Manly props slash through Tigers defence

NRL
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Wests Tigers v Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles

Josh Aloiai and Haumole Olakau'atu played starring roles for Manly as they ran away with a comfortable 30-4 victory over a very lost looking Wests Tigers outfit.

Manly's front rowers bagged 3 tries between them as they punched holes through the Tigers middle defence all game, but it wasn't until Brent Naden was sent off for a spear tackle on Jake Trbojevic that Manly took full control of the game.

Both sides were pedestrian in the first half, with last tackle options failing to threaten either defences early on. It took until the 18th minute when Aloiai scored off a crash ball close to the Tigers line for any side to show anything in attack. Reuben Garrick converted.

The Tigers responded in the 34th minute when an offload by Joe Ofahengaue close to Manly's line allowed the Tigers to swing the ball left to Luke Garner, who got outside the defence and dived over in the corner to score. Luke Brooks failed to convert.

Manly extended their lead 14 minutes after halftime when Garrick comfortably avoided a woeful and weak tackle attempt by Naden, before falling over the line on the right side. Garrick then converted his own try.

In the 62nd minute Olakau'atu got the ball at first receiver, while flat footed and 10 metres from the Tigers line. He decided to run, stepped a defender and smashed through a tackle attempt by the considerably smaller Daine Laurie to score. Garrick failed to convert.

3 minutes later, Brent Naden was sent off for an ugly spear tackle on Jake Trbojevic. Trbojevic was uninjured thankfully. Garrick kicked a penalty goal 2 minutes later after Luke Brooks was penalised for an illegal strip.

Manly scored two tries in the final 5 minutes. The first from Tolutau Koula, who ran back infield and then through a gap created by Luciano Leilua losing his footing. Koula stepped past Laurie to race away and score a good solo try. Then, with less than 2 minutes on the clock, Aloiai crossed again when he ran straight and through some more feeble Tigers defence. Both tries converted by Garrick.

Wests Tigers 4 - Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 30

Venue: Campbelltown Sports Stadium, Leumeah / Dharawal
Crowd: 10231
Halftime Score: Wests Tigers 4 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 6

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:
3 points - Haumole Olakau'atu
2 points - Josh Aloiai
1 points - Reuben Garrick

WESTS TIGERS (4)
Tries: Luke Garner
Conversions: Luke Brooks (0/1)

MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES (30)
Tries: Josh Aloiai (2), Reuben Garrick, Haumole Olakau'atu, Tolutau Koula
Conversions: Reuben Garrick (4/5)
Penalty Goals: Reuben Garrick (1/1)


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