By Adam Lucius 

2nd Grade: After his side's stupefying 6-3 loss to Northern Suburbs on Saturday, was Manly coach John Kelly a) livid, b) ropeable, c) outraged, d) all three at the same time?

If you answered (d) go and collect a free sausage sanga and beer from Rusty.

For the second week in a row, the Marlins threw away victory with a display Kelly labelled "brain dead".

"The team shows guts but they show no intelligence whatsoever," he thundered.

"Our kicking game was the equivalent of an under-10s and that's what lost us the game.

"We're getting no distance on our kicks. Their right winger spent the whole game standing flat in the line and only once in the entire game did someone kick to his side and put it over his head and put pressure on them.

"To me that is brain dead, unintelligent football. Unfortunately in this team we've got too many guys who can’t think and play what's in front of them."

Kelly has seen his team's top two hopes slide out the backdoor over the past fortnight.

They now face a tooth and nail fight to ensure they don’t disappear from finals reckoning.

"The last two weeks has cost us a top two chance. We still should make the top six but every week will be a sudden death semi-final," Kelly warned.

"We've opened the door to those teams below us."

3rd Grade: Coach Adam MacDonald has done the sums and reckons his side can afford to drop one more game and still finish in the top two.

That comes after the consistent Marlins beat Northern Suburbs 25-5 to continue their tremendous run.

"It was a very strong performance. We were outstanding from one through to 15," MacDonald beamed.

"There's not more you can ask of the players. 

"We're building nicely. We've got a tough one this week against Easts who are playing for a semi-final spot.

"I worked out we can afford to drop one more game - I'd like not to - but we can do that because all the other sides have to play each other."

Cameron Cole and Issac Treml grabbed the tries against the Shoremen, while rookie prop Andrew Collins was players' player.

4th Grade: A Japanese centre and an ageless player/coach laid the platform for Manly's 13-5 victory.

Takumi Kaneka and Tim Emmerson were terrific as the Henderson Cup boys grafted their way to a solid win.

"We have a few injuries and lost a few players to the higher grades so we were very pleased to get away with the points," coach Chris Smith said .

"We adjusted and adapted to the conditions well.

"Takumi and Trim were great for us."

Manly are third after 17 rounds.