The NSW Blues star left the field attempting to stop a try in the corner in the 69th minute on Thursday night, while colliding with a cameraman at the same time.
Dolphins fullback Trai Fuller, who saved two tries with courage and desperation, scored one of the best individual four-pointers of the season in a 50m razzle-dazzle effort in a man-of-the-match display.
The visitors got out to a 16-4 lead but the Dolphins hit back with three tries in five minutes.
Dolphins second-rower Connelly Lemuelu ran a classic inside line off five-eighth Kodi Nikorima late in the half.
Then a desperation play by Dolphins centre Herbie Farnworth paid dividends. The England international tapped the ball back while airborne over the dead ball line onto the foot of Daly Cherry-Evans before it went dead. The Dolphins got a repeat set and made the Sea Eagles pay.
The 27-year-old Fuller, on a train and trial deal, then burst past Cherry-Evans and chipped over Trbojevic to score as the rain tumbled.
It was a try that showcased instinct and brilliant skill.
Trai Fuller, take a bow! �— NRL (@NRL) #NRLDolphinsManly pic.twitter.com/BfD8hXBwwdMay 9, 2024
When prop Mark Nicholls stormed over after a Jake Averillo bust, the Dolphins had captured a 20-16 lead into halftime. Â
Manly winger Jason Saab earlier sustained a grade three AC joint sprain while attempting to score in the corner and left the field in the 17th minute.
Saab had already missed five games with a hamstring injury and is set for another lengthy break.
The visitors had given up a 20-point lead the previous week to lose to Canberra and a similar scenario loomed, but the Dolphins made errors early in the second half.
Tom Trbojevic, who had set up a try for Corey Waddell with a deft grubber kick in the first half, scored after an interchange of passes with brother Jake to reclaim the lead.
Dolphins winger Jack Bostock touched down in the corner after a brilliant piece of eyes-up footy by half Isaiya Katoa. That is when Trbojevic went off and Manly's hopes went with it.
The Dolphins have forged a reputation for brilliance and battling against the odds and they did it again when they fell behind.
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