After three rounds of NRL action in 2026, the Manly Sea Eagles found themselves in a precarious position, battling to steer clear of their first-ever wooden spoon.
Losing three consecutive matches to kick off the season is far from ideal, especially when the coach begins with 95 percent of the fanbase already demanding his removal.
Compounding the situation, all three defeats occurred at Brookvale Oval, leaving little room for optimism.
The timing of Anthony Seibold's departure was perhaps the only shock, coming a game after the bye rather than during that break.
Interestingly, the most unexpected twist came when Manly appointed Kieran Foran as interim coach.
It was widely rumored that Matt Ballin was the preferred choice by the Manly hierarchy, with Foran's main responsibility to restore the fans' faith at Brookvale.
Three weeks later, there were strong calls for Foran to be given the head coach position permanently, fueled by three consecutive victories.
The 52-18 triumph in Foran's first match was both exhilarating and surprising, especially considering the team's prior performances.
A solid 28-18 victory over the Dragons was followed by a stunning 38-6 rout of the North Queensland Cowboys in Townsville, coining the phrase "Fozball."