2021 NRL Round 16, Bulldogs 0 Sea Eagles 66 – Report

Christopher Rooney reviews the opening game of Super Saturday – with Canterbury-Bankstown playing Manly Warringah. Here’s how the game went.

SCOREBOARD

Player of the Year Points

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3 pts – Jason Saab (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles)
2 pts – Tom Trbojevic (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles)
1 pt – Reuben Garrick (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles)

MATCH REPORT

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1st Half

An early set restart, and two straight penalties by the Bulldogs, gave the Sea Eagles the first opportunity to score.

A catch-and-pass from Tom Trbojevic to Reuben Garrick was enough for Garrick to score in the corner.

It was now the Sea Eagles’ turn to give away multiple set restarts and the Bulldogs were able to march down to their end.

However, the Bulldogs didn’t offer much in attack and gave away a lazy penalty, holding back Trbojevic, when a line drop out looked likely.

The Sea Eagles exposed the Bulldogs’ right edge, as Trbojevic went over for Manly’s second try of the afternoon.

Penalties were the common theme in the first half as both sides were guilty of giving them away. The difference was the Sea Eagles were able to capitalise on most of the opportunities given to them.

Not long after, Toafofoa Sipley scored his first try of his NRL career and made it look easy.

Straight after Sipley scored, the Sea Eagles were in again as Trbojevic scored his second try of the afternoon.

The Bulldogs were lost and had no answers for Trbojevic, who scored a hat-trick in the first half.

It was an enjoyable half of football for Sipley who scored his second try of his NRL career and had a first half double.

HALF-TIME: Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 0 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 36

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2nd Half

A mistake from the kick off by the Sea Eagles gave the Bulldogs early ball down their end to start the second half.

The Bulldogs’ attack continued to lack any spark and struggled to build any pressure, while when needed to defend their line, the Sea Eagles were more than able to.

Set restarts and penalties followed early into the second half as both sides continued to give away lazy set restarts for being inside the 10 metres.

The Sea Eagles went in again after Karl Lawton scored the first try of the second half.

The pain continued again for the Bulldogs as they continued to give away penalties, William Hopoate was sent to the sin bin after a professional foul, and Garrick scored his second try of the afternoon.

Jason Saab scored a hat trick to end the game, and now it was a ridiculous scoreline.

The Bulldogs were grateful to hear the final siren to end the match.

FULL-TIME: Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 0 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 66

Injuries

to be advised

Match Review Committee

Jeremy Marshall-King (Bulldogs) – Grade 1 Crusher Tackle – Early Guilty Plea 2 match ban, Guilty at Judiciary 3 match ban.
Ava Seumanufagai (Bulldogs) – Grade 1 Dangerous Contact Other – Early Guilty Plea 1 match ban, Guilty at Judiciary 2 match ban.

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