Match Centre

And that's that. Brisbane will be disappointed with their performance, although there were glimpses of good things. Wallace and Prince combined well at times, and Hodges looked impressive as always.

For the Sea Eagles, both their halves were strong, both in attack and defense. Matai was a handful every time he touched the ball, and Brett Kite thought he was a halfback at times, much to the delight of the Manly fans in the crowd.

Manly go home winners, 22 points to 14.

Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 22-14

Probably only time for one more set for the Broncos. A strong performance by the Sea Eagles, after a shaky start. Wallace tops off the night by knocking the ball on again, and there won't be time for anything after that.

Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 22-14

Only a few minutes left in the game. Scrum feed to Brisbane on their own 10 metre line. They only have to go 90 metres, score a try, and then do the same thing again. Should be an interesting time.

Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 22-14

So tonight we've got Foran thinking he's a soccer player, Cherry-Evans thinking he's a second rower, and now Brent Kite puts a grubber in on the last tackle! It's not a bad kick either, as the Broncos are forced into another line dropout.

Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 22-14

Time out here at the moment, while the Broncos organise some treatment for Jack Reed, who is bleeding from a cut on his cheekbone.

Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 22-14

Peter Wallace knocks the ball on, right in front of his goalposts, and only 10 metres out from his own line. Things get just a little bit harder for the Broncos.

Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 22-14

Time starting to run out for the Broncos. They need 9 points in seven minutes - which is not a tall ask - but they are beginning to look very tired. Laying on every tackle, slow to meet the attacker...

Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 22-14

Lazy defense from the broncos sees Manly make almost 50 metres in 2 tackles. And then two things happen - 1 very unlikely, and the other almost a certainty. Kite makes a break, and Matai goes down clutching one of his limbs. You work out which is which.

Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 22-14

Some scrappy play by Brisbane - they're really going to have to pull something special out if they're to recover this deficit.

Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 22-14

Yet another bout of soccer almost results in a Manly try. This time it's Cherry-Evans combining with Brett Stewart. Cherry-Evans is a better soccer player than Foran was, but it's still no try.

Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 22-14

In a bit of justice Manly lose the ball, and Brisbane recover it.

Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 22-14

Brisbane on attack now - putting a bomb up for Williams to defuse. Williams leaps high from the field of play and brings the ball down. The referee rules that he left the in-goal area, and grants Manly a 20 metre tap. Wrong decision in my opinion.

Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 22-14

Brisbane are really struggling to get out of their end of the field now - 5 tackles in and they've made around 30 metres of ground. They follow that set up by kicking the ball dead, and Manly get the 20m restart.

Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 22-14

Manly heavily on attack again - with Lyon making a half break down the right hand side of the field.

Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 22-14

NEWS: Watmough is off the field with injured ribs. And hand. And shoulder. He'll probably be back.

Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 22-14

NEWS: Manly run 98 metres over the course of the next set, finishing with a grubber in the right corner. They don't score, but it's still not a bad effort in the set after scoring a try.

Brisbane Broncos 14-12

And just to make a liar out of me, Scott Prince tries to float a long pass out to his unmarked winger. Instead, it goes forward, and he has to apologise to his teammates.

Brisbane Broncos 14-6

A lot of back and forth at the moment - 5 tackles followed by a kick. Not much to report on.

Brisbane Broncos 14-6

Matai stands and palms off three players - doesn't make any ground, but the palming was fun to watch.

Brisbane Broncos 14-6

Strong defensive from Cherry-Evans and Lyon, driving the Broncos attack backwards.

Brisbane Broncos 14-6

Cherry-Evans kicks high - Norman easily catches it, and then gets hammered.

Brisbane Broncos 14-6

Manly bringing the ball away from their end of the field under the haze of smoke from the fireworks. I hope it's smoke - otherwise i've suddenly developed cataracts and probably require medical attention.

Brisbane Broncos 14-6

And we're back in the second half...

Brisbane Broncos 14-6

Half Time here at Suncorp Stadium. Brisbane were in all sorts of trouble early, struggling to get out of their half, but once they started getting some ball and field position they looked dangerous. For the Sea Eagles, it's obvious they are missing Glenn Stewart, as their right edge looks slightly impotent compared to what it usually would. Not taking anything away from Jamie Lyon, but Stewart leaves a big gap on that side of the field.

Brisbane Broncos 14-6

Brisbane make a half break down the left side of the field, but an attempted flick pass results in the ball going to ground and over the sideline.

Brisbane Broncos 14-6

VIDEO REF: Wallace puts in a little grubber behind the line, and Jack Reed swoops in and beats everyone to the ball. However, he's had an airswing and the ball bounces out of his control - NO TRY!

Brisbane Broncos 14-6

NEWS: Manly are penalised for a bit of a push down in the play the ball. It was the last tackle too - so Manly will be kicking themselves.

Brisbane Broncos 14-6

In an interesting, and fruitless play, the Eagles kick on zero, from a scrum feed, 15 metres out from the Broncos line. There was nothing on, and all that happened was that they turned the ball over.

Brisbane Broncos 8-6

NEWS: And Brisbane puts the ball dead from the kickoff. 250 square metres to aim for, and they missed.

Brisbane Broncos 8-6

Jamie Lyon shows some magic - absolutely no room to move, and manages to kick the ball back in field. Corey Parker tidies up - just - but Manly trap him in-goal.

Brisbane Broncos 8-0

Hodges gets carried away with the speed of his play the ball, and loses the ball - Manly get the scrum feed 40 metres out.

Brisbane Broncos 8-0

Some exciting play as Stewart and Foran pretend their playing soccer, grubbering the ball downfield. Unfortunately, Foran sucks at soccer, and the ball goes over the dead ball line.

Brisbane Broncos 8-0

End of the set, and Wallace gives Williams a bit of bomb catching practice, as there aren't really any chasers following through on the kick.

Brisbane Broncos 8-0

Manly are penalised for pushing the Brisbane player off the ball while defusing a bomb. Lyon rushes in, obviously unhappy with the decision.

Brisbane Broncos 8-0

NEWS: Manly again down the left edge, and are almost taken out over the sideline. If it weren't for the freshly shaved face, Brisbane would have the ball right now.

Brisbane Broncos 8-0

Brisbane look dangerous down the left hand side, but a brilliant up-and-in tackle by Williams saves the day.

Brisbane Broncos 2-0

And Fa'aoso is penalised again, right in front of the goalposts for not being square at marker.

Brisbane Broncos 2-0

Parker is hit in what looks like a high tackle, but the referees seem to think it's ok.

Brisbane Broncos 2-0

And within 1 minute, Fa'aoso is already penalised for holding down in the tackle. The big fella just got too enthusiastic.

Brisbane Broncos 2-0

Richie Fa'aoso is on the field for the Sea Eagles.

Brisbane Broncos 2-0

VIDEO REF: Andrew McCullough races from dummy half from five metres out and looks to have planted the ball on the line. Video ref is checking if he's over the line or just short. Video does not look conclusive, but it's no try. Watmough is penalised for being offside though, so the Broncos get another shot at things. In a curious move, this time they opt to take the kick. Not sure what the story is there...

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Penalty to Brisbane - the Sea Eagles defense rakes the ball out 5 metres out from the tryline. Thaiday opts to take the tap.

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Spoke too soon - Cherry-Evans throws a careless high tackle out, and the Broncos get piggy-backed downfield. We'll get to see the Broncos attack after all.

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Brisbane are finding it difficult to get out of their half at the moment. They are yet to mount any sort of attack in the Manly half of the field.

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Manly put a kick in for their right corner - however it's too big and a fresh-faced Wolfman watches it sail over the sideline.

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Matai is looking tough to handle with every touch so far.

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Penalty to the Broncos on their own 30 metre line, but the resulting kick for touch fails to find the sideline. Rookie error. To compound things, the Broncos concede a penalty, and Manly are back on the attack.

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The Sea Eagles seem to love their left edge so far this evening. I can't remember seeing anybody from the Eagles pass left-to-right yet...

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Matai puts a little kick through, but Normal calmly watches it trickle over the sideline 1 metre out from his line.

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Brett Stewart gets his first touch for the evening, as he returns the Bronco's kick.

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And on the second tackle of the next set Matai makes a half break, and is hit in some heavy contact by Justin hodges. He drops the ball cold, and the Broncos get the scrum feed.

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Last tackle for Manly, Foran puts a grubber in behind the defense, and almost catches the Broncos napping. A swooping Broncos player cleans it up at the last second, and it will be a Broncos line dropout.

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Wallace kicks deep on the last, but Corey Parker was in front of the kicker. Penalty to the Sea Eagles. Thaiday and Parker are not impressed by the call.

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Cherry-Evans kicks off, and we are underway!

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And Sam Thaiday leads his team onto the ground. The boos turn to cheers, and the noise is deafening. You can almost Scott Prince's nervousness from the grandstand.

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Jamie Lyon leads his team on to the ground, to the vivid boos of the home crowd.

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NEWS: Almost time for kickoff here at Suncorp Stadium. Showers throughout the evening, so the field will be slightly slippery underfoot. Of particular interest tonight will be the dynamics between the Brisbane halves - will Wallace and Prince complement each other's games, or will it be a case of too many chefs? Stay tuned to find out.

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