Roosters manhandle Manly despite late surge

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Sydney Roosters v Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles

The Sydney Roosters have moved to third place and consolidated their top four spot in the process, holding out a Manly side who launched a determined late comeback despite looking well beaten most of the night. The Tricolours finished 34-30 winners at Allianz Stadium.

25,155 packed into Allianz for the all-important clash, which has ultimately dented Manly's run at a top four berth after their inspired surge of momentum in the last ten minutes fell agonisingly short. Trailing 34-18 just six minutes from the end of the contest, a pair of intercept tries to Daly Cherry-Evans and Clayton Faulalo made it a close run thing but haphazard attack in the last minute of the match allowed the home team to wrap up the two competition points.

The first half was a case of points vs clock - the Roosters had raced out to a 22-0 lead in 22 minutes with tries to Joseph Suaalii, James Tedesco, Luke Keary and Dom Young before the Sea Eagles finally strengthened their resolve a bit and restored some respectability with Luke Brooks getting over at the 25th minute.

Things simmered down for ten minutes after that but each side traded scores before the change of ends, Victor Radley getting the hosts' fifth try before Toff Sipley hit back for the visitors, and the Roosters went in 28-12 leaders at the break.

Manly did well to control the tempo of the contest after the break, scoring early on to narrow the margin to ten points with Tommy Talau claiming an intercept try at 48 minutes.

The scoreboard remained untroubled largely thanks to strong defence from both sides, but the Roosters eventually breached the 'Warringah Wall' at the 68th minute after a Dom Young line break led to a sequence of play that saw Michael Jennings score on the other wing one play later.

The home side looked home and hosed with a 16-point lead but Manly had other ideas, with Faulalo and then DCE both plucking out lazy Roosters passes to place that pressure on for the final couple of minutes.

The Roosters will now hop a plane to Perth to face the Dolphins next Friday night, while the Sea Eagles will welcome a much-needed bye next round before a trip to Canberra in Round 23.