Jack Harbidge reviews the Round 14 clash between Manly and North Queensland at 4 Pines Park. Here’s how the game went.
SCOREBOARD
Sea Eagles 50
Tries: Brad Parker (12, 77), Haumole Olakau’atu (18, 39), Karl Lawton (34), Lachlan Croker (36), Kieran Foran (42), Reuben Garrick (50), Dylan Walker (65).
Goals: Reuben Garrick (20, 36, 38, 40, 44, 67, 78)
Cowboys 18
Tries: Murray Taulagi (2), Javid Bowen (7), Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (72).
Goals: Valentine Holmes (3, 8, 73)
Player of the Year Points
Embed from Getty Images3 pts – Reuben Garrick (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles)
2 pts – Haumole Olakau’atu (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles)
1 pt – Brad Parker (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles)
MATCH REPORT
Embed from Getty Images1st Half
The Cowboys started fast against a Tom Trbojevic-less Manly side who looked under the pump in the early stages. An early error from Martin Taupau gifted the Cowboys good possession which Murray Taulagi later took advantage of to open the scoring just over two minutes in.
The Cowboys continued to press and benefitted from a set restart off a Lachlan Croker ruck infringement to score through Javid Bowen just five minutes after they opened their account. At 12-0 up (with Valentine Holmes perfect from the boot), the momentum was undoubtedly with the away side until Brad Parker replied with a try of his own for the Sea Eagles off the back of some good shape down the Manly left edge.
From then on Manly took hold of the game, backing up Parker’s score with Haumole Olakau’atu grabbing a try off the back of a cross-field kick. The two sides then traded sets for the next 15 minutes before fatigue told and Manly unloaded three tries through Karl Lawton, Lachlan Croker, and Olakau’atu in the final five minutes before half-time to go 28-12 up.
HALF-TIME: Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 28 North Queensland Cowboys 12
Embed from Getty Images2nd Half
Manly kicked off the second half the same way they left off the first, with Kieran Foran crossing after being the first to react to a ricochet from a Daly Cherry-Evans kick. North Queensland replied with a good deal of attacking pressure, only for Reuben Garrick to go the length off a kick reception just a couple of metres off his own line.
The try didn’t break the Cowboys, however, and they traded sets with the rampant Manly side for the middle part of the half before Dylan Walker got on the end of a Cherry-Evans chip to add to the Sea Eagles’ score with just under 15 minutes left.
The Cowboys weren’t finished either though, and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow crossed for the visitors after a series of loose plays to dampen the victory margin, before Parker got his second of the night in the 77th minute to restore it.
FULL-TIME: Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 50 North Queensland Cowboys 18
Injuries
to be advised
Match Review Committee
to be advised
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