins on the bounce, the Dragons are starting to get a bit of momentum.
"It was a tense one. They're always hard to play here in Brookvale," he says.
"Good to back it up after last week. That gives us a lot of belief."
Was a much more entertaining second half, in fairness
By Simon Smale
By Simon Smale
Thanks for the blog Simon, the 2nd half was better than the first but not better enough for Manly - see you next time.
- Mike
Key Event
FT: Dragons hang on to beat Manly 20-18
By Simon Smale
By Simon Smale
The Dragons have hung on!
Goodness me, a dramatic second half, but the Sea Eagles errors came back to haunt them too much.
A very even contest, the Sea Eagles had 51 per cent possession, completed 31 of 41 compared to 34 of 45 by the Dragons.
The Dragons did, according to NRL.com, make more errors, 13-10.
But eight penalties came at really crucial times for the Sea Eagles and they're in a bit of a hole now.
Reaction to come.
79' Manly wins the ball at the scrum, but it's a penalty!
By Simon Smale
By Simon Smale
HaumoleOlakau'atuwins the ball offJacob Liddle, but was there high contact?
There was!
And it means Olakau'atu is on report too.
79' Manly knocks on!
By Simon Smale
By Simon Smale
That's a disaster for the Sea Eagles.
They look to move the ball up field methodically and Luke Brooks knocks on.
78' Cherry Evans misses with the two-point field goal!
By Simon Smale
By Simon Smale
He wasn't far away there!
A great attempt from Daly Cherry Evans from all of 45 metres out.
He had the distance relatively comfortably, but just missed out when it came to direction.
73' Saab intercepts with the Dragons challenging
By Simon Smale
By Simon Smale
That's a great piece of play from Saab.
As Gutherson passed the ball to the left side, he leaped out the line and tapped the ball up to himself to gather.
He couldn't get away from the swarming Dragons though and can't make a length of the field score like Sloan did earlier.
72' LUKE BROOKS SCORES! BUT IT'S RULED OUT!
By Simon Smale
By Simon Smale
OR DOES HE?
No try is the call as it's sent upstairs.
Luke Brooks kicks the ball high - the ball is allowed to bounce and he kicks it on to his own advantage, gathers and scores.
Brookvale explodes!
But referee Gough says no try and it's because Trbojevic is ahead of the kicker and then interferes with the defenders.
A very good call from the referee to see in real time.
67' SAAB SCORES A CRACKER!
By Simon Smale
By Simon Smale
Daly Cherry Evans is perfect with the kick, a beautiful deft dab over the top on the run.
Saab is there on the wing, he leaps up over the top of replacement Sione Finau, and dots down.
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He looked a bit uncomfortable as he landed, legs akimbo and sprawled on the turf, but he stayed in play and scored the try.
The kick will be right from the sideline - and he misses it!
It's 20-18 to the Dragons!
65' Cherry Evans denies Sloan!
By Simon Smale
By Simon Smale
That's superb from Daly Cherry Evans!
Tyrell Sloan broke free down the right, chipped ahead towards the post, DCE is back there, uses his legs to guide the ball away from the Dragons chasers and then picks up and runs 20 metres the other way.
Brilliant from the veteran.
61' Luke Brooks on report
By Simon Smale
By Simon Smale
He gave Lachlan Ilias a whack around the chops and is on report as a result.
Not a huge amount in it, to be honest.
61' Jacob Liddle crashes over!
By Simon Smale
By Simon Smale
Just as time on the sin bin runs out the Dragons make the most of their advantage!
It was a short, crash ball from Flanagan that sends Liddle over the top.
The kicks is good and the score is 20-14 to the Dragons!
Key Event
57' Manly levels the scores while down to 12!
By Simon Smale
By Simon Smale
That is superb from the 12-men of Manly!
Daly Cherry Evans holds the ball just long enough to disrupt the line, passes to Brooks who releases, Hopoate who, with a wonderful burst of pace, breaks past Ilias!
In the back play, Ben Trbojevic was giving his support and is sent over to score untouched.
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The kick is good and the scores are level at 14-14!
I'll make a request
By Simon Smale
By Simon Smale
Any chance of a confused reaction symbol Simon? Some of the refereeing decisions are baffling tonight.
- KB
I would consider myself mostly puzzled.
But that's pretty standard state of being.
54' Penalty Sea Eagles!
By Simon Smale
By Simon Smale
And now the Dragons are offside.
Trailing by eight, the Sea Eagles are going to go for points, taking time off the clock and points off their deficit.
The kick is good and the score is now 14-8.
54' Error from the Dragons!
By Simon Smale
By Simon Smale
That's a huge response from the Sea Eagles!
Val Holmes has powered into the line, was met by three defenders and he tries to offload to Flanagan.
Given the ball, Flanagan is monstered by Jazz Tevaga and loses the ball!
Manly are up and about!
Key Event
53' Toafofoa Sipley sent to the sin bin
By Simon Smale
By Simon Smale
Oh this looks nasty for Mathew Feagai.
Feagai is crunched and down and in a lot of pain.
He was tackled by Siosiua Taukeiaho, and then slammed by ToafofoaSipley.
The bunker says that it's a hip drop.
And Toafofoa Sipley has been sent to the sin bin, and is on report.
The crowd hates that call.
50' Manly score a brilliant try!
By Simon Smale
By Simon Smale
Oh how the Sea Eagles needed that!
From half way, finally a move through the hands works.
A lovely pass from Hopoate over the top to the left wing where Tommy Talau gains possession with acres of open pasture in front of him.
He races into that space, looks left and passes back inside to Tolutau Koula, copping a late shot from Clint Gutherson for his troubles.
But Koula scores untouched and, with the Garrick kick a good one, the score is now 14-6.
Game on?
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