Manly go back-to-back as Knights continue to slide

The Sea Eagles returned to Brookvale today to send a message to the rest of the competition - they're not gone yet. Manly downed a poor Newcastle side 30-10 in front of just over 10,000 fans.

Coming into the match sitting in last place, the Sea Eagles were keen to prove their last-start win over then-competition leaders Melbourne wasn't a fluke - and did they. Despite a relatively even tussle in the first half, it was Manly who got the upper hand before the break, nailing two tries to the scoreboard through Jorge Taufua first, then a great pounce from Brett Stewart. Peta Hiku was brilliant in the lead-up to both tries and the Sea Eagles took a 12-point lead toward the break.

Just before halftime the hosts were able to add another try with Daly Cherry-Evans putting Ligi Sao through a hole close to the line. Lyon made it three from three to give Manly an 18-0 lead at the change of ends, despite Newcastle having several chances including two video referee denials.

Newcastle started the second half with plenty of spirit and resolve but failed to convert the field position advantage into anything more than a solitary try to James McManus. Manly wrestled back control of the contest and put Stewart through for his second of the day as he ascended past Steve Renouf on the all-time tryscorers list.

Daly Cherry-Evans was rewarded for a commanding performance with just over ten minutes left on the clock, running off some beautiful lead up play to score beside the posts. Lyon finished the afternoon with six conversions and no misses. Newcastle managed a consolation try late to Tariq Sims, converted by Tyrone Roberts.

Next week Manly have a Monday night clash with an inconsistent Penrith Panthers side again at Brookvale, while the Knights are at home to the Wests Tigers on Sunday afternoon.

Match Details

Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 30 Newcastle Knights 10
Venue: Brookvale Oval
Crowd: 10065
Halftime Score: Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 18 Newcastle Knights 0

MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES (30)
Tries: Jorge Taufua, Brett Stewart (2), Ligi Sao, Daly Cherry-Evans
Field Goals: Daly Cherry-Evans (0/1)
Conversions: Jamie Lyon (5/5)

NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS (10)
Tries: James McManus, Tariq Sims
Conversions: Tyrone Roberts (1/2)

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:

3 points - Daly Cherry-Evans
2 points - Peta Hiku
1 point - Brett Stewart

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary

After leading the pack four rounds in, the Knights are now struggling for form and need a win here to turn things around. The Sea Eagles, meanwhile, are rooted to the bottom of the ladder and a welcome return to Brookvale Oval might just be what the doctor ordered.

Speaking of doctors, injuries have claimed the five-eighths of both sides. For Newcastle, Kurt Gidley will replace Jarrod Mullen in the halves. Sione Mata'utia comes in at fullback, while starting hooker Adam Cyldsdale drops to the bench in favour of Tyler Randell who will now start at dummy half. Jack Stockwell drops off the bench, replaced by Joseph Tapine.

Manly's Kieran Foran is out - his replacement in the halves is Blake Leary, while on the bench Jayden Hodges is omitted. Feleti Mateo and Josh Starling both return from injury to fill the vacant bench spots.

Both sides out on Brookvale Oval's shiny new turf. Manly will kickoff.

We are underway. Newcastle take possession first up.

4: Up and back for the first few sets, both sides just feeling the other out.

5: Tyler Randell with a line-break, big metres for the Knights here, but three plays later, they're pinged for a forward pass.

7: Burgess finds Jake Trbojevic in space through the middle on the fourth, next play Blake Leary works to trap James McManus in-goal. Drop-out.

8: Ballin with a poor pass from dummy half and the Knights are off the hook.

10: Newcastle now working into some space, Gidley makes a solid run up the middle but Williams cleans up the kick at the end of the set for Manly.

13: Penalty Newcastle 25m out, Ballin pinged for a strip on Beau Scott. Big chance for the visitors here.

14: A second penalty comes for Newcastle just two plays later, but late in the ensuing set the Knights lose it from dummy half, give it to Manly AND concede a penalty.

16: Now Manly get their second penalty just past halfway, which sees them restart with a tap just short of the Knights' 20m!

17: Pretty insipid attack from the Sea Eagles, the most enterprising play probably Cherry-Evans jinking inside before being wrapped up and giving an offload. Williams ends up with it and puts in a weak kick easily fielded by McManus.

18: UNFORCED ERROR NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Kade Snowden makes an unforced error.
Newcastle advance the ball to halfway but Snowden can't control it. Manly scrum.

19: VIDEO REFEREE | possible Manly TRY to Jorge Taufua, checking his grounding out wide.

19: TRY MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Scored by Jorge Taufua. Kick to come.
Taufua's try is given. Manly first on the board!

20: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Conversion attempt by Jamie Lyon successful.
Lyon converts the Taufua try from out wide!

23: TRY MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Scored by Brett Stewart. Kick to come.
Hiku breaks down the left, puts it on the toe, it looks like Uate will wrap it up but Snake comes from nowhere and SCORES!

24: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Conversion attempt by Jamie Lyon successful.
And just like that, the hosts are up by twelve!

26: A poor kick from DCE is fielded by Gagai at the back and the Knights are already... VIDEO REF! McManus is in down the touchline, checking grounding and touchline.

26: NO TRY. Ruled to be outside the field of play on simultaneous grounding. Manly 20m restart.

30: Newcastle with another chance to attack but the last tackle kick is well taken by Taufua

32: A poor kicking game from Tyrone Roberts really costing the Knights so far today. Manly dominating thus far.

33: Repeat set for Manly just 20m out. This could be critical for Newcastle, they've gotta defend here!

35: VIDEO REF | checking a try to Newcastle for Dane Gagai. Checking the lead-up and a kick.

35: NO TRY. Gagai's dropped it trying to kick it according to the men upstairs.

37: UNFORCED ERROR NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
James McManus makes an unforced error.
Lyon kicks it low and wide, McManus bungles the catch and it glances off his legs into touch. Manly scrum 25m out...

38: TRY MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Scored by Ligi Sao. Kick to come.
Simple line running and Sao is put through from a great DCE short ball.

39: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Conversion attempt by Jamie Lyon successful.
Big lead for the Eagles going into halftime. Lyon adds two more.

40: UNSUCCESSFUL FIELD GOAL MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Field goal attempt by Daly Cherry-Evans unsuccessful.
DCE tries to extend the lead to nineteen but has no luck.

40: Big lead at the change of ends for the Sea Eagles. Newcastle have had the odd chance including two controversially denied tries, but Manly have taken their chances when required to and have benefited on the scoreboard. It will take a significant effort from the Knights to avoid a fifth straight loss... join us soon for the second forty.

45: A few minutes into the second half, Newcastle just looking to bury Manly deep in their own half, awaiting an error or two.

45: Good hustle from the Knights, Cherry-Evans forced in goal for a line drop-out.

46: VIDEO REFEREE | possible Knights TRY to McManus. Looks more likely for him this time...

47: TRY NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Scored by James McManus. Kick to come.
McManus silences the Brookvale faithful with a four-pointer in the corner.

48: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Conversion attempt by Tyrone Roberts unsuccessful.
Roberts' conversion attempt goes wide.

51: Knights hot on the attack again, Manly under siege in this second half!

54: Newcastle force the error from Manly and are on the attack yet again.

56: UNFORCED ERROR NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Akuila Uate makes an unforced error.
Just when they're looking good... Uate with the error, unable to hold Gagai's pass.

57: 40/20 MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Daly Cherry-Evans kicks a 40/20.
BOOM! The momentum swings back to the home side, great work from a class player.

57: TRY MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Scored by Brett Stewart. Kick to come.
SNAKE IS IN AGAIN! Manly on fire.

59: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Conversion attempt by Jamie Lyon successful.
Too easy, Lyon maintains his perfect record so far today.

64: Sunlight coming and going on a beautiful Mother's Day at Brookvale. Looks like Manly's two competition points as we go into the last fifteen minutes.

66: VIDEO REF | checking a Knights try, possibly, for Kurt Gidley.

66: Contentious call there, but it's ruled a knock on in an aerial contest by Tyrone Roberts into Brett Stewart. No try. Manly ball.

67: TRY MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Scored by Daly Cherry-Evans. Kick to come.
Brilliant offloads and shifting the play sees DCE get into a hole and wrap the game up.

68: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Conversion attempt by Jamie Lyon successful.
Lyon makes it six without a miss.

76: TRY NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Scored by Tariq Sims. Kick to come.
Tariq is over for a consolation four-pointer for the visitors.

76: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Conversion attempt by Tyrone Roberts successful.
Tyrone adds the extras to reduce the margin to twenty points.

80: Messy play from both sides as this one winds down. Manly comfortable winners as we approach fulltime.