Full Time
80:00
3:00pm Sat July 3, 2021
Round 16 - CommBank Stadium, Parramatta / Burramattagal

Match Overview

A first half hat trick from star fullback Tom Trbojevic put the Bulldogs out of the contest in the early stages of the match. In the opening half an hour the Sea Eagles had scored five tries to the Bulldogs nil. 

A left sided shift presented the Sea Eagles with their first try of the afternoon as Trbojevic passed out wide to Garrick who had acres of space to run ahead and score in the corner. Trbojevic then grabbed his first of the afternoon with a textbook right-hand shift that has proved to be a real weapon for the Sea Eagles this season. All three of Trbojevic's tries involved a right edge shift with the ball going through the hands of both Daly Cherry-Evans and Jason Saab. 

Manly's other two tries came through Toafofoa Sipley who scored his first and second tries of his career this afternoon as he proved too strong and powerful for the Bulldogs to stop from close range. 

After piling on 36 points in the opening term, the Sea Eagles weren't content with just that. They did start slowly in the second half but quickly found their highest gear as they scored five tries from the 48th to the 73rd minute. It was an outstanding performance from the Sea Eagles who recorded their largest win in the club's history. It also happens to be the tied sixth largest winning margin of all time and the largest win by any club since the Warriors beat Souths by 66 points in 2006. 

Winger Jason Saab was the star of the second half as he scored a hat trick for himself after assisting two tries in the opening 40 minutes. Saab's hat trick came in the space of nine minutes and showcased all his best talents as he was able to use his afterburners to great effect. 

It was a tough afternoon for the Bulldogs, who already had a large number of players out through a combination of COVID isolation and injury. They never looked like scoring and with only 44 per cent of the possession it was always going to be hard for the Bulldogs to test Manly this afternoon. They couldn't get any momentum together in attack and the inexperience of their side showed as they now sit in last place on the competition ladder as the Broncos move ahead on point differential. 

Reuben Garrick deserves a special mention for scoring 30 individual points in this clash, taking his tally to 58 over the course of his past two fixtures. It also equals the record for the most individual points in a game for Manly, now joining Ron Rowles and Matthew Ridge who scored 30 points in 1954 and 1996 respectively. 

Manly now move into fifth place on the competition ladder, overtaking the Roosters for the first time this season and they now sit just four points behind the Rabbitohs. 

3. Tom Trbojevic

208 run metres, three tries, one try assist and four line break assists as Turbo Tom yet again dominated in exquisite fashion.

2. Jason Saab

three tries, two try assists, four line breaks and 283 run metres saw Saab put in a brilliant performance as he made the most of the opportunities he was presented with when he found himself in space on the right edge.

1. Daly Cherry-Evans

Great game from the Queensland halfback, Garrick probablt a bit stiff to not get a vote despite scoring 30 points but DCE provided his side with three try assists and also running for 78 metres and forcing a drop out