The Manly Sea Eagles triumphed over the Wests Tigers with a convincing 28-10 victory at Brookvale Oval on Friday night, recovering from their previous round defeats. The first half saw the Tigers fail to score, with Sea Eagles winger Jason Saab breaking the deadlock with a try just before half-time, making it 6-0 after Reuben Garrick converted.
In a tactical shift, Tom Trbojevic was moved from fullback to centre, proving instrumental in the match. The second half opened with Trbojevic and Lehi Hopoate setting up Garrick for another try, extending Manly’s lead to 10-0. The Sea Eagles continued to dominate, and Tolutau Koula’s try further widened the gap to 16-0.
The Wests Tigers finally found the scoreboard in the 51st minute through Alex Seyfarth, who exploited a gap in Manly’s defence. However, the Sea Eagles quickly responded with tries from Corey Waddell and Ben Trbojevic, securing the win.
The match had its moments of intensity, notably when Tigers winger Jeral Skelton delivered a significant hit on Trbojevic, causing both players to momentarily stagger. Skelton ultimately returned after passing a concussion test.
Manly’s captain, Daly Cherry-Evans, displayed determination early on, although an attempted try was nullified due to a penalty against Waddell. The first half was marred by errors from both sides, leading to frustration among coaches as the Sea Eagles went into the break with a slim lead.
Koroisau from the Tigers had a premature exit due to a concussion, and Nathan Brown of the Sea Eagles also suffered an injury in the second half. Multiple players from both teams received cautions for various incidents, adding to the match’s tension.
Overall, Manly’s performance showcased their resurgence, with key players making significant contributions to their victory over the struggling Tigers.