Friday evening’s game at 4 Pines Park was the final game of the season for both the Manly Sea Eagles and the Wests Tigers.
Result
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 54
Tries: (10) Tolutau Koula 1st, 17th; Jason Saab 29th, 32nd; Ethan Bullemor 39th; Haumole Olakau’atu 49th; Jake Trbojevic 57th; Raymond Tuaimalo Vaega 60th; Gordon Chan Kum Tong 62nd; Daly Cherry-Evans 65th
Goals: (7) Daly Cherry-Evans 2nd, 18th, 40th, 51st, 58th, 64th, 66th
Wests Tigers 12
Tries: (2) Apisai Koroisau 9th; Asu Kepaoa 70th
Goals: (2) Apisai Koroisau 11th, 72nd
Report
The Sea Eagles wasted no time putting themselves on the board, with Tolutau Koula scoring in the opening minute of the game.
The Tigers hit back soon after, Apisai Koroisau converting his own try to start the Tigers off on the right foot.
Koula had scored a double by the 17th minute, and it while the Tigers looked ready for a contest, the Sea Eagles had an energy about them that gave them more control over the game.
It was an action packed first half, and both the Tigers and the Sea Eagles were looking eager to get a win to finish off their respective 2023 seasons.
Jacob Saab also scored a double for Manly, who now led by 14 points.
In the final five minutes of the first half, the Tigers looked scattered, almost like they were watching the clock waiting for the break. Despite this scattered look, they certainly were strong on their line, not allowing more points to be scored by Manly as the half-time break drew closer.
After finally getting the opportunity for some attack, a simple error in the play-the-ball lost the Tigers optimal field possession, and they once again found themselves playing defence.
Right on the stroke of half time, the Sea Eagles Ethan Bullemor scored a try right under the posts, and with the conversion, extended their lead against the Tigers by 20 points going into the break.
Similarly to the first half, the Sea Eagles were able to score a try in the first minute of play in the second, however, the try was taken off them after finding the ball was not properly grounded.
A similar situation happened shortly after with Manly, where they were once again denied a try to crack 30 points.
Third time’s a charm, and the Sea Eagles got to thirty points.
The second half was all Manly, which was a treat for their crowd at home.
Over the course of the second half, the Sea Eagles scored 28 points, tallying up a game total of 54, while the Tigers trailed well behind.
Finally, after what was a second half dominated by the Sea Eagles, the Tigers were an able to score their second try of the night.
The Sea Eagles ended their season on a high, defeating the Tigers by 42 points.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR POINTS
3 – Daly Cherry-Evans (Manly)
2 – Jason Saab (Manly)
1 – Haumole Olakau’atu (Manly)
