Magnificent Mudgee has been treated to a DCE masterclass as the Sea Eagles took a 24-6 victory over a poor Raiders side.
The game started pretty evenly through the first ten minutes before the Sea Eagles were able to open the scoring through Reuben Garrick out wide after some great work by Tolutau Koula to keep the ball alive after breaking through a legs tackle. The Sea Eagles extended their lead about 8 minutes later when Morgan Harper was able to get himself over the line somehow to extend the Manly lead out to 10-0.
Canberra were able to bring themselves back into the contest when Jack Wighton was able to leave the Manly defence in two minds when he threw a dummy and the Sea Eagles defence held off him to go through and score. Brad Schneider converted from close range to close the score down to 10-6 at the break.
The game was there for the taking and neither side looked like whether they really wanted to early on with a large number of errors from both sides blunting momentum even after Daly Cherry-Evans left many stunned with the seasons first 20/40 kick of the season. It took the Sea Eagles until just shy of the hour mark to add to their lead when the boot of DCE struck again when a grubber kick of his was chased through and grounded by Haumole Olakau'atu. The conversion was successful from Garrick to extend the lead.
Momentum continued to be with Manly and it was off the boot of Daly Cherry-Evans again as he was able to kick a 40/20 that put the Sea Eagles back on the attack. It was Tom Trbojevic who was able to get over next when the Raiders defence failed to wrap up the reigning Dally M medallist and Tommy was able to stretch out to score.
Completing less than half their sets in the second half hurt the Raiders but they were saved any more embarrassment with only a DCE field goal adding to the score which sealed the 25-6 victory for the Sea Eagles.
Next weekend, things get tougher for the Raiders as they take on Melbourne at a home match in Wagga Wagga on Saturday afternoon whilst Manly head up to Newcastle to take on the Knights on Thursday.