Bunker controversy as Manly march to victory

v BYE

The Manly Sea Eagles have scored a comfortable 26-10 victory over the Newcastle Knights in front of just over 19,000 at a sunny Hunter Stadium in Broadmeadow.

Controversy of the NRL bunker is set to be the talking point out of the match with the decision to award Brenton Lawrence a try on the stroke of half time questionable considering that senior review official Ashley Klein overruled a live decision of try to Nathan Ross in the first half under very similar circumstances.

First points went to the Sea Eagles in the fifth minute when Jamie Lyon snapped a penalty goal to give Manly the lead but soon after the Knights looked like they opened the scoring through a diving try to Nathan Ross and despite replays showing enough evidence to award a try, the senior review official Ashley Klein however ruled that Ross had lost control of the ball and overruled Gavin Badger's live decision of try.

Just a few minutes later the Knights were gifted a big opportunity when Steve Matai was sin binned for a professional foul and the Knights looked to take advantage again this time through Akuila Uate but again the live decision of try was overruled by Ashley Klein this time a lot less controversially.

The Bunker was called upon twice again once for a possible try to Tom Symonds and that one was chalked off but it was second time lucky for Nathan Ross who took a leap high over the Manly defence and forced his way to the line and after it was given the Knights had the lead.

The second part of the bunker controversy appeared right on half time when Brenton Lawrence was awarded a try due to a lack of insufficient evidence to overturn a live decision of try despite replays showing the ball was lost, after the conversion the Eagles took a 10-6 lead to the break.

After half time the Eagles looked the more polished side and that was shown when Brayden Williame crossed for the opening try of the second half and the first that didn't need bunker approval. The Sea Eagles then went through again this time for Tom Trbojevic who extended the lead for the Eagles after he too needed bunker approval.

The Knights struck back straight from the kick off when the short kick off worked when Jamie Lyon tapped it back to empty space and Tyler Randell raced through to pick it up and score and after another referral the Knights were back in being 10 points behind.

Both sides then went into a lull where neither side really asked any questions of their opposition before right at the death it was Jake Trbojevic who scored to seal the Manly victory and after the conversion it was a 26-10 victory.

Next week, Manly's affairs get tougher with a battle at Brookie against the defending premiers in the North Queensland Cowboys, whilst the Knights take on fellow cellar dewellers the Sydney Roosters in the 5:30 game on Saturday