Matt Pritchard reviews the first game of the Suncorp Stadium double-header: Manly Warringah vs Wests Tigers. Here’s how the game went.
SCOREBOARD
Sea Eagles 44
Tries: Morgan Harper (5, 37, 64), Lachlan Croker (21), Daly Cherry-Evans (35, 67), Tom Trbojevic (45), Dylan Walker (48).
Goals: Reuben Garrick (22, 36, 46, 49, 65, 68)
Tigers 24
Tries: Ken Maumalo (10, 71), Adam Doueihi (24), Jacob Liddle (54)
Goals: Adam Doueihi (12, 26, 55, 72)
Player of the Year Points
Embed from Getty Images3 pts – Daly Cherry-Evans (Sea Eagles)
2 pts – Morgan Harper (Sea Eagles)
1 pt – Tom Trbojevic (Sea Eagles)
MATCH REPORT
Embed from Getty Images1st Half
Both sides came into the Suncorp Stadium double header off victories last round with the Sea Eagles beating a depleted Dragons outfit and the Tigers proving too good for Brisbane. A win for the Tigers would continue their quest to play finals footy, while the Sea Eagles with Tom Trbojevic back could stay in reach of the top four with victory.
It took six minutes for the first score. Manly swept from the left to the right, with Daly Cherry-Evans setting up Morgan Harper for his first of three tries.
The Tigers quickly responded thanks to Jacob Liddle’s line break through the middle of Manly’s defence. Luke Brooks went to the right, found Luke Garner before Ken Maumolo found his way to the line. Adam Doueihi converted the try to give Wests Tigers the lead 6-4.
Mid-way through the half regained the lead after Cherry-Evans kick was taken by Jason Saab, with Haumole Olakau’atu finding Lachlan Croker in support to score.
Again Wests Tigers quickly responded straight away with Doueihi and Brooks combining for the Lebanon international to score.
Manly scored twice within the five minutes before half-time. Josh Schuster made the break and drew Daine Laurie before offloading to Cherry-Evans to score. From inside their own half Tom Trbojevic exposed the Tigers right hand defence in linking with Brad Parker. They shifted the ball to the right side where Harper completed his second.
The Sea Eagles were looking good to record their eleventh win of the season with an eight point lead at the break.
HALF-TIME: Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 20 Wests Tigers 12
Embed from Getty Images2nd Half
Manly continued their dominance at the start of the final forty minutes with Tom Trbojevic crossing from close range to extend after a James Tamou error. When Dylan Walker crashed through some poor goal line defence, the score ballooned out to 30-12 with half an hour remaining.
Liddle scooted over from dummy half to give the Tigers some hope after 55 minutes but it was short lived. The Sea Eagles would put two tries on in a five minute period as Harper completed his hat-trick and Cherry-Evans scored his second.
Maumalo scored a consolation after some good lead-up work by Laurie to draw the Sea Eagles defence in.
It was a night out for Cherry-Evans in steering his side to victory, scoring two tries and setting up three others. For the Tigers, another examination of their leaking defence especially soft on their goal line. They have now conceded an average of 42 points in their last five outings.
FULL-TIME: Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 44 Wests Tigers 24
Injuries
Luke Garner (Tigers) – ankle
Alex Seyfarth (Tigers) – knee
Dylan Walker (Sea Eagles) – concussion
Match Review Committee
Josh Aloiai (Sea Eagles) – Grade 2 Dangerous Contact Other – Early Guilty Plea 1 match ban, Guilty at Judiciary 2 match ban.
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