The Manly Sea Eagles recorded a comprehensive 32-16 victory at Lottoland over the Canberra Raiders who still remain win-less after four rounds.
MATCH DETAILS
Canberra were desperate to record their first victory of the season while Manly were keen to put a torrid week behind them and they did it in style, Canberra were first on the scoreboard early, but after that it was a Sea Eagles onslaught as they ran in four tries in 15 minutes to blow the Raiders out of the water.
FOUR POINTERS
HALVES DILEMNA
Canberra Coach Ricky Stuart will again have a tough week picking his top 17, but more so in the halves positions. With Blake Austin dropped to Mounties for his poor start the season, Stuart has stated he’s not afraid to yield the axe. Austin was terrific for the Mounties as he orchestrated them to a win, while the Raiders halves in Sam Williams and Aidan Sezer were quite poor once again. Austin fresh off a dominate performance in reserve grade is again Stuart’s sights while Sezer and Williams are on high alert, it will be interesting to see what the Canberra coach has up his sleeve this week.
TOMMY TURBO MASTERCLASS
Manly Fullback Tom Trbojevic was instrumental in steering his side to a comfortable victory. Trbojevic was simply outstanding having a hand in every single one of Manly’s tries while also running 205 metres, which included 3 line breaks. Tom wasn’t the only Trbojevic running riot, his brother Jake also had a solid game, which also saw him cross the paint for a four pointer. It is eerily similar to the Stewart brothers in Brett and Glenn who both helped Manly create its own dynasty that provided two premierships in 2008 and 2011. Sea Eagle fans have every right to be excited over the Trbojevic brothers.
RAIDERS SEASON GONE?
The Canberra Raiders are already in a slump, the men from the Nation’s Capital have not recorded a win in their first four outings leaving them slumped to the bottom of the competition table after four rounds. Realistically they should have won the first three but gave up leads late to slump to three losses, you flip that upside down and their record would read three wins and one loss in contrast to zero wins and four losses. Canberra was simply not up to it last night against Manly, they looked flat and like they were never in the contest. It’s going to be a tough task for Ricky Stuart to try to steer them out of this situation.
MANLY PUT TORRID WEEK PAST THEM
After being found guilty of salary cap breaches and being fined $1 million, Manly were eager to let their football do the talking and that they did. A week of controversy was put behind them with an easy win that has the boys from the Northern Beaches celebrating once again. Manly were found to be cap compliant this season, hence why they weren’t docked any points and they will be eager to keep up the winning form to keep them in headlines for the right reasons. Manly were too hot for an average Canberra side and it is now time to form some consistency with some more victories.
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING
“What they dished up tonight, they should be embarrassed to put a Raiders jumper on”- Ricky Stuart
The start our game was really good and our best players – Chez (Daly Cherry-Evans) and Jake and Tom – they all stood up and set the win up for us.”- Trent Barrett
THE RESULT
Manly Sea Eagles 32
Tries: Jake Trbojevic, Tom Trbojevic, Daly Cherry Evans, Matthew Wright (2)
Goals: Cherry Evans 6/8
Canberra Raiders 16
Tries: Iosia Soliola, Jarrod Croker, Jack Wighton
Goals: Croker 2/3
https://nothingbutleague.com/2016/08/27/four-pointers-manly-warringah-sea-eagles-30-canberra-raiders-44/
