The Manly Warringah Sea Eagles have posted their first win of season 2022, getting over the Bulldogs 13-12 in a dour affair in Brookvale on Sunday Night.
The Sea Eagles' opening possession lasted just 3 tackles before a frantic offload couldn't be handled by Jake Trbojevic, putting the Bulldogs in superb attacking position in the opening minute.
They took full advantage, with Brandon Wakeham's grubber being knocked on by Haumole Olakau'atu and then grounded by Wakeham to put the Dogs on the board first. Burton missed a relatively simple conversion, a mistake which would ultimately cost the Bulldogs the game.
The Dogs hot start and Manly's cold start continued, as both Morgan Harper and Tom Trbojevic couldn't take clean possession of a Burton grubber and had to knock the ball dead. On the ensuing set, Matt Dufty showed great vision to put in a first tackle kick for a wide open Braidon Burns, who made no mistake with the finish. Burton again missed the conversion, but in fairness this one was right on the goalline in poor conditions.
Manly were able to respond almost immediately however. They found an overlap to the left all too easily, with Reuben Garrick getting into open space before passing to Tom Trbojevic on the inside, who scored his first try of the 2022 season.
Matt Burton's high balls troubled the Manly back 3 all game, with Saab in particular being all at sea whenever they came towering down. It was a Morgan Harper knock on from a Burton bomb that gave the Dogs a result however; Manly have away a penalty in the resultant set which the Dogs gained 2 points from.
Despite their shocking first half, Manly somehow went into the break with the lead, courtesy of a Kieran Foran harbour bridge pass with roughly 30 seconds to go. Reuben Garrick pinned the ears back and easily got to the line, before nailing the sideline conversion to make it 12-10.
Both teams looked aimless to say the least in the second half. The rain got even heavier, and Manly were unable to cross the line despite at one point having at least 5 consecutive sets on the Bulldogs tryline. It was a resounding stand for the Bulldogs, but they themselves were unable to take advantage of their opportunities that came shortly after turning the Sea Eagles away.
It was in the 72nd minute that the Bulldogs tied things up with another penalty goal and we looked set for a close finish, which is exactly what happened.
In the 75th minute, DCE had a shot at a field goal, which was charged down by the Bulldogs but then regathered by Dylan Walker. It counted for nought though as Morgan Harper knocked on two tackles later.
The Bulldogs then ran themselves out of room, with Braidon Burns throwing a desperate offload back into the field of play that was caught by the Manly side. DCE wasn't going to be denied on two consecutive field goal attempts, nailing it from 20 odd metres out to give Manly back the lead.
Matt Burton tried a shot from about halfway on the Dogs next possession, but it predictably fell way short. A last ditch kick from Josh Addo-Carr was unsuccessful on the siren, giving Manly their first win and meaning both teams involved have started the season 1-2.
Next week, Manly take on the Raiders in Mudgee, while the Bulldogs have it all to do against the Storm in Melbourne.