Tom Trbojevic single-handedly destroyed the Bulldogs in a dominant performance, where he scored two tries and set up three more as Manly strolled home with a 32-6 win.
The first half saw both teams being relatively evenly matched, however the big difference being Tom Trbojevic, who bagged a pair of tries and set up another in a brilliant first half performance, which gave Manly a 14-0 lead.
Manly opened the scoring in just the third minute of the game after swinging the ball left where Curtis Sironen got a good offload away to Daly Cherry-Evans, who quickly sent it along to Moses Suli. Suli got outside his defender, made a break before passing back inside to Tom Trbojevic who dived over to the right of the sticks for a good try. Reuben Garrick's conversion attempt hit the upright and was waved away.
Some sloppy play and ball handling from both sides ensued before Manly scored again in the 26th minute, thanks to a brilliant play by the Trbojevic brothers.
Jake Trbojevic took the ball to the line and held up a beautiful little ball to his brother who swung around from behind Jake's left shoulder to receive the pass on his right, hit a big gap and slipped through to score a sweet try, his second for the half. Garrick was again unable to convert from a more difficult position.
With 5 minutes remaining in the half, Manly crossed again when they sent the ball left to Tom Trbojevic, who dummied and then held up a delicate short ball for Brad Parker, who ran a strong and straight line, to dive over in the corner for a good try. Garrick nailed the conversion from near the sideline.
Four minutes into the second half and Tom Trbojevic struck again. This time he received the ball on the left side, with the defence rushing up on him, however Tom lobbed a cut-out ball out to Jorge Taufua who stepped inside one cover defender and fell over the line in the corner for a good try. Garrick's conversion was again unsuccessful.
On the hour mark, Manly scored again, this time via Curtis Sironen who stormed onto a crash ball close to the Bulldogs line and he barged over between two defenders to score on the right side. Garrick failed to convert.
From the next set, Manly crossed again after another shift to the left near halfway. Cherry-Evans got a good ball to Tom Trbojevic while standing in a tackle. Tom exploded through a gap, drew the defender and then fired a nice ball out to Parker who raced away to score his second try. Garrick's attempt at goal was good.
With 10 minutes remaining, the Bulldogs got on the board when Lachlan Lewis ran to the line and grubbered delicately. Jake Averillo cleaned up the ball and raced away to score under the posts. Nick Meaney added the extras to reduce the deficit to 22.
In the 74th minute, after Manly earnt a repeat set, Moses Suli went close to scoring on the right side. Garrick scooped up the ball from dummy half and forced his way over the line for a good solo try. Garrick failed to convert from out wide on the right side.
Danny Levi was sin binned with 14 seconds left in the match, but the Bulldogs were unable to take advantage, Manly romping home 32-6.