FT Manly win 30-14
CAPTAINS CHALLENGE: Sea Eagles challenge a tackle off the ball call which is one of those grey area calls because Christian Tuipulotu went for the intercept but was juggling it when Ben Trbojevic tackled him. Bunker upholds the penalty call
DCE hits the post with the penalty goal and the Sea Eagles weren't awake as the Dragons get the ball
PENALTY MANLY: A high shot against Tyrell Sloan on a flying Luke Brooks penalised, no further action needed but Manly taking the 2
DCE converts from close range
Absolutely brilliant from the Sea Eagles with quick ball movement as DCE sends Bullemor through the middle, quick play the ball as the Dragons going backwards and DCE kicks through for Saab and the bounce is PERFECT
NO TRY - The bunker finds the knock on in the air which wasn't why it was sent up no try but the refs technically get it right
BUNKER: Zac Lomax looks to have scored, Peter Gough was about to give it but the advice from David Munro on the sideline says NO TRY
DCE converts from close range
The Origin captains combine as DCE goes right to the line kicks through the gap as the QLD Captain sets up the NSW Captain for a four pointer
PENALTY DRAGONS: Haumole Olakau'atu penalised and put on report somewhat harshly for a high shot that probably wasn't that high and with Flanagan ducking a long way
Manly having fun down their right side
Lehi Hopoate appears to catch the ball with a foot in the ingoal but Peter Gough says it wasn't and the replays show the Manly disapproval is right
DCE pushes the conversion across the face of the posts
Quick hands and speed too much for the Dragons as it goes to Lehi Hopoate who goes through before finding Ben Trbojevic
The Dragons last tackle kicking has been poor as that kick goes well too deep
Some brilliant play from DCE to kick across the field for Jason Saab to create space but the play breaks down later with Haumole Olakau'atu kicking 2 tackles later for no reason
Kicking into the sun Zac Lomax misses the conversion
Zac Lomax go over in the corner as he joins the very contested top try scorer levels though it looks like he lost it but it's confirmed
DCE converts from in front
Luke Brooks gives the ball to Karl Lawton who goes through and backing up Brooks gets the ball back and scores
Ben Hunt nailed a perfect 40/20 but then the attacking kick was poor
Ben Hunt out of dummy half hits a perfect 40/20
SECOND HALF IS GO! The Sea Eagles use the ball first
Reuben Garrick has to go for the HIA process for a second time and temporarily the Sea Eagles have no bench
WHY DID YOU NOT PASS? Luciano Leilua had 3 men on the outside more or less unmarked as he doesn't get rid of it and loses it
PENALTY DRAGONS: A high shot going against the Sea Eagles and the visitors on the attack
PENALTY DRAGONS: The gap opens easily for the Sea Eagles but it's too easily with a knock on
PENALTY DRAGONS: The short dropout works for the Dragons then get a penalty for ruck interference
Repeat set for the Sea Eagles as DCE's kick is a good one as Sloan doesn't contest it and the presence of Saab makes it difficult
DCE misses the conversion
TRY CONFIRMED - The call is a surprising one because it did look like the run of Ben Trbojevic looked as if it impacted Kyle Flanagan but bunker says he still could make the tackle
Haumole Olakau'atu goes over but there does look like there might be an issue with an obstruction as Kyle Flanagan was blocked
Again the Sea Eagles attack looks lost as DCE kicks straight across field for Jason Saab that had no real danger
Nothing doing in that set from Manly in attack
Injury concerns for Manly who have lost Taniela Paseka with a thumb, Tof Sipley with a knee injury and now Reuben Garrick sent for a HIA by the independent doctor
Zac Lomax adjusts his line and converts
Manly like last week can't wrap the ball up and instead of going left the Dragons go back inside and Kyle Flanagan scores
Zac Lomax pushes the conversion to the left
Jacob Liddle gets the Mitch Kenny style 4 pointer from the 2023 Grand Final as Manly went short with the dropout, tap it back and it's perfect for Jacob Liddle to pick it up and score
LIDDLE DOES A MITCH KENNY
Zac Lomax gets shown space on the sideline and has to dive in the air for the corner but puts it down
Luke Brooks loses the ball trying to stay in the field of play
Reuben Garrick had a shocker with the boot last week and it continues again here as his conversion is pushed wide
The speed of Lehi Hopoate to go across and then beat the defence with pure speed to score out wide
PENALTY MANLY: Peter Gough penalises the Dragons for some pressure on the neck of Reuben Garrick
Near chance for the Dragons as he sees the defence up and kicks for Zac Lomax but the ball just continues to roll away towards touch
DRAMA: Dragons lose Moses Suli in the warm-up with 20. Christian Tuipulotu now in the starting side
GAME ON! Peter Gough has control and DCE kicks things off as the Dragons have the ball first
Referees & scorers:
Referee: Peter Gough
Touch Judges: David Munro, Belinda Sharpe
Video Referee: Chris Butler
MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES (30)
Tries: Lehi Hopoate, Haumole Olakau'atu, Luke Brooks, Ben Trbojevic, Jake Trbojevic, Jason Saab
Field Goals:
Two Point Field Goals:
Conversions: Reuben Garrick (0/1), Daly Cherry-Evans (3/5)
Penalty Goals: Daly Cherry-Evans (0/1)
ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS (14)
Tries: Jacob Liddle, Zac Lomax, Kyle Flanagan
Field Goals:
Two Point Field Goals:
Conversions: Zac Lomax (1/3)
Penalty Goals: