The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles withstood a late fightback from the Gold Coast Titans today to win 15-12 in front of over 12,000 fans at Cbus Super Stadium.
An uninspiring first half saw no points scored until after the half-hour mark when Kieran Foran finished off a long-range move from Daly Cherry-Evans. The Titans responded in the minute before halftime with James Roberts cracking the visitors' line.
After going into the sheds at 6-all, the Sea Eagles came out in the second half and seemingly went for the accelerator pedal, Brett Stewart scoring eventually after an earlier botched attempt by Cheyse Blair. The Eagles held the 12-6 margin until the 77th minute when Daly Cherry-Evans potted a field goal to seemingly put the result beyond doubt.
The desired effect was not what Manly would've hoped, with the Titans regaining the ball from a short kick-off, capping the subsequent set with a try to Kalifa Faifai-Loa in the far corner. Aidan Sezer was able to convert bringing the margin back to one.
Sadly for the Titans they were unable to push past Manly in the final 90 seconds following the Faifai-Loa try, and eventually conceded a penalty in front of their own posts allowing Jamie Lyon to push the winning margin out to three points.
Next week Manly fans will be making the trek out to Pirtek Stadium where their side will take on a desperate Parramatta Eels outfit, while the Gold Coast have their own trip booked for Kogarah where they'll take on the equally desperate St. George Illawarra Dragons.
Match Details
Gold Coast Titans 12 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 15
Venue: Cbus Super Stadium
Crowd: 11940
Halftime Score: Gold Coast Titans 6 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 6
LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:
3 points - Brett Stewart
2 points - James Roberts
1 point - Daly Cherry-Evans
GOLD COAST TITANS (12)
Tries: James Roberts, Kalifa Faifai Loa
Conversions: Aidan Sezer (2/2)
MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES (15)
Tries: Kieran Foran, Brett Stewart
Field Goals: Daly Cherry-Evans (1/1)
Conversions: Jamie Lyon (2/2)
Penalty Goals: Jamie Lyon (1/1)
LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary
TEAM NEWS | Two key changes for the Titans, with Dave Taylor and Kevin Gordon both OUT. Kalifa Faifai Loa will come in for Gordon on the wing, while Cody Nelson is the new man on the bench for big DT. The Sea Eagles have the one change which sees Steve Matai out replaced by Cheyse Blair.
Plenty of Maroon and White in the stands at Cbus Super Stadium... not a heap of Titans fans at this home game though. New coach Neil Henry has made a couple of tough calls - lets see if they can compete with a heavyweight.
1: We are underway and it's Manly with the ball first. The Titans are in an indigenous themed version of their white alternate strip, while Manly are in their maroon kit.
3: Mark Minichiello explodes through the middle and the Titans now have it inside the Manly 20m.
5: Aidan Sezer down injured in backplay. Not looking good for him.
8: Jamie Lyon takes Takairangi high. Titans penalty.
9: And a second penalty for a strip. Titans with a full set again on Manly's line.
11: Now a line drop out. Plenty of pressure being applied from the Titans, can they convert it to points?
12: UNFORCED ERROR GOLD COAST TITANS
Nate Myles makes an unforced error.
.... comes to nothing. Myles spills it and gets no result. Manly scrum 20m out from their own line.
14: Manly break away and eventually force a drop out after a DCE kick ahead. Titans under pressure now.
18: Titans with their fourth penalty. Manly yet to earn one.
20: UNFORCED ERROR GOLD COAST TITANS
Greg Bird makes an unforced error.
Bird smashed in a tackle from Blair and he loses it.
21: Manly pick up their first penalty of the day. 30m out they start to attack.
24: Bludger of a game so far, neither side really challenging the opposition line with any great gusto.
33: TRY MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Scored by Kieran Foran. Kick to come.
Sorry about the lack of updates, we almost fell asleep. Try time for Kieran Foran, broke into the backfield after DCE took the line on.
34: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Conversion attempt by Jamie Lyon successful.
Lyon adds the extras to today's first try.
37: VIDEO REFEREE possible Manly TRY to Jamie Lyon. Checking obstruction.
37: NO TRY. Obstruction ruled. Titans penalty.
40: VIDEO REFEREE checking a possible obstruction for a James Roberts NO TRY to the Titans.
40: TRY GOLD COAST TITANS
Scored by James Roberts. Kick to come.
OVERTURNED. No obstruction ruled and James Roberts has rounded countless defenders to score just short of the halftime siren.
40: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION GOLD COAST TITANS
Conversion attempt by Aidan Sezer successful.
Sezer adds the extras after the siren.
42: Titans go close early in the second half, James Roberts again pushing the opposition all the way. Dragged down a metre short.
49: End to end footy at the moment. Still 6-all.
51: Manly appear to have scored in the corner after Lyon found Blair on the wing but Blair was actually out when he caught it. Titans handover.
52: Titans look promising, Roberts with another break! He finds Anthony Don but Don is not good, he's taken into touch.
56: TRY MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Scored by Brett Stewart. Kick to come.
They finally make some runs up the middle where they got the first try... and Foran finds Stewart in support to score the try.
57: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Conversion attempt by Jamie Lyon successful.
Easy conversion from in front for Killer.
58: Manly break away yet again... and Brett Stewart spills it 5m out from the Titans line. Out of jail there for the home side. Scrum.
61: UNFORCED ERROR MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Matt Ballin makes an unforced error.
Ballin's thrown it forward to Brenton Lawrence from dummy half. Basic stuff and it gives the Titans a shot.
63: UNFORCED ERROR GOLD COAST TITANS
Nate Myles makes an unforced error.
Myles spills it early in the tackle count. Manly to attack inside the Titans territory.
63: VIDEO REFEREE possible Manly NO TRY. It won't be a try, just checking how and why it happened, and where to next.
63: NO TRY, Manly knock on. Titans 20m restart.
67: UNFORCED ERROR GOLD COAST TITANS
Mark Minichiello makes an unforced error.
Falloon finds Minichiello but Mark drops it. Manly scrum on their own 20m.
70: Titans defending stoically and now they get a penalty for a strip coming out of their own end. Play to start inside Manly's half.
71: UNFORCED ERROR GOLD COAST TITANS
Kalifa Faifai Loa makes an unforced error.
Ahhhhhh... Kalifa was certain to score in the corner but the ordinary ball from Takairangi has seen him spill it. Manly scrum on their own 10m.
73: UNFORCED ERROR MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Jamie Buhrer makes an unforced error.
Buhrer loses it in a tackle. Scrum Titans. Allegations of a strip but they'll have to deal with that.
77: SUCCESSFUL FIELD GOAL MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Field goal attempt by Daly Cherry-Evans successful.
Game sealed! DCE pots the drop goal with just over 3 minutes left.
78: Titans nab the short kickoff. Let's see what happens here...
78: TRY GOLD COAST TITANS
Scored by Kalifa Faifai Loa. Kick to come.
GRUBBER FOR THE CORNER and Kalifa SCORES! Here we go...
79: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION GOLD COAST TITANS
Conversion attempt by Aidan Sezer successful.
Sezer from the sideline... he's got it... has he? YES! One point ball game with less than 2 minutes left!
79: Titans grubber fielded by Stewart and HE'S AWAY! Manly will win it from here.
80: Late penalty for the Sea Eagles. Clock will run down here, Manly will shoot for goal...
80: SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Penalty goal attempt by Jamie Lyon successful.
And that's it. Manly winners 15-12.