Newcastle dominate listless Manly

Newcastle have produced a dominant display to down reigning premiers Manly 32 points to 6 in front of 20,154 fans at Hunter Stadium tonight.

Rivalry round and a large crowd anticipated a rekindling of the rivalry between Newcastle and Manly, who met in the 1997 grand final decider.

There was feeling in the game early on, both teams testing each other out. A high tackle penalty gave Newcastle field possession and they converted it with some nice hands down the right side for Uate to rumble in for a early 4-0 lead.

Showing their attack was on song, Newcastle's defense was called upon for most of the first half. Manly were treating the ball like a hot potato but couldn't crack a determined Knight's line who repelled them several times.

Uate was deniend after another right side raid but Tyrone Roberts showed some finese to dummy and step the defense to send the Novocastrians into the sheds happy, 10-0.

It looked like same old, song and dance in the second with Manly offloading at will but Newcastle more desperate. Tyrone Roberts swooped on an offload then set up James McManus for his first.

Next it would be halves partner, Jarrod Mullen who's kicking game was exemplary all night, stabbed one through for mid-season signing Dane Gagai to the delight of the 20,000 strong crowd.

Manly briefly stemmed the tide with a short kick-off working and Brent Kite diving over after a nice offload from Jamie Lyon. Lyon duly converted and the comeback was on.

Newcastle's defense was abating tonight, repelling the torrent of attack then earnt a relieving penalty.

A simple sweeping backline movement sent McManus in for his brace and a 28-0 scoreline.

There was one more piece of brilliance to come. Mullen's kick on last rebounding into the hands of Uate, who showed pace and power to glide past some ineffective defense to cap off a memorable win for Newcastle in rivalry round.

Match Details
Newcastle Knights 32 defeated Manly Sea Eagles 6
National Rugby League - Round 19 - Saturday July 14, 2012 5:30pm
Venue: Hunter Stadium
Referee: Jason Robinson and Tony De Las Heras
Video Referee: Phil Cooley
Touch Judges: Luke Potter and Brenden Wood
Crowd: 20,154
Halftime: Newcastle Knights 10 Manly Sea Eagles 0

Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 Points - Jarrod Mullen
2 Points - Akuila Uate (2 Tries)
1 Point - Tyrone Roberts (1 Try, 4 Conversions)

NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS (32)
Tries: James McManus (2), Akuila Uate (2), Tyrone Roberts, Dane Gagai
Conversions: Tyrone Roberts (4/6)

MANLY SEA EAGLES (6)
Tries: Brent Kite
Conversions: Jamie Lyon (1/1)

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary Good afternoon rugby league fans. Welcome to a picturesque Hunter Stadium for tonight's clash between Newcastle who host reigning premiers Manly.
TEAM CHANGES -

Newcastle: Zane Tetevano and Alex McKinnon to start. Zeb Taia to the bench with Robbie Rochow added to the bench.

Manly: Steve Matai is out, Tony Williams goes to the centres. Daniel Harrison goes to the second row, Jamie Buhrer to lock with Glenn Stewart out. Tim Robinson added to the bench.
A thriller for the Toyota Cup curtain raiser. Manly have won thanks to a Josh Drinkwater field goal, 17-16 over Newcastle. The home side slump to their fifth straight loss.
Here come the Sea Eagles to a chorus of boos but you wouldn't expect any different. Newcastle in their horizontal stripes come out cheers.
1 min: Roberts kicks off and here we go!
3 min: Cherry-Evans tries a one on one strip but he spills it, so six again.
4 min: Manly compound that six again call with a penalty for holding on too long.
5 min: High shot and Newcastle will come on the attack!
7 min: TRY
Some hot potato stuff from the Knights there! Mullen to Boyd who flicks it to Gagai who tips it onto Utae who powers over a few defenders for the TRY! Roberts with a tough kick, misses.
Newcastle Knights 4-0
12 min: Manly throwing it to the edges and finding some space but closed down well by the Knights.
13 min: First penalty for the away side, offside.
14 min: Followed shortly by a stripping penalty. Manly will be deep on the attack.
15 min: PLAYED AT! Six more for Manly. Newcastle defense will be tested here.
17 min: Brilliant defense from Newcastle there to repel the Manly Globetrotters.
18 min: Cherry-Evans with a large relieving kick and it's a 40/20. Well done.
21 min: Manly's offloading comes at a price, knock on.
25 min: Good bust from Cherry-Evans but Manly can't convert that to points with a Taufua kick going dead.
29 min: Once again from a scrum, Manly go down the short side and Jamie Lyon is taken out.
VIDEO REFEREE: Checking if Akuila Uate has got this ball down.
30 min: NO TRY! Uate has gone into touch.
34 min: The right edge at it again, a nice pass found Gagai into some space and he tries to offload to Uate again but knocked on.
36 min: Greatly weighted kick from Foran was teasing Boyd.. it almost stopped but rolled dead, just.
37 min: Penalty to Newcastle, offside.
39 min: TRY
Great move from Roberts there, throws the dummy uses the step and strolls in to score Newcastle's second. Roberts with a lovely conversion.
Newcastle Knights 10-0
40 min: HALFTIME and a score not many were suspecting with Newcastle leading into the break.
Both sides are back onto the field. Manly set up in kick-off formation and DCE does the honours.
41 min: Rose penalised for holding on too long.
43 min: Eagles were stretched on their edges but the ball goes into the crowd from a Tahu flick on gone wrong.
47 min: Gagai is slammed down in the tackle and spills it.
48 min: Penalty for holding down. Tapped and here we go again with Manly attacking.
49 min: Once again, Newcastle repel Manly. Cuthburtson diving on the loose ball.
50 min: Ouch, out on the full from Roberts.
51 min: Good field possession for the Eagles but they knock it on again.
53 min: Newcastle just looking the more hungry and desperate tonight. Manly offloading at will but Roberts is there to pick up the scraps.
55 min: TRY
Newcastle make them pay! Sweeping backline movement is highlighted by a beautiful cut-out from Roberts to McManus who dives in and can you hear the pipes? Newcastle can and can sniff victory! Roberts from the touchline again, nails it.
Newcastle Knights 16-0
56 min: Short kick-off from Manly is unsuccessful. Gagai comes down with it.
60 min: TRY
Newcastle are running amok here. Throwing it around and tiring out Manly. It leads to Mullen stabbing one through for Gagai to score! Roberts makes no mistakes and adds another two.
Newcastle Knights 22-0
60 min: Short kick works this time for the Sea Eagles.
62 min: Manly earn their first repeat set. Can they get on the board?
63 min: TRY
Yes they can! Crabbing run from Lyon finds space and finds Kite who slides over. Lyon converts.
Newcastle Knights 22-6
67 min: T-Rex takes it on last and tries to release the winger but dropped by Taufua.
69 min: Shrill sound of the whistle in favour of Manly due to a tortoise like tackle from Newcastle.
71 min: That's something Newcastle needed. A relieving penalty against Foran.
74 min: TRY
Knights run it on last.. a nice shift and simple catch, pass sends McManus away for his second TRY of the evening. Shocker of a conversion from Roberts goes wide.
Newcastle Knights 26-6
76 min: TRY
The party has started here in Newcastle. Mullen's kick on last, rebounds right into the hands of Uate who puts on the speed,step and most importantly a TRY. Roberts converts.
Newcastle Knights 32-6
79 min: Manly penalty for taking the attacker early.
80 min: Newcastle try to send the home fans away with a TRY but no luck. FULLTIME but what a scoreline.